Fear reigned over High Harbour, the capital of Etheon. Citizens that weren't enslaved stayed inside their homes as much as they could, which filled the streets with nothing but slaves and masters. It was raining in Etheon that day. Grey clouds made the capital look even grimmer. One of the fishing ships entered the docks and anchored down beside a pier bearing black sails with the sigil of a menacing shark pierced by a sword. The plank was thrown down, and a row of slaves was waiting to leave the ship.

"Okay, move it!" the slavers yelled as they pushed the slaves off the ship. One of those slaves was an athletic young-adult boy, short black hair, and amber-coloured eyes. Bruises and whipping marks covered his naked torso as hee followed in line, off the plank onto the pier. The slavers led him and the others through the ghost streets. He could see people closing their window hatches in a hurry in the corners of his eyes. Suddenly he heard a loud crack of a whip followed by a feminine shriek of pain behind him.

"Move your arse you're falling behind!" a slaver shouted. When they turned around the corner of the street, everyone took a halt. Even the slavers. The black-haired boy wanted to see what was going on, peering over the shoulders of his fellow slaves. And then he saw it. A handful of city guards were slaughtered, puddles of blood running between the cobblestones, which put the slavers on alert immediately, unsheathing their swords.

"Watch the slaves, and search every bloody house in this street! I want these bastards to be-" the slaver's voice got cut off and changed into a disturbing gurgle by an arrow that pierced right through his throat. The boy didn't notice it before, but mysterious men in black shrouds showed up from the roofs and dark alleys, swiftly moving like shadows with bows and daggers. They were killing all the slavers with ease, not even giving them a chance to fight back at all.

"Sound the bells! We're under attack!" one of the slavers yelled. Some of them tried to escape, but the shadows were too fast, intercepting them in their sprint. Another hooded man seemed to fall from the sky right in front of the athletic boy, but he caught his fall with a roll and aimed his bow while crouching and firing it straight towards another fleeing slaver. Despite the long distance, the arrow still managed to find its way through the slaver's leg, grounding him for good. Their aim was amazing. The boy didn't know what was happening around him, let alone who these mysterious people were.

With widened eyes, he looked towards the shrouded man beside him who just shot the arrow. "Who are you?" he asked, and the man answered with a low toned voice.

"For you, I am nobody."

Only then, the black-haired boy noticed something he didn't before up close. The man's hands were scaled? Amid brewing chaos, the boy felt a sting in his neck. He felt at it with his hand and found a dart. His heart rate quickened, and his vision faded, falling to the ground as everything went black.

The massive tribal city stretched across the horizon, with thousands of villagers labouring, and thousands of warriors fighting each other for sport or guarding the city. While the sun was blazing hot in the middle of the day, Kiera found the right spot in the shade beside Areiya's house.

When Areiya returned with a basket of fruit, she noticed her sitting on the bench, hunched over. She immediately knew something was wrong. Areiya placed down the basket and walked up to her. "Kiera?"

She sat down beside her on the bench and noticed Kiera's face was red and wet of tears, immediately placing her hand on her shoulder. "Hey, what's the matter?"

Kiera sniffed and wiped her nose, looking in front of her. "I haven't had much time to think...until now," she said.

"Well..what are you thinking about?" Areiya asked.

"Everything. If the Three Deities are so great, then why are they letting us go through all this?"

The warrioress sighed. "I don't believe in the Three Deities, but I know that all gods are the same. They want what's best for their people. For us."

"By letting one evil bastard enslave us all?" Kiera asked, her voice shaky.

"No." Areiya said, "You know what I like to believe? I believe that we, as humans, are going through a trial. A trial made by the gods. It is their way to see if we are capable of surviving anything the world throws at us. Even slavery. It is our task to unite...and fight for our freedom. If we succeed, then we made our gods proud. If we fail...then I suppose the gods should've done a better job creating us."

"I like your way of thinking," Kiera said, smiling weakly.

"But there's something else isn't there?" Areiya added, pulling her brows together as she looked in Kiera's amber eyes.

"I've come to the conclusion that my family will probably be dead." Kiera nodded, pressing her lips together, "And that I shouldn't hope for an opportunity to save them anymore."

Areiya's expression twisted instantly, her eyes widening. "What? No, stop it! You don't know if your family survived or not. They could be in the same situation we are in. I mean, it's a big world. There might be other rebellions that we don't know of. There are a lot of ways they could have died, but there are also a lot of ways they survived. Don't give up hope so easily, Kiera. I know you're stronger than that."

Kiera finally smiled genuinely after that, wiping off a tear under her eye. "I guess you're right..."

"Come here," Areiya said as she pulled Kiera to herself for a hug. Kiera returned the hug and rested her cheek on Areiya's shoulder.

"We'll be alright," Areiya whispered.

"Thank you," Kiera mumbled.

They stopped hugging, and Areiya stood up, offering her a hand. "How about I give you some training? Finally, teach you how to fight?"

Kiera took her hand and nodded. "Sounds good to me."

Water drops echoed in the slave boy's ears. He only saw the orange glow of torches, but the darkness and dripping water hinted that he was in a cave. He also felt it by the cold ground underneath him. He saw a tall silhouette of a man standing in front of him. When his vision returned, he saw the man wore a robe made of black and red silk and black painted shoulder plates that perfectly mixed with his black shoulder cloak, fixed on his broad chest with a clasp. A hood and golden face mask concealed his identity.

"What is your name?" the strange man asked, a deep voice rasping through the mouth hole of the mask.

"I-...where am I?" the boy said, darting his eyes around his surroundings.

"I asked you a question." the man continued.

"A-Aidan...I'm Aidan...Aidan Bloodcrest," he said, crawling back until he hit a wall. The strange man nodded with his hands behind his back.

"Good. Then I shall introduce myself. My name is Xinz'r 'Ittk Senhara, Master of Scion and Founder of the Circle of Eight."

"M-master of Scion?" Aidan asked, confused.

"Only a few remember this, but our race lives in dedication to the Bright Mother. The Hinos of Lunarion.

"Hinos? I never heard of them..." Aidan said, slowly regaining his ability to stand.

"That is because I and my fellow brethren are the only ones that are left of our kind. Left, in the shadows." Xinz'r answered and continued.

"During the Aeon of Dawn, we were at war. I can't deny we were a violent race, but we all had a heart. Mother's presence manifested in Lunarion to show she hasn't forgotten her most loyal Hinos worshippers. She gave them a mighty magic artefact to be used to aid Lunarion, should some serious threat arise to her and her people. Because of the artefact's appearance, the Hinos gave it the name of "Black Rose". The artefact was offered to a selected few who proved worthy of Mother's blessing, and clues show it was used in various places across the land. Some say the artefact was used for defeating invading armies while others claimed it could be used to move large stones, enabling the Hinos to build various stone buildings, the most famous of which are stone pyramids known as 'Seihul' which you can find all across Lunarion. Now, in ruins."

Xinz'r paced around with his hands behind his back. There was this sense of mystery about him.

"With our reduced need for outside help or intervention, the Black Rose made us able to become a powerful and autonomous civilization. Mother also bestowed certain secret powers to the bloodlines of the most loyal worshippers. These Hinos formed an occult secret society to preserve their legacy, a brotherhood that echoes the powers given by the Lady of the Moon. A family named 'Echo of Silence'."

When Xinz'r seemed to be done talking, two other members of his cult showed up and stood beside him in similar robes and masks.

"These people are the Echo of Silence. I am the last remaining Master of Scion of the Circle of Eight that founded this family. Our kind has suffered enough, and it is time for us to get the upper hand now slavery reigns over your people."

Aidan still didn't understand why they took him and not the other slaves that were with him. "What does that have to do with me?" he asked.

"Your father was an important asset to our family. He ensured our survival when we needed it the most. We are in his debt, but since he gave his life to the Bright Mother, we can repay that debt to his son. And his son is you." Xinz'r answered.

This was all too much to take in for Aidan, which left him with curved brows and wide eyes, not knowing what to say.

"This is your home, Aidan. Welcome to the Echo of Silence."

Lunaria, Lunarion

Saenna and Valmir stood on top of the city's battlements, watching over a massive army in divided formations. At least ten thousand men were stationed in divisions, with their commanders leading upfront on horseback. They all wore full steel armor, some carried the blue banners of Saenna's city. The majestic white gryphon with its broad wings spread.

There were also a few divisions of cavalry. Even the horses were extremely obedient. It was clear that this army had been through stern and fierce training.

"This is it, sister." Valmir said, caressing the hilt of his sheathed sword, "Your army is waiting for you down there. Are you ready to give your speech?"

The young queen remained silent for a moment, overlooking her own soldiers. "I have to be. This is the moment they waited for. Finally, they will be able to put their training to good use."

"We don't like to step into a war, Saenna. Nobody does." Valmir said, "But all ten-thousand of these men are standing there for you because they believe in you and nobody else. Give them a speech even the gods will tremble upon. Your horse is waiting at the gate."

Saenna smiled to Valmir before heading down the wall towards her white horse, which the guards already prepared.

"She's ready to ride, my queen." one of the guards said, handing the reins to Saenna. He helped her hop on the horse before she corrected the skirt of her white gown. She took a deep breath and walked her horse through the gates towards her army.

Saenna rode through the spaces between divisions in silence, inspecting her men while her horse's hooves were muffled by the grass. In the meantime, Valmir watched from above the wall with a smirk.

"Brave soldiers of Lunarion!"

After her yelling this, all of them stamped their feet together simultaneously, generating a loud but powerful grunt in unison.

"Since the dawn of our colony, we have always lived in peace and prosperity! For years we have been invisible to the realm! Our only worries were what we were going to eat for dinner every night. Unfortunately, such is no longer possible. Not with the current reign of the Poisoned Emperor that lives in my homeland. My own uncle!"

She turned her horse around, watching over her people as she started to get into her own speech.

"He enslaved all of Oryn, and now knows where we live! The very city where all your families live, where all your friends, wives and children live! And take my word, this foul demon WILL come and take what is ours, just to add all of us to his rank of slaves! But I can tell you this. With the help of my brother and his rebellion, we will unite and STRIKE down every slaver we can get our hands on! The emperor's life will be mine to take!"

She walked by a division of spear infantry, watching their emotionless expressions. "So what do you say? Let's take back the lands that were ours, and let the Lands of Trinity live in peace and freedom once again!"

After her speech, she managed to get her entire army pumped as they plunged the blunt side of their spears into the ground in rhythm, while others bashed their shields and released war cries. Ten-thousand men doing that all together created one of the most ear deafening and intimidating sounds war one could ever hear. Amid all the noise, Saenna took a glimpse to Valmir and smirked.