The soft cries of ravens punctuated the air.

"We have to split to pursue...Zenvix," said Jerius in the midst, as the group hid in the woods overlooking the burning city of Nox in the yonder. Soldiers and civilians around them were in shock; many cried and healers scrambled around to nurse those who were wounded. Barely four hundred of them, including Zenvix's retainers and personal guards, were left in the aftermath.

Zenvix glanced around, knowing the information Jerius unpacked on them was more than any of them could bear. The shadow-advisor to Nox, Aderis Kilfir had gone rogue, orchestrating her destruction to invoke the Ritual of Keys.

Jerius finished. "Zen, the whole diplomatic mission was a sham. You were deliberately sent away. And you said you were ambushed on your way back?"

The prince nodded, furrowing his brows as he continued to process the horror.

"No doubt that was on Aderis too," Jerius said. "He's no longer an ally."

"Magicians can be such a problem," Yurisiviel chided. "The world will be a better place without magic."

The very same magic brought you here, Yaleheart, and gave you a second chance. You should respect that," Jerius rolled his eyes, though it went unnoticed in the dark. "And if Conjuror Vapos didn't catch on and leave an arcane message for us on not just Aderis's treachery but his plan on the Ritual of Keys, we would still be prowling the darkness, seeking an answer."

"No words can mar the truth," Yurisiviel said in a flat tone.

"Alright that's enough," Zenvix cut in, his voice weary. He had no time for petty quarrels. They had all just lost their home, when the last they left it stood tall and firm. His heart was raw with grief, but to remain stoic he must, even if it was only on the surface. "We'll follow your suggestion, Jerius. You head to the Guild, and we Ceil. I can send a few guards with you, or Sir Dylas-"

"-I'll go along," Jerius said. "The sorcerer's pride is not to be trifled with, especially in the place where magic reigns mightiest. Best I handle this myself. I've my own plans."

He then took from his pocket a small stone and passed it to the prince. "Take this stone with you; it is one of a pair and will identify us to each other. With Aderis's schemes, you can't know if it's truly me you see the next time we meet."

"Where will we gather once more?" Zenvix asked simply.

"That stone will also serve as a way for me to reach you. I will find some way to communicate with you through that. Just remember: the code word is Kush'Tar."

Zenvix nodded, then arched his eyebrow in concern. "You sound like you are not even sure. What if you can't find a way?"

"I will," Jerius said in a tone of confidence.

"Cocky toerag. You better not screw up big time," Yurisiviel muttered.

"One more thing," Dylas, the veteran knight, said. "Lord Lyvia, you said the First Key has been destroyed. Can I safely say there might be survivors just as we are for the Second Key? Surely it makes sense to find them to consolidate our strength."

"If...there're survivors. Strong survivors," Jerius said. "We don't seek aid from broken families, or from foot soldiers who won't be able to stand up against Aderis. He's a warrior-mage who could hide his mastery even from Lady Lyvia and me. Also, haste is of the essence. Splitting up to find survivors will hardly make sense when I do not know where or what was the First Key."

Zenvix finished. "Keep that thought, Sir Dylas. Perhaps the survivors will find us instead."

As his thoughts of the past conversation with Jerius dissipated, Zenvix contemplated the stranger standing before them‒a man affiliated with the First Key. Another survivor who lost nearly everything because of what Aderis had wrought.

A sneaky survivor, still.

And Zenvix was not one who took chances, especially not when his comrades were concerned. But then again, he was piqued with curiosity by what he heard...possible information that might very well help them to outmatch Aderis.

Lowering his bow only slightly, Zenvix waited cautiously for the man to continue. The stranger took off his hood, revealing a gaunt face sporting boyish features. His sallow cheeks seemed to tell a story of trying ordeals. Running from the man's temple to his left jawline, a hideous scar completed the picture of moroseness.

"You use magic," Yurisviel said in a slightly derogatory manner; her dislike for magicians was well-known in Zenvix's company. The raven...belongs to him?

"I apologise for the sudden intrusion, Prince Nighvicto and Lady Yaleheart. I was actively searching out for you when Nox's fall was known to all; having to remain concealed from any pursuit was the toughest part. Took many days and many dead leads."

"How did you know our identities?" Yurisiviel questioned.

"A simple observation spell."

Alvaro pointed at Zenvix's right hand, encased within a brown glove.

"The sigil of Nox." Zenvix realised, engraved in raven-black knitting on the back of his glove.

Alvaro nodded.

"A most curious glove, I must say. As for you, Lady Yaleheart...the moment the Prince's identity is revealed, yours became obvious as day," the sorcerer continued.

"That kick you gave me was a final affirmation to your identity, not that I needed any. If not for my spell, this arm would have been broken."

Alvaro rubbed his left arm consciously.

"You said that you had to avoid a pursuit though, why?" Zenvix prompted.

"Aderis," Alvaro spat. "I hail from the humble city of Qosh'rah, a city far to the north of Nox. A city that is no more. Aderis saw to that."

"I heard of Qosh'rah by its other name, Gainac," Dylas said. "That's the First Key?"

"If that is so, why are you being pursued? Aderis had achieved his goal." Zenvix remarked matter-of-factly.

The weather-beaten sorcerer brooded for a short moment, as if his next words cost him to say.

"I was charged to protect Qosh'rah from those who seek to destroy it. I have...failed that duty. But I was still a Key Guardian who possessed knowledge of the Ritual of Keys..."

"....So Aderis wants you dead to eliminate future sources of resistance." Zenvix finished.

"Just so."

Yurisviel cut in. "Wait, so like Zenvix, you are a..."

The Prince shot his lady-retainer a warning look, and she desisted.

Alvaro looked at Zenvix, as if he understood what the lady was about to say.

He shook his head. "No, Lady Yaleheart, I am not that. My brother went on a fierce battle with Aderis during the defence of Qosh'rah. He perished, much the same as my brethren and family. Sometimes, I wish I was dead, as well."

Zenvix's eyebrows furrowed.

"I have lost everything. Everything but my vengeance against the man who orchestrated Qosh'rah's downfall."

The sorcerer looked straight at Zenvix's eyes; and within them the young Prince thought he saw the endless depths of fury and despair intertwined.

"I know you are heading to Ceil to stop Aderis. Let me help you." Alvaro finished.

There was a moment's pause, before the sound of a sword being sheathed was heard. Sir Dylas looked at the Prince and gave a small nod.

"I think it's worth hearing him out, Your Highness. We will need all the help we can get."

Zenvix nodded, as he lowered his bow.

"Very well Alvaro, you are welcome at our hearth. But as the leader and protector of this small regiment, I must give fair warning. There will be no more parlour tricks from you while in our midst."

"If Lady Yaleheart senses the slightest spell invocation from you, even I will not guarantee your safety." Zenvix said, his warning clear as day.

⧪⧪⧪

The fireside flickered wildly as a cold gust of wind blew across the rugged patch of ground upon which Yurisviel sat.

As the sorcerer relayed his information, the warrior-born lady felt a cold creep down her spine which had nothing to do with the wind.

"This...Demon's Seduction. You said that it was responsible for turning Bliaton's soldiers into those raving berserkers that we saw on the battlefield that day?" Yurisviel asked.

Alvaro nodded somberly. "An insidious artifact possessed by Aderis, it has the power to corrupt minds and bend wills. Under certain conditions, those touched by its malevolent power become mindless brutes...consumed by hatred and under Aderis's control."

Yurisviel rubbed her slender neck, as a note of frustration escaped her voice. "Never trust a magician, no offence to you, Avaho."

"Alvaro..." the newcomer corrected, but Yurisviel was gone by then, spiralling into her own memories of the tragedy that befell them all.

Rip them...dissect...kill...

The memory of those cryptic words from a Bliaton foot soldier came back to Zenvix. Despite his rising uneasiness, he strove to keep the emotion contained. He glanced over at Yurisviel, and guessed her thoughts from her visage.

Despite her notoriety on the battlefield and all her uncouthness, her heart was far from that.

"Don't blame yourself. There's nothing you could have done to prevent their deaths. Even if they died whilst invading Nox against their personal will, they were still invaders." Zenvix said softly.

The warrior-lady composed herself visibly. "I'm fine. So was this what happened to your city as well, Alvah-sorcerer?"

"He tried to bring us down with the Demon's Seduction but failed to create sufficiently fierce in-fightings. This is how I knew about the dark artifact. Also, as it's a city well protected by its natural terrain, it's difficult to invade it. Eventually, Aderis settled on conjuring a plague that spread quickly through raw food consumption that Qosh'rah is known for," Alvaro said, the anger in his tone fading to sadness.

There was a moment of silence as the sorcerer's words sank in; a deafening silence of grief.

"How did you first learn of this Demon's Seduction? I presume Aderis would not have revealed his prized artifact so blatantly." Sir Dylas, who had been quiet up till now, interjected.

"I have been Qosh'rah's Key Guardian for two decades. From my predecessor's teachings along with the knowledge I have accumulated throughout the years, it has been the only known artifact that is so feared. It ties closely to the Underbelly, more commonly known as the demon realm," Alvaro intoned slowly, as if the mere mention of the artifact drained all emotion from his words.

As the silence reigned, Zenvis finally said, "We need to make haste. Ceil needs to know about this sinister artifact."