"If Aderis managed to initiate the Ritual of Keys, the End Times will befall us all."

The whistling wind of the summit that past travellers would have gladly relished felt strangely frigid to the trio. It was as if a diabolical curse had been unleashed upon the air with Alvaro's last phrase, sending a chill down the listeners' spines.

Zenvix broke the ensuing silence. "End Times...? You mean-"

"The end of the world, yes." Alvaro said gravely. "But not in the way you understand."

"Do explain more," Dylas said.

"To understand the Demon's Seduction, you need to first understand the Ritual of Keys. The aim of the Ritual is to disconnect the Living Realm from the Spiritual Realm. To achieve this, it involves the destruction of five keys. Qosh'Rah being the first, Nox second, Ceil third, The Guild fourth, and The Strange Village being last. However, their destruction alone will not achieve the aim of the Ritual -

"And that's where the power of Demon's Seduction is needed," Sir Dylas surmised.

Alvaro nodded. "Severing the connection between the Living Realm and the Spiritual Realm occurs on two levels. By destroying the five keys, Aderis is abolishing the outer layer of protection, also known as the act of corporeal severance. Thereafter, he will use the dark artifact's power to eradicate the final layer, enacting ethereal severance, which will disconnect the two realms for good."

"Hold up - I get that the realms will disconnect, but so what? How does that lead to your supposed Ragnarok?" Yurisviel questioned.

Alvaro's eyebrows furrowed and he let out a sigh. "That's where my knowledge becomes murkier. What I do know is this‒Ssshouldhould The Ritual of Keys is intended to disconnect the living from the spiritual realms. Should the realms disconnect, it will be an affront to the natural order. Think of it this way...souls are not meant to stay in the world of the living. There must be a critical reason for that. "

"If they are unable to make passage to the spiritual realm because of Aderis's actions, I shudder to think what's going to happen to them."

"Or rather, what's going to happen to us," Zenvix interjected as he stood up. "All the more we should get going. The sooner we put an end to his scheme, the better."

As the regiment made its way down Merchant's Hill, Zenvix observed his surroundings, assimilating the subtle beauty of the hill. Awash with lush greenery as far as the eyes can see, it comes alive with the occasional striking colors of vermilion, sunshine golden, lapis lazuli and more born out of the myriad species of flowers grown within this verdant landscape. Among the trees, squirrels darted across branches nipping pieces of sweet fruit in their mouths while a chorus of chirps sounded from birds taking flight. It is a beautiful sight to behold - more so since he rarely stepped foot in Merchant's Hill.

Much of Zenvix's life was spent on honing his battle craft, training and matters of the Court‒there was little time for adventurous exploration, but due to his status as heir to the Nighvictorian throne, even he had to be schooled on knowledge of the known world.

Merchant's Hill was so named because it often served as the final landmark for merchants to traverse before reaching Ceil, the City of Order. These merchants hail from a number of prosperous western nations such as Kemta and Marda, with their close proximity to the Sea of Great Beyond.

Being in advantageous locations, Kemta and Marda enjoyed bustling sea trade with exotic settlements across the sea. Add to that the abundance of sea produce, and it became little wonder why these merchants have much to offer. The likes of luscious seafood, rare treasures, artifacts, equipment and more were often brought to Ceil via bulky carriages to sell and barter.

Ceil was a favourite of these merchants. After all, it was the City of Order, where order stood at the highest priority, and brought in political stability alongside a booming economy.

The renown of Merchant's Hill as a common bypass to Ceil, however, came at a cost. Bandits have been known to lay in wait for unsuspecting merchants, ambushing them as they near the bandits' hiding spots.

The success of robbing highly prized loots from these merchants had attracted bandit gangs to congregate and expand, even forming alliances to rob highly protected caravans.

Wealthy merchants who despite being able to hire guards for their wares sometimes thought twice before deciding to journey across Merchant's Hill. The risk could simply outweigh the benefit. Thus the popularity of this beautiful landmark dwindled as many merchants sought alternate, albeit longer, routes to Ceil.

Keeping his eyes peeled, Zenvix continued to survey his surroundings carefully. Noticing Yurisviel's watchful eyes, he knew the lady was thinking along the same lines. Although the risk of an attack was not high, bandit gangs, large syndicates even, could mount an allied assault on them. He was thankful that Yurisviel has always served dutifully as his second pair of eyes and ears in watching out for danger.

The vanguard of the regiment had just rounded a bend in the path before a shout to halt resounded from the front. Fearing the worst, Zenvix, Yurisviel and Alvaro rode to the fore from their position in the center of the regiment. Sir Dylas was leading the vanguard, and the duo glimpsed the veteran knight dismounting from his brown stallion.

"Your Highness‒we must hurry," he pointed urgently to a small lone figure lying motionless near the bushes some distance away from the path. The girl could not have been much older than ten, garbed in a maroon dress with short sleeves and a high neck. The dress was frayed and tattered at various places, with grime and dirt coating its woolen surface.

"What monster did this?" Yurisviel said, a glint of steel in her voice. She held the girl up by her head, and examined her body. Bruises and lacerations covered her scrawny arms and legs; her long hair looked dishevelled and on her scalp, a few bald patches remained. As Yurisviel attempted to rouse the girl, she noticed that the young lady sported a bloody lip.

A few minutes later, the girl stirred. "Give her some water," Sir Dylas said, offering his water skin. The girl drank deep, and coughed rapidly as she choked on the water.

She must have not eaten and drunk for a long time, and those wounds... Zenvix mused, observing her emaciated physique with a pained expression over his face.

"There, there...slow down. You are safe with me." Yurisiviel smiled at the young girl.

Tears welled up in her eyes as the lass grabbed Yurisviel's arms. "P-Please...please save my mama! She is still stuck with the bad men...they have swords and those clubs with pointy heads!"

Bandits? But why would they do this? They rob and leave; capturing travellers is of no use to them. Zenvix pondered.

"How many bad men are there?" he asked gently.

"Four...methinks. We were gathering herbs...then they came out of nowhere and attacked us! They said that they will k-kill us if we didn't follow them quietly to their place," the young girl stammered.

"The way of attack sounds like bandits to me, but it's strange what they asked you to do thereafter," Sir Dylas answered thoughtfully as he stroked his chin.

"Let's find out what these scums are after then," Yurisviel responded, a fiery zeal emanating from her eyes.

A moment of pause, and suddenly a presence beside Sir Dylas made a quick jerking motion, lunging forward and grabbing the girl's disfigured arm. Almost instantly in response, a gauntleted fist punched out, colliding squarely against solid air. The latter shimmered and pulsated slightly‒a spell shield between the hooded man's open palm and Yurisviel's fist.

"What are you doing...Alvaro?" Yurisviel uttered through clenched teeth, her tone acerbic.

Alvaro, who kept silent all this while, had the girl's arm in a vice-grip.

"L-let go of me! Mister you are hurting me!" the lass cried out, tears streaming down her grubby cheeks.

Alvaro is seething. "Let go? If I let you go, will that bring my family back? Why do you have the scent, girl? Are you his accomplice? Answer me!"

Dylas drew his sword, but Zenvix held out his hand.

"Let go of her Alvaro. If you don't, my offer of friendship is over. I will drop you in a heartbeat," Zenvix warned.

Alvaro turned his gaze to the prince, and Zenvix saw fury unbound. A tense moment later, Alvaro slackened his grip, his face a hideous mask of rage.

"The girl has the scent. It was not obvious at first when she was unconscious, but it grew apparent when she woke," Alvaro said slowly, staring at the girl.

"Explain." Yurisviel replied brusquely.

"The scent of Demon's Seduction. The scent that Aderis now wore - she has the same scent!" Alvaro wrung his hands in frustration.

"I will not mistake it. Years, nay, decades of studying and inscribing dark artifacts in the Qosh'Rah way had taught my brethren how to differentiate the arcane signatures or marks of dark artifacts."

"And to the layman, it's simply explained as telling the scent?" Zenvix deduced.

Alvaro nodded once tersely. To an extent, Zenvix could understand why Alvaro flew into a rage. The raw grief of losing his family to Aderis had taken him in its clutches. He lost control.

Zenvix looked at the lass, whose visage is that of shock and confusion; her body trembling slightly at Alvaro's sudden act. A mere village girl has the scent of an insidious dark artifact; a village girl who has no conceivable link to Aderis's scheme. How is this even possible?

.....Or is he overestimating himself thinking that he knew Aderis so well? Zenvix's mind reeled, but he compelled himself to think clearly. One step at a time, one step at a time. Self-doubt will not help him now.

"Alvaro, look at her. She's but a young girl, tortured and at a loss. There must be another reason why she has the scent," Zenvix stated calmly.

"Why would Aderis take a young village girl as an accomplice? It doesn't make sense. Even an uncultured person like myself could tell as much, Mister Scholar. What have the decades of study given you? Retardation?" Yurisviel rolled her eyes.

"Then how did she get the scent? Does it get transferred to other people somehow through proximity? I am just guessing," Sir Dylas mused aloud.

"Only one way to find out. If she has the scent, Aderis or traces of him could be nearby. For all we know we might be able to foil or disrupt his plan to rout Ceil. We will not get another opportunity like this. The chance to pre-empt him and save countless lives before he engages Ceil in an all-out war. Perhaps the bandits and her mother will give us more clues; we have to trace it back," Zenvix responded. Alvaro seemed to compose himself for a moment, before nodding in assent.

Turning to his soldiers, Zenvix commanded six of them to follow him. A big party would only make it more obvious for Aderis to find out, if he were still there. For the rest of his regiment, he instructed them to reconvene with the carriages, citizens and remaining soldiers standing guard. They are to head to Ceil first.

"Sir Dylas, you are the acting commander while I am away. Head to Ceil, speak to Minister Zila, and convey our story. You know what to do," Zenvix said. Sir Dylas looked surprised as he quickly responded. "Your Highness, my place is by your side. If Aderis is here -"

"He will not find my people waiting like sheep to be slaughtered. I will not allow him the opportunity to harm the people of Nox ever again. You need to help me ensure that by bringing them safely to Ceil," Zenvix finished.

Sir Dylas looked like he was about to retort, but broke into a smile. "As you command, Your Highness. Be safe, and return to us."

As the main regiment led by Dylas continued down the hill, the smaller party traversed plants, trees and fauna away from the main path, led by the little girl, who called herself Giselle. She and her mother hailed from a local village nearby, and were gathering herbs in Merchant's Hill as part of their weekly routine a day ago when they were set upon by the bandits.

Taken to their hideout, both mother and child have been bound by rope and given little food and water. "Me remembers them laughing as the big man slapped me on both cheeks, and then took out his black rope. And then he..." Giselle's voice cracked as her words trailed off.

"Mama got it worse. She tried to stop the men, kept screaming...them to stop, but they wouldn't listen. They...they....did bad things to mama, they..." Giselle could not continue. She burst into tears as she hugged her dress fearfully, as if by doing so she could stop the horror playing out in her mind.

"The savages..." Yurisviel muttered.

As Giselle spoke, a heated aura seemed to ripple out from Yurisviel. She patted Giselle on the head and consoled the child. But a long partnership with the warrior-lady already told Zenvix one thing‒the Blood of the Valkyrie is livid, and she will not forgive. Not when she knew such injustice, especially when done to the fairer sex.

Alvaro, who listened from the side, spoke out suddenly. "I am sorry, Giselle, for frightening you." The young girl seemed to look hesitant for a moment, before replying.

"It's okay, mister. Something bad happened to your family right? Though I don't really understand why you got angry, but me knows your feelings. Me mama is in trouble too."

"Thank you Giselle. Can you tell me one thing though. Why did they target you and your mama? Do you know?" Alvaro asked.

"Yes Giselle, you don't look like a wealthy traveller," Zenvix observed. Bandits usually choose their prey. It makes sense for them to obtain the highest return with the lowest risk.

Giselle thought for a moment before shaking her head. "I know not sire....I-I overheard them talking in loud voices some time before I escaped. Something about getting a load of gold...they were laughing about it."

"A load of gold?" Yurisviel raised her eyebrows, her eyes of amethyst seeming to convey a bridging of thoughts.

"Sounds like a kidnap," Zenvix concluded.

"But to what end? Why would someone pay a huge amount of gold to kidnap a pair of ordinary villagers?" Alvaro questioned in a perplexed tone.

Why indeed. And how is Aderis even linked to all this? Aderis, the Scent, a pair of villagers, kidnapping for a load of gold....this just keeps getting messier and messier. The Nighvictorian prince thought.

And Alvaro....he did not tell us about the scent during our first meeting. If he recognized the scent of Demon's Seduction, was he previously in close proximity to Aderis? Could it be that he knows more about Aderis? What else is he not letting us know?

"Let's stay on our toes. A conspiracy awaits us," Zenvix remarked, as the party made further inroads into the lesser known region of Merchant's Hill.