Inside the main household in the Nightwell territory.

A large meeting room with a long, wooden table at the center. Leon sat on one side of the table with Royland sitting beside him. Dedric sat on the opposite side in front of Leon.

At the end of the table sat another man. He was well built with a sturdy frame of a body. He had short raven black hair, a hereditary trait among the males of House Nightwell. He had a short beard that went across his chin that attached to his sideburns. He wore a dark navy with silver accents and a fur collar that went around his neck. He looked educated and well trained at first glance. He was a diplomat and the close aid to Queen Elaine, Magnus Nightwell.

“I’ve received a letter that sings of your praises, Leon,” Magnus said.

His voice was deep and had a magnetic tone to it.

“Your achievements are becoming more known. You bring great honor to us, little brother – especially our father.”

“That’s good,” replied Leon with a hesitant look on his face.

“Hm. What’s troubling you?” questioned Magnus.

“I’m happy for your words, brother, truly. Though, I’m sure you’ve received another letter regarding the kidnapping of Duchess Sofia Silica of Ecrax.”

“Yes, I’ve received the news. Some of my colleagues have been troubled by this. I’ve already planned to send Jaina and her group to take action,” Magnus reassured Leon.

“The revolutionaries are sure to do something with her, assuming she still draws breath,” Magnus stated.

Dedric, who kept his head down the entire conversation, immediately stood up and bowed his head towards Magnus.

“Please, Lord Nightwell! 50 – no! 100! Let me borrow 100 men so that I may hunt those vermin down!” Dedric asked.

Magnus stayed silent and watched him with a stoic expression.

“I beg of you, milord! Give me the chance – the chance to let my comrades’ souls rest knowing their killers suffer and rot!”

Magnus’ mood turned colder at Dedric’s words.

“Perhaps you did not hear my previous words. A group will be sent to rescue the Duchess,” replied Magnus, “This matter concerns Kandarynd. You’d best leave this matter to us.”

Dedric face reddened at the refusal of his request.

“L-Lord Nightwell, if only–!”

“I’d suggest you put this matter to rest. Allow me to remind you, Dedric. You may be an apprentice under Duchess Sofia, but that is all you are. An apprentice. Leave this work to the knights,” Magnus said in a commanding tone.

Dedric grit his teeth and sat back down in his chair and folded his arms together, embarrassed at his situation.

Magnus turned towards Leon and Royland.

“You two will stay here and catch up with the others. They also came back a couple of days ago. Take a rest for a few days before we go back to your academy for the tournament. Don’t worry about safety, danger won’t come to see us.”

Leon, Magnus, and Royland continued to talk with each other for a few more minutes before leaving the room.

---

Leon, Royland, and Dedric stepped outside of the household and walked to a nearby fountain. The fountain was tall and the water it spouted was sparkling. Leon sat down on the edge of the fountain with Royland standing beside him with his arms folded. Dedric stayed near them with his back turned to them while his gaze stayed on the ground.

It was silent before Dedric began to talk.

“Y’know, my house name was once thought of as highly as House Nightwell,” said Dedric.

His mood was still sour from the earlier discord with Magnus.

Leon and Royland’s ears perked up to Dedric’s words.

“However, that changed during the war with the demons. My father and his squad were captured by a group of demons. He and comrades were tortured into letting them know the positions of the rest of the army,” Dedric explained.

“None of them let out a word – none of them, except my father. The captured knights managed to escape one night but my father was punished and branded as a traitor for releasing important information to the enemy. Word of his misdeed spread. Bannermen, servants, and knights of our house left us, our reputation was rotten,” Dedric finished his story with a scowl on his face.

He moved towards the fountain and looked at his reflection. He kept silent as Leon and Royland looked towards him.

“Your brother is right in a way. He has no reason to listen to a man whose House has fallen so far. But the Duch– ”

Dedric turned his head as he was going to continue.

“Roy!” a young woman’s voice heard from the distance.

Royland turned his head, “Anna!”

“Vivian! Jaina!” Leon turned his head as well and saw his younger and older sister.

A small distance from Leon’s group, Vivian, Anna, and Jaina were seen making their way towards them.

Vivian waved her hand at Leon, excited to her older brother again. She was younger than Leon and the two looked very similar to each other. Though she looked a tiny bit more feminine. The biggest difference between them was their hair color. Leon has raven black hair while Vivian’s was dirty blonde. Vivian started to resemble her mother, Aria, more as her body started to develop nicely. She was on the shorter side, but her body accentuated her curves.

She had clear white skin and her long hair was tied in a ponytail by a pink ribbon with the sides tucked gently behind the ears. She was wearing a simple white long sleeve shirt and a pink skirt that matched her ribbon. Tied to her was a familiar green mantle. She was running towards Leon with an excited expression.

Behind Vivian was Royland’s younger sister, Anna. She and Vivian were around the same age. She looked very pretty with her long blonde hair and slightly tanned skin. Anna was a bit taller than Vivian and had a nice figure to her as well. Her gentle eyes and warm smile were a sight to behold. She wore a simple purple dress that was easy for her to move in.

Ever since she was taken in by House Nightwell, Anna tried her hardest in her studies to support her older brother. She and Royland were still considered commoners but they didn’t let that fact bother them. She and Vivian attended the same school together, while Vivian took extra lessons for healing magic. Like Vivian, Anna took an interest in music and started learning about dancing and songs from her. The two were very close friends ever since they were children.

Slowly making her way from behind Vivian and Anna was Leon’s older sister, Jaina. Unlike the two girls in front, Jaina was already an adult woman with an air of maturity to her. She had a tall, slim body that was fit and ready to fight. She was out of armor today since she was only escorting Vivian and Anna from school, so she was wearing a simple black shirt and brown pants that both hugged her body tight and showed off her fit body. Last time Leon saw her, she kept her warm auburn hair short. It seemed now she was growing it out as she was able to tie it into a bun.

Jaina escorted Vivian and Anna who were on a break from their studies in the capital.

Vivian ran up to her brother and jumped into his arms. Leon swung her around as the two laughed.

“Your back, Leo!” she laughed as Leon put her back down.

Vivian was always a shy child when she was younger, however, she started to grow more cheerful and open in recent years.

Leon chuckled in response and nodded his head. He turned towards Jaina and showed her a warm smile.

“That hairstyle suits you, Jaina,” Leon complimented.

Jaina smiled in response to him. Leon faced the last girl, Anna, and looked at her gently.

“And it’s good to see you, Anna.”

“It’s nice to see you too, Leo,” Anna responded with a gentle, warm expression with a small blush.

Then, like her friend Vivian, she ran to her own brother excitedly like a little puppy, “Roy!”

“Anna,” Royland looked towards his little sister and the two hugged each other.

“We’ve heard the news. It sounds like you fought bravely against those revolutionaries,” said Jaina.

“I’m sure Father would be proud if he could see you now,” she continued.

“Thank you, Jaina,” answered Leon.

Jaina showed a cheerful smile, “Hah! Your pretty face hasn’t changed at all! Why not show a little joy at being praised by your older sister!”

Leon became embarrassed as Vivian and Anna giggled while Royland laughed at Jaina’s “pretty face” compliment. There were only a few people that Leon didn’t get angry at for calling him pretty, and Jaina was one of them.

“And don’t think we’ve left you out, Royland! Don’t think your actions went gone unheard. Anna here’s been so full of pride and joy when she heard your name that I fear she’d burst!” Jaina laughed.

Anna’s faced turned red from Jaina’s words as Vivian laughed along.

“I-I was just a bit excited. I’m just happy to see Roy,” said a red-faced Anna.

Royland smiled at his sister. It’s been a while since he’d last seen her and he’s content to see that she looked healthy and happy.

“I as well. How goes school?” he asked.

Anna tilted her head to the side, “It’s fine, I’m treated quite nicely.”

Jaina interrupted the conversation, “I’d wish there were more time to catch up, but I’ve to go and prepare my group to catch those revolutionaries. I’ll be heading back to our estate in the capital to settle some business first. Leon, Royland. I’ll leave your sisters with you and depart. We’ll likely meet again at your knight academy to watch the tournament.”

Jaina turned around and started to walk away from the group while waving her hand. However, not a few feet away, she stopped.

“Ah, I’ve forgotten to tell you something. We’ve received a notice from those revolutionaries a day before you’ve arrived,” she said with her back turned towards them.

“What!?”

Dedric, who was quiet during the family reunion between the group, shouted.

Jaina turned around, “Something about the situation seems unclear to me. They are brigands to be sure, inclined to bring down the crown. Yet they think themselves righteous, marking those of noble blood and the ones under their employ.”

She paused for a moment before continuing.

“Considering that, is the reason behind the Duchess’ kidnapping to fill their purses with gold?”

“For what else would they? They’re naught but common thieves!” Dedric quickly responded with a heated expression.

Jaina closed her eyes for a moment in thought and opened them a few seconds later.

“Some of the spies I’ve planted among them haven’t sent word in some time. I believe they may have been caught in something serious. However, we’ve not enough hands to send help to find them.”

“Where were they last heard from?” questioned Leon.

Jaina pondered briefly.

“The City of Sin, Desdero, a couple of days from here,” she replied.

Jaina turned around to depart again. Before she took a step, she turned her head to the side.

“Magnus will be busy for the next few days. An idle body makes one grow awfully dull and bored. Wouldn’t you agree, Leon? Royland?” she asked with a tone that seemed to imply something.

She turned her head forward and began to walk away from the group.

Leon understood what his sister meant as he watched her back moving away from them.

“Desdero…” he said, his next destination determined.

Royland smiled as he understood Leon’s intentions.

“Forgive us, Anna. It looks as though we have different plans for a couple of days,” Royland said to his sister.

Anna shook her head, “It’s fine, brother. I just hope you’d take care of yourself.”

The two siblings hugged as Royland said, “I will, I will. I’ve Leon to watch me while I’m gone! Keep working hard and I’ll be by your side before you know it.”

Anna nodded her head while in her brother’s arms.

The two let each other go.

“Good. I’ll drop you off to your room before we depart,” said Royland.

Royland, Anna, and Dedric began to walk back into the estate.

“Anna wears a brave face for her brother, but the truth is not as sweet as her words.”

Leon was about to follow them but stopped after hearing what Vivian said to him.

Leon was surprised by his sister’s words. Unlike Jaina’s suggestion, he was unable to decipher Vivian’s statement.

He stayed behind to talk to Vivian privately while the others were gone.

“How so?”

“She has a hard time in our class. The other girls tease her for being of common blood. I’ve tried my best to cheer her up and stand up for her. I’ve told her countless times that her birth doesn’t define who she is. She puts on a smile now, but I know she secretly feels hurt by the other girls’ words,” explained Vivian.

“…” Leon stayed silent and contemplated Vivian’s story.

She looked at Leon’s face and said, “Don’t worry. Forget I’ve ever said anything. You’ve more than enough worries to handle on your own.”

“Vivian, I–“

Vivian interrupted Leon. “Anna will be fine. I’m looking out for her after all, remember? That’s what mother told us to. Please don’t tell Royland. His intentions are well, but his help may hurt Anna even more and make her feel helpless.”

Leon smiled at her kind younger sister. He knew she was shy, and it must have taken her a lot of courage to stand up for Anna. He was proud of her for sticking up for her friend. Better yet, those two were practically sisters.

“Then I won’t worry. But be sure to know your place. You can’t hold responsibility for everything.”

Vivian giggled in response, “Says the brother with a pretty face that believes he must do all that others expect of him.”

Leon smiled while scratching the back of his head.

Vivian wore a serious expression for a moment.

“Don’t let others say who you are, Leon Nightwell,” Vivian stated, “And remember to take care of yourself! You know how much trouble likes to follow you around.”

“Hah! Now you’re beginning to sound more like Mother!”

Vivian cutely pouted at Leon’s remark as he kept laughing.

Leon walked back into the estate to catch up with the others while Vivian stayed behind for a minute.

Vivian kept still as she felt the wind blow a gentle breeze on her. She gazed at the surface of the water in the fountain as it looked calm and tranquil.

“Please be safe, Leon…”