After traveling for a few days, the group reached the city, Agon. It’s bastion walls, seemed to reach the sky. From the outside, you could hear the bustling city. Cresting the last hill before the main gate, there was a line of people, with carts, and bags. “Those people there are peddlers, they make their living selling odd and different objects. Their costs could be anywhere from a few copper bits, to gold coins.” Alicia informed.

“Thanks,” Scythe spoke, “So what is a city like?”

“Huh… that is a hard one to explain. It’s the kinda thing you need to experience for yourself.” Alicia scratched her nose, “Honey, would you agree.”

“Yeah,” Zander looked back, “but even in a bright city, the shadows can be even darker, and hide frightful truths. Alicia, do we tell him now, or let him find out?”

“He’ll find out either way,” Alicia answered.

“Scythe, Alicia and I are…”

“Your majesty, you have returned!?” a guard shouted, “the queen regent has every guard looking out for you.”

“So she has. Scythe… I was just about to tell you. We would’ve told you sooner, but neither of us knew who you were, I’m sorry, but what he says is true. I am the current king. Are you okay?” Zander’s shoulders dropped.

“It’s fine. Just a little surprised that all.” Scythe downplayed his surprise.

“Well let's go on in,” Alicia spoke.

Led in by the guard, the group made their way to the castle. Upon reaching the castle gate, a horn blew, and the town crier shouted, “HIS MAJESTY THE KING, HAS RETURNED!”

“I didn’t miss that, for sure,” Zander commented

“It kinda feels embarrassing now.”

“But the worst is yet to come.” Zander sighed.

A moment later, the castle hall doors were kicked open as a woman in half-plate armor came running out, and picked Zander up by his collar, “NOW YOU COME BACK! Do you know how much stress I’ve been under? Leading a kingdom isn’t exactly easy you know.” the woman shouted in Zanders's face.

“Well nice to see you too sis, and please stop yelling, you will wake up the kids.”

Zander’s sister took a deep breath, “Fine, but you are getting an earful later. So who is the white hair kid?”

“Scythe this is my sister, Astela, Astela this is Scythe, my adoptive son. I found him in the sewer almost now, what, two, maybe three years ago. He says he has a family to the north, but he hasn’t seen them in years. Let's just say he has a tough history.”

“Zander, we are the northernmost kingdom, anything else is dragon territory. How do you know he isn’t a spy?”

“I saw something on him that no child should have.” Zander looked at Scythe, “Do you mind if I share it, or do you want to show them?”

“You can tell her.” Scythe shivered.

“He said… he was a slave, for a couple of years.” Zander choked

Astela covered her mouth, “poor child, you’ve been through a lot. Since you are my brother's kid, you are one of the family. Welcome home, Scythe.”

“Thanks.” Scythe scratched his head.

“Oh, I almost forgot, Scythe, there is a forge here. I remember you talking about that once. But the forge master might not let you work on it until you prove your skills.”

“Really!?” Scythe perked up, “Where is it?”

“Zander, Alicia you two head-on in, I would like to talk to Scythe, and I will lead him to the forge,” Astela suggested.

“Okay,” Zander stepped closer, the words were too quiet to hear. After that Zander led Alicia in. “Now they are gone, who are you? My brother is kind, but he won’t take in a stranger.”

“I think it might be because he saved me from almost dying, he also saw the… the scars I have.” Scythe moved his collar and leaned his head to the side, revealing three deep scars on his left shoulder, “there are more…”

Astela put her hand on Scythe’s shoulder, “Kid, there is no need to show me more. Those, I know what made those scars, it’s a torture tool made by an opposing kingdom to our southeast, I’ve seen worse, but I’ve also seen better. You are still young, so most of those should fade, if not, I’ll see what I can do about contacting a grand healer. But, let's make haste to the forge.”

Getting to the workshop, Scythe smelled the burning coals and remembered some good things. “My uncle taught me when I was young, he helped me out a lot.” Scythe had a genuine smile.

“Oh, what was his name?”

“Irgo, Uncle Irgo, he never said the last name.”

“He isn’t by any chance, a tall broad-chested man, with velvety black hair with a scar threw his eyebrow.”

“That sounds right, it’s been a few years, but he didn’t have a scar.”

“Well, let's see,” Astela opened the door, you could see the heat seep out, slightly distorting everything. “I never get used to that heat, HEY IRGO!”

The smith stopped hammering and put his metal back in the fire. “What's up?”

“I would like you to meet someone, his name is, well come on, introduce yourself.”

“Hello, my name is…”

“Scythe, it’s been a few years.” Irgo placed his giant hand on Scythe’s shoulder, “Your mothers, spent years looking for you, luna is still looking for you, and Sol, is well herself, but something changed.”

“I’m sorry.” Scythe looked down, “It’s just after I caused Aurora pain, I… I just couldn’t stay.”

“Speaking of Aurora, she has turned into quite the warrior, she could silently cast the last time I saw her. By now, she could probably give me a run for my money.”

“Well, I guess there is no need for introductions. I’m going to head out.”

“Talk to you later.” Irgo waved

After Astela left, Irgo started talking, “after you left as you did, Aurora took it upon herself to find you, Luna and Sol wouldn’t let her leave until she could beat me in a fight. She has quite the determination. But what the hell was in that cave? Luna and Sol were terrified after Aurora talked about it. So what was in there?”

“I… I don’t know, a purple-black fire. That's all I can remember at the moment, I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t agree to anything did you, like a contract?”

“No, I don’t think I did.”

“Liar” a voice spoke inside Scythe’s head.

“I really can’t remember.”

“It’s fine, it all fine,” Irgo scratched his head, “it’s been what five maybe six years now, you grew up well, I’m just going to say this when you are ready, you can tell me what happened.”

“I.. I was… I was a slave, I was beaten senseless a lot. When I escaped, two other slaves were killed, and I fell into a river, I woke up in a dark tunnel, I don’t remember much, except for when I saw a light. That was how I met Alicia and Zander.”

Irgo covered his mouth, and rubbed his finger along his cheek, “Well, it’s been a while, but I have a spare forge you could use if you want too?”

“You know, that sounds like fun, it's been a while. So I might be a little rusty."

"Well, we all start somewhere, who knows you might remember more after you start."

Irgo shoveled out some red hot coals, pouring it into the other forge, and added some more unheated coals on top. Scythe worked the bellows, getting a nice hot pot. After working for a while, Scythe took off a few layers to cool down. Keeping at it until Irgo was tired. "Hey kid, make sure to spread out your coals."

"Huh oh yeah, I'll do that." Scythe was focused on his metalwork. After Irgo went out, Scythe spread out his coals and cleaned up. When he was finally done, Scythe grabbed his clothes and left. Zander was waiting outside. "Hey kid, how was the forging?"

"It was a lot of fun. I didn't realize how much I missed it." Scythe excitedly spoke.

"Well, that's good to hear. Follow me, I'll lead you to your room."

After walking for a short while, Scythe broke the silence, "thank you."

"What for?" Zander asked

"Well for all of this. Letting me into your home, twice now. And when it happens, your help with the Guild. I don't know how to pay you back. I also want to know more about sword fighting. I feel I was too slow with that snake."

"Slow?" Zander gave Scythe a look "I can help you, I also think Astela would help you as well. She said you were a good kid, and she is rarely wrong about people."

"Once again thank you."

"Your welcome."

With Zander leading the way, Scythe had time to look at all the paintings, one of which stood out more than others. "Hey, Zander, what is this painting?"

Zander turned around, "oh that one. I think that one is named Victory of The Twin Goddesses, it's been in the castle since my grandfather was young. It's always been there. I think the names of those two Goddesses are, Luna and…"

"Sol."

"If you knew why did you ask?"

"I was wondering what that black fire is."

"That's a long story. Let me get the book, at least the library is right here. Wait there I'll be back." Zander slipped into the library.

Sitting alone, Scythe heard that voice again, "why so interested now, you never wanted to know before. All you wanted was power."

"I never agreed to this."

"Oh, but you did. You wanted to save that girl." the voice retorted. “And you agreed to my terms, with a soul contract. Mind you that I gave you ten years, it’s already been eight, you need to get better quite fast if you want to keep living.”

“Fine, I’ll do it then.”

“... Hey Scythe, who were you talking to?” Zander exited the library.

“Sorry just thinking about some stuff.”

“It’s fine, It’s fine, well that book has been missing for some time now, the name is The corruption of the white flame it’s a long title, and an even longer read, I think something like 400 pages. Well, let's get you to bed.”

“Yeah.”

Scythe continued to be led by Zander. It was only a few turns until they reached the room Scythe would stay in. “this is one of the larger rooms, it kinda has a dojo feel to it, and the walls are a solid three feet thick.”

“It’s nice, it's kinda like home.”

“I thought you were from the north?”

“I am, but this room is very similar to my mother's home.”

“So you have eastern blood? You look more northerner. Well, goodnight.” Zander said as he started to leave.

“Yeah, goodnight.” Scythe closed the door behind Zander.