Sunrise, the sunrays gently shining through the forest. The forest trees swaying left and right dancing along with the wind. The early birds once again chirping and feeding their little ones with worms and the like. The faraway breeze carrying a chilling morning across the forest. Within a lone wooden cabin, two people are peacefully sleeping on the bed. The sunlight glaring brightly onto the young man’s face from the window while the wind whispers into his ears.

“Ugh…”

Yseif slowly opened his eyes and looked at his sleeping daughter cuddled in his arms. Smiling, he shifted his body aside and got off the bed without waking her up. Yseif got dressed into his normal attire for going to the village. The outfit was black in color, leather made top, slightly baggy cotton pants, a pair of boot and glove, and a short sword on his left side. Yseif, looking like any other adventuring youth, started preparation to head out.

“Tamara…” *Swoosh* A shadow appeared next to Yseif. It was swift and silent, like an assassin.

“Take care of Sana while I’m away.”

“Arf Arf”

A magic circle shone under Yseif’s legs. The circle was a star shaped pentagram surrounded by two circles, enclosing the pentagram within it. With a slight bright light and a puff, he disappeared, leaving only the shadow at the location by itself.

Tamara, a small black dog which was raised by Yseif since it was born. Its fur glossy black and its eyes pearl dark like the abyss. It was the first pet that Yseif’s wife loved so he took care of it. Even after she was gone, he still took care of Tamara until she grew unintendedly stronger. Through the countless years spent together, Tamara and Yseif shared an unshakable bond. Tamara obediently became Yseif’s shadow.

***

Yseif appeared on the outskirt of the small village, Hamada. Hamada is a tribal village situated on the outer ring of the Bermudian Kingdom. Around the outer ring are other similar villages situated across the plains. The Bermudian Kingdom is a subordinate of the Balestein Empire, the strongest empire currently after the Aldamedia Empire disappeared.

Balestein Empire is situated westward from the Heaven’s Fall crater. Because the Aldamedia Empire does not exist anymore, the Balestein Empire started their movement into the Aldamedia territories. The Bermudian Kingdom is in charge of guarding the border between the Balestein Empire and the Demon’s territorial barrier. Eastward of the Bermudian Kingdom is the Demon’s territorial barrier while the Balestein Empire is located westward.

Hamada is as noisy as ever with kids running and role playing as monsters and adventurers. The elders setting up stalls to sell merchandise while the travelers were touring through the village. The stalls were set in a neat formation, not cluttering up the space for people to walk through nor blocking the dirt path going towards the houses. The village usually gets up early to work so the village was always lively early in the morning. As Yseif walked into the village, he heard many chattering about a new group of heretics. Heretics, those who goes against Goddess Raella’s teachings and blessings.

“Did you know that the Church of Balestein has found another village of heretics in the outer ring?”

“I heard that one of them managed to escape from the Church.”

“Shh, don’t say it too loud, you may get executed for it. The Church is very strict about its teachings.”

“But that heretic must be strong to be able escape the encampment of the Church.”

“I heard that the heretic was very scary looking, like a demon.”

“Mah, that’s so scary.”

“Shh, we’ve got a customer now.”

Yseif walked onto the same stall he always goes to. In this village, he is known as Vorn, a hardworking and loving brother who is taking care of his sister by himself. As his sister is sick, the brother would always provide for his sister. They live outside the village because the house they’re currently in is in memory of their parents.

“Ma’am 3 rabbit jerky and the same vegetables please.”

“Oh, Vorn, same ole’ thing again huh…”

“Your sick sister must really like eating rabbit jerky, you get those every time.”

“Haha, my sister loves eating it, so I appreciate you guys always providing them cheaply.”

“You must be careful living outside of the village by yourself with your sister.”

Suddenly, Yseif looked away from the stall and towards the distant mountains. After a slight pause, he turned back to the stall owners. The elderly couples were busy gathering and packaging the vegetables. They were arguing and fighting over which ones were the freshest. At this sight, Yseif just smiled.

“Thank you for the advice Ma’am, but I must get going before my sister wakes up”

“Take care of yourself too”

“Will do”

Yseif walked off after buying his groceries and rabbit jerkies. Watching the young man walk away, the two elderly couple looked at his back. His back was wide and steady but somehow, the couple felt the loneliness hidden deep within.

“He is so young yet so caring for his sister.” The old women said with a hint of lament.

“Must be tough living by himself taking care of his sister.” The old man chimed in.

“If only he’d accept our proposal to take care of them.” The old women remarked.

“Ha, what can we do when he declined?” Shrugging his shoulders, the old man curtly replied.

“…”

Walking away from the village, Yseif once again used magic to reappear at the cabin. The whole trip wasn’t very long so Sana is still sleeping soundly. Yseif threw a rabbit jerky into his shadow and it disappeared immediately in thin air.

“You can go back to sleep now Tamara.”

“Arf Arf.”

*Swoosh* Tamara disappeared with a puff of smoke. She came silently and she disappeared silently.

Sana soon woke up to the smell of food and another day passed by for the father and daughter pair. After Sana went to sleep and night fell, Yseif quietly got up and left the cabin while leaving Tamara to guard over Sana.

Midnight, the moonlight brightly lighting up the shadows of night. The sound of flowing water echoed through the woods. The breeze slightly colder than usual. Yseif walked towards the river where Sana and he were fishing before. Within the eerie night, blood flowed down the river slowly causing the water to be dyed in deep shades of blue. A shadow of a body can be found on its shore, not moving nor breathing.