“Alright, take that!” he tried for a reckless attack to my sides after circling around me, following up with a cry that made his position obvious.

“Firstly, you can't yell out loud unless it's necessary,” I blocked his attack rather easily, knocking him and his wooden sword away from me. His tenacity and grit kept him grounded to my surprise; his weapon still in hand. “And make sure, as much as possible, to always be on guard in case your attack doesn't go through. But it's another thing to think about it and make sure your attack goes through.”

“Got it! I'll get it right next time,” he announced, taking breaths as he had already made use of most of it by hacking at me relentlessly the moment we stood opposite of each other.

Caden’s perseverance was the one thing that kept him up. There were other traits, but this one was obvious by looking at him.

I know that it was terrible to underestimate a child’s will to learn, but that was my undoing. I was almost caught off guard as each time I parried his attacks away, he would come back with even more ferocity.

But as expected, his attacks were on the level that I gauged it to be. It wasn't terrible, but it was a good start. I don't know if I'm thinking about things the right way since Daphne’s teachings are a lot more complicated that one would think. There's just an understanding that I still fail to realize, but all she says is that it was her father’s teachings which were passed on to her.

I was quite jealous of his zeal. If I had that, then I would be able to accomplish a lot more than I think. I lack something, a lot of it. But I know that it'll come in time as long as I keep moving forward. What these two children have for aspirations are pushing their boundaries faster and farther than how others could perceive them, and in years, their dreams might become a reality soon enough.

“Take a break, Caden. You've done all you can, so there's no use pushing it for today.”

“What? No way! I can still go on. Watch me!” he ran for me, sword raised up high.

I sighed. I thought about it, but I never knew that it would be real that his temperament would bring this about.

With one hand, I prepared to meet him and parry his weapon away forcibly so that he would listen to me. I inched my wooden sword forward and placed my right leg forward, tensing the right part of my body just enough for him to not be hurt.

The moment I clashed with him, I had not expected for this to happen.

I half heartedly tried to parry him, but that was a failure in my part. The lack of commitment in the strength and focus needed to parry him was not enough, so the clash was drawn to a sudden halt.

Once he noticed that I was struggling with knocking his weapon from his hand just like before, he made a confident grin appear on his face. With the weight of his small body, he tried pushing further, taking advantage of my astonishment.

“See? This time, I'm going to beat you even before Dante gets a chance at being a knight!” he again yelled out to empower him.

This is bad. My grip on the hilt is slipping! I'm the teacher, but I'm getting too complacent. I need to keep my composure and take the advantage back, otherwise, what kind of teacher am I to be surpassed and beaten by his student a few moments after taking him in?

Taking a deep breath in, I pressed forward with my left leg and pushed him back, giving me the small opening that I needed.

With that, I spun and used that momentum to hit upwards, sending his sword flying in the air, spinning, the door landed on the ground with a clanking noise. His attention was pointed there, and he was in a daze.

“Huh, guess I'll take a break then,” he said, collapsing on the ground with his arms open wide. He looked up, breathing calmly. It didn't look like he was hurt, nor was there any bruises on his hand, so that was good to know.

“I really thought that I had you. What a letdown.”

Yeah, I almost let Daphne, Sir Hark, my father, and myself down with that.

“You're doing fine. But rushing it is never good. Take a break, then you'll come back better than ever. Is there someone that trained you before me?”

“So you're amazed with my skill, huh? No. I didn't have a teacher. I just watched the local guards and knights around the city when they would train. It was hard since they'd chase me away whenever I got close, but I saw enough to copy that,” he smiled while laughing. “How about you? Anyone teach you?”

“Yes. Well, three teachers. They're all good fighters. But compared to me, I still have a long way to before I can catch up to them –“

I turned my attention to Dante who nervously tugged on my sleeve.

“I-I want to learn too, please.” he exclaimed.

“Don't worry, I was getting to that. Why don't we start right away?”

While Caden fought with his perseverance and will, Dante fought with his intellect and stratagems. most his moves were thought out and well timed, but because of that, his reactions on how to implement those techniques in his mind were slower than what he anticipated. To add to that, he lacks the strength behind his strike to fully pull through.

“You're thinking about what to do next too much. Try to think briefly, then act. You seem a bit doubtful.”

With that, he stiffened his body to imitate Caden, using the same stance as well.

The way he moved and the way he attacked were too similar with how Caden was. It was as if I was looking at a mirror image. But the only difference was, it was modified to a degree where the reckless attacks I called out earlier were covered up and improved. That would have been fearsome, but there was a clear lack of power.

His eyes always seemed to have fear and anxiety in them. Maybe those are the things binding him down.

This went on for another good half hour until he worked up a good sweat. The way they were able to grasp the basics easily was progress enough.

“Alright, let’s take a quick break for now. You two have done great for today, so let’s continue tomorrow.”

Caden quickly rose up with a lively look on his face, refreshed from the earlier burst of energy. He came up and sat beside me, leaning his backs to the wall behind us, and so did Dante.

“What did you think, not bad, right?”

“It’s a good start. If you keep it up, then it won’t be too long until you succeed. Keep up the good work. The same goes for you, Dante. But if it’s alright, I’d like to see something from both of you after you’ve rested. It’s just a premonition, but I think it’s a good idea.”

“What is it? Don’t keep us in suspense. I don’t think there’s any use to that now,” Caden insisted with a silly grin on his face. “I think we can handle it no matter what, so lay it on us!”

“I think you and Dante would make a great pair when you fight together. After seeing you two fight, you’re more of an offensive striker while Dante is a defensive guard whom focuses on covering his openings. If you two fought together and each one focuses on their own roles as one, then it might work. But for now, let’s rest. It’s been a long day for me.”

“What exactly have you been doing, Sir Zachary?”

“I think the ‘Sir’ isn’t needed anymore, Dante. Just call me Zachary. It’s better that way.”

“Oh, I understand. Then I will do that.”

“I’ve noticed that you’ve gotten calmer around me. That’s good. Well, for what I’ve been doing, I’m searching for someone alongside a few friends of mine. It’s a long story, but we think that she’s here in Alrifer somewhere.”

“Oh, we can help you find her if you want. I know a good part of the slums, so you can count on me!” said Caden with a brimming amount of fire in his eyes.

“For your mother’s sake, I think we should stick to training you for now. I wouldn’t want to worry her more than she already is.”

“Well, what can you do? It’s just the two of us. She gave me a good scolding, but I know she meant well by it.”

“She certainly is kind for letting you off the hook that easily.”

“Eh, that’s just who she is. By the way, what did you two talk about?”

“Nothing much. I just introduced myself and that was it for the most part. She told me to keep you on a short leash since you tend to go where danger is close.”

“Huh? She worries too much. Going through danger is what makes a man! If a man doesn’t know what danger is, then he’ll freeze up when he gets a piece of the action.”

As Caden rambled on, I remembered what his mother and I spoke about.

After she found us entering through the window, she immediately nursed Caden and gave him a good scolding, which was the first of a two-part scolding that was done after I had left.

She looked distressed as she came back into the room. She looked very young, I, only being a few inches taller than her. She sported a long tied back dark hair. She said that she was thirty-two years old which was hard to believe. I remember how it all played out…

“Please forgive my son for any trouble he has caused you. I swear, that child follows and is followed by trouble wherever he goes,” she released a sigh as she sat on the chair in the small room of their house.

Their house was built with sturdy looking wooden planks but was assembled in a frantic, and chaotic way, so most of the room is not much aligned like every other house. It was tidy enough, different from the area outside. The interior structure looked fairly reliable, but not one you could feel comfortable with. Despite that, it was their home.

“Don’t worry. He wasn’t that much trouble. But he does seem like a handful. Are you alright?”

“Ah, yes, I can agree with you on that. But please don’t worry about me. I can handle this much. In truth, I’ve known of him escaping at night just recently, but I hadn’t the time to ask him until now. What reason does that child have for leaving at night worrying me? And what’s worse, he always brings Dante along with him on his dangerous escapades. If something happens to him, then there will be hell to pay with the noblemen once they find out a nobleman’s child has befriended a child from the slums.”

“They seem like good friends, don’t they?”

“They do. And I trust Caden to make good decisions, but as his only parent, I can’t help but worry. He is always going on about wanting to be a knight and learning how to fight. Does that have anything to do with you, I wonder?” she smiled weakly. “Will you tell me what happened?”

“I’m afraid it does. I will tell you. It seems that I made a commotion that caused them to look to me to train them. I tried convincing them that I wasn’t qualified for it, but they insisted. I made quite the terrible impression since they stormed away suddenly, so I gave chase to them…” I continued explaining the entire events to her leading up to this point, but her face didn’t change in the least. She listened intently until the end, keeping her discerning eye on me.

“Is that so? If he thinks that you can do it, then he must really trust you. He has always gone on about growing through experiences like his father taught him in the past, I guess he’s starting to follow in his footsteps. I can’t stop him if he’s this adamant about it, so all I can do is to ask you to look after him and teach him as best as you can. He has never had an older brother, so maybe someone like you would teach him better than any knight or soldier would. I know that this is too much of a request, but -”

“It’s alright. I’ve decided to help them both. It’s for their sakes too. Their motivation will make them into great people someday, not because of my teachings, but because of their ambitions. I hope I get to see that.”

“And why won’t you be able to?”

“I just have this feeling that I won’t be able to. Soon I’ll need to go somewhere far away.”

“Don’t looks so sad now. So you’re an adventurer, are you?”

“Something like that.”

She started grasping at the air on her table, realizing that nothing was there, her eyes widened.

“Ah, pardon me! I forgot to serve a guest something to drink, where are my manners?”

She stood up abruptly and started looking through the cabinets and cupboards.

She returned with two cups, handing one to me.

“This is a drink brewed from a well-known herbal leaf called the Balasitra local to the kingdom of Vals-Varyn to the far north. This jar filled with it was given to me as a gift from a cafe to the south of Alrifer, and it’s worked wonders with relieving stress and anxiety especially in the cold. Try some.”

There was a wafting aroma of vanilla and cream, a soft fragrance that soothed my sense of smell. It almost felt like the drink was charming me into drinking it. The warmth helped ease the chill from the wind outside.

“Good, isn’t it? Well, let me take this chance to introduce myself. I know I should’ve done this earlier, but I just don’t know how to act when there are guests around. There haven’t been any save for Dante, but you’re the second, I guess. My name is Julia Laforte. I come from another continent, but I lived in this one for years.”

“Erinn, Zachary Erinn. It’s nice to meet you too. I hope that I’m not intruding. It’s late at night, after all.”

“Erinn… It feels like I’ve heard that name before, but I can’t quite remember. Don’t worry about the little things. You seem trustworthy enough. The fact that you brought my son back here and didn’t leave him there shows it. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing to thank me for. I would’ve done it otherwise, but it’s starting to get too late. I need to bring back Dante before his father finds out.”

“I agree with that. Well then, come back here whenever you feel like it. You can treat this as your second home. It’s the least I can do for agreeing to my son’s request,” she smiled.

With Dante at my side, we then departed to the other part of the city where the noblemen live.

It was difficult to sneak past since the checkpoints and the guards are strict when it came to inspecting people coming and going through the gates. So I tried the back alleys where Dante showed me the path he took with Caden when he escapes nightly.

Once we reached an empty street, Dante stopped to look.

“I think this is fine. I can make it back on my own from here. T-Thank you very much for agreeing to train us. I will be looking forward to it.”

And that was how things ended.

I returned to the inn when everyone was fast asleep. That was about it.

I came back the night after we’ve finished our time of searching the city, but no luck. So here I am again, an entire week spent searching and training.

“But what about your father, Dante? Did he find out that you were out for the night?”

“No. He usually stays out late or doesn’t bother me when it’s time for bed. He would be found often in his office doing work both as a statesman and a nobleman.”

“What a carefree parent. Well, if he’s that adamant about it, then let him be. Let’s get back to training, shall we? We’ve still got a long way to go.

So the two of them resumed training despite it being late. They had enough to spare, but their rash actions did them in badly. If they only had enough energy, then this would be a sound draw for both of them.

“Haa, haa, I-I can’t keep going. This is just too much. I can’t believe I wasn’t able to get a single hit in.”

“I, agree. I’m spent.”

Both of them fell flat on their backs heaving heavy breaths.

After I tried to instill in their minds the strategy of working together, they were unable to adjust to it right away, but even with that, they were a furious combination, attacking relentlessly left and right, not giving me an inch until their energy was spent.

The only way I was able to retaliate was in defense.

The surprise in the fluidity of their connection was something to behold, but it needed refinement to be called as such.

As a result, I was exhausted beyond belief, having to fight an enemy that was quicker and had two swords, both with a mind of its own.

“I guess you’re right. Let’s take a stroll around the commercial district and get something to eat. I can spare a few copper coins for a cheap meal.”

The two of them rose up forcibly and cheered, “Finally! A reward.”

We arrived to the same familiar path that Aster and I had taken when we first arrived here. The commotion I caused that day still remains fresh till this day since the gaze of the people’s familiarity in me was apparent, not that I couldn’t notice their gazes and murmurs, but I chose to ignore it.

“There! the ham cutlet sandwich here is amazing. I’ve only gotten to taste it twice, but I can’t ever forget the taste!”

Caden ran off with Dante chasing him from behind.

Before we had left, I questioned how difficult it would be to simply stroll around with Dante left in the open to be recognized, but we planned to disguise him with Caden’s clothing which he reluctantly agreed to. So if one were to look at him, he would appear as just another child from the slums.

“Come on, Zach! Don’t daze off. You gotta make sure you keep the promise, otherwise you’ll get it!”

“You’re too lively, cut me some slack.”

But as I tried to chase after them, the familiar figure and face of someone stopped me dead on my tracks.

She stared blankly into the alley where the light of the moon illuminated its path. Her presence alone found attention rather easily, or maybe she was already the center of attention even before I had gotten here.

“Are you lost?”

I asked, trying to see if she remembers me.

She turned to my direction in surprise, backing away a few inches but stopping until she seemed to recognize my face.

“I can’t believe that we’ve met again. I was thinking that that moment would be the last time I would see you, but my wishes have been answered.”

“Why would you want to see me again?”

“I never got the chance to thank you for saving me. I know this is long overdue, but, thank you! What you did for me meant a lot, so there is only way I could think of repaying you.”

“Repay me? There’s no need to. I didn’t save you for a reward. I would’ve saved you otherwise, so no need to fret over that.”

“But please, hear me out. I don’t think it will sit right with me if I allow this great favor to remain unpaid.”

“Alright then, if you really want to, then I won’t stop you.”

“Very well, but first, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Maris Vilraf.”

“Zachary Erinn. Nice to finally get you name. Maris is a nice name.”

“Thank you very much for the compliment. Then if you’ll allow me, Sir Erinn - “

“It’s alright if you use Zachary. It makes things simple somehow, so I’d like that better, if you don’t mind.”

“Ahem, forgive me. Then, Zachary, I would like to invite you to the royal castle to be a guest. I would like for you to come for brunch the day after tomorrow so that you may also meet the princess. She is looking forward to meeting you… I would also like to talk with you for a moment during that time. That is all.”

“That is all? I don’t think that’s a simple enough thing to accept. Why does the princess suddenly want to see me?”

“She has heard of your deeds through me, and so she would like to give you her thanks. Should I have not have said that?”

“Well, that matters little now.”

The way things are, I don’t have the option of declining. The earnest look in her eyes and the pleading gestures are all too difficult to decline. What could go wrong?

“If you’ll have me, then I will go, but only for that time.”

“The princess will certainly be delighted to hear that! I am, after all. Thank you for your time, Sir Zach, I mean, Zachary. I hope that the day passes by quickly so that we may meet each other once more!”

She quickly moved through the crowds, waving goodbye after she bowed curtly like a prim and proper nobleman. The way she spoke was similar to that as well.

Just what have I gotten myself into?

“So that is what she looks like, the princess’ attendant, Maris Vilraf. I’ve only heard of her because of her lineage, but this is the first time I’ve seen her,” said Dante.

“She doesn’t look that terrifying for a demon. Why do people talk badly about her anyway?”

“That’s just how things are, Caden. When the two of you grow up, you’ll fully understand the thinking of people and why it always contradicts the each other. But why don’t we get that sandwich first?”

We sat on the same park bench where we first met. There the moon was in plain sight, giving off a refreshing cool wind that howled softly along the bed of grass and the leaves of the trees.

Caden busily played with Von while Dante sat beside me, silently looking at Caden.

He was the first to break the silence.

“I really envy and admire Caden. Do you know why, Zachary?”

“Not exactly.”

“He’s managed to stay optimistic all this time even after he’s lost someone close to him. He didn’t simply kneel and cry, he moved forward with his dream. He’s so different from me that I can’t think of matching him, let alone trying to become the same thing as him. I’m not as good and ambitious as he is, so what hope do I have?”

“You said he lost someone. Was that his father?”

“Yes. It was before they were forced to live here. But back then, I’ve heard of the stories where the Luvic wall was breached, and a small group of demons managed to invade the kingdom, scattering themselves. There they terrorized many villages and towns, burning and razing both the land and the people living in them. Caden lived in one of those villages with his father and mother. Soon the village was attacked by surprise, and they were the only two who escaped successfully because his father held them back with the village people for as long as they could, but that alone wasn’t enough. There came a great warrior that fought the strong demons trying to pursue them. Caden doesn’t know who he is, but he saved their lives. I don’t know what kind of anguish he felt back then, but right now he doesn’t look affected by it at all. That’s why I envy and admire him.”

He took a pause, looking lost in his own thoughts, continuing after taking a deep breath in. I found no reason to interrupt, so I kept listening.

“You see, I had lost my mother due to an attack from demons. We were visiting some relatives in another town, but the town itself was attacked by a large amount of demons. Everyone was killed, and the town was burned to the ground. Before we had to escape, my father had to choose between my mother or I. He couldn’t do it, but I know he wanted to choose my mother since he loved her so much, but my mother pushed me away with a smile on her face, leaving her surrounded by demons… I think until now I was never really able to recover from that. I can’t sleep well whenever I remember that, and I know that deep inside, my father would rather have my mother instead of me in his presence… I’m sorry for saying such sad things. I felt that I needed to get it off my chest, but it just sounded like me rambling for my own weakness.”

“No, it’s alright. You can vent all you want. You can believe in what you believe, but what I know is that no parent would want their child to suffer or feel pain intentionally. I’m sure that he has his reasons for doing that. I can’t tell you what that is, but you will have to either find it our yourself, or wait for him to come up and tell you.”

“Zachary…”

I patted him on the head and ruffled his hair.

“There’s nothing for you to feel inferior about. You’re you, and you’re unique in your own way. I’ll vouch for that. If everyone aspired to be the same thing, then there wouldn’t be anything to be jealous about. It’s what drives you further, not to copy, but to exceed. This is going too far ahead, but you’ll be fine. You don’t realize it, but you’re strong on the inside as well, maybe even stronger than Caden in that aspect.”

“Do you really think so?”

“I do. It’s going to be hard to believe my words alone, so you’ll have to keep on trying until you get to that point. You’ll see what I’m talking about.”

“Thank you... again. You’re right. I can’t let this stop me from moving forward. I will continue until I see the fruits of my labor. I hope that you’ll be there to see it as well. You’re the one motivating me, so that makes sense, doesn’t it?”

“Now that you say it, you’re right. Well, I’ll most certainly try.”

The following day, there was a buzz around the populace about the king returning from the Luvic wall to personally oversee the building of his grand army.

The people crowded the lines that the guards formed in order to see their exalted ruler.

A great parade was held where the elite soldiers of the king closely escorted the carriage where the king stood and met his people with a stoic and stern face, followed by the rest of the elite soldiers.

The sound of boots marching orderly hummed through the area, mixing in with the constant cheering and celebrating of the people under its banner and protection.

-Look! It’s the king!

-Hail King Georgios! Long live the kingdom of Alrifer!

-Finally! The kingdom of Ylithia will fall and know the true strength of Alrifer. They won’t be underestimating us anymore!

The clamor of the beloved populace were ecstatic, the vast majority that is. There were those who did not seem too fond of the idea of him being here. They refrained from speaking or paying attention at all, moving away from the crowds.

King Georgios was a tall, strongly built man sporting a full-faced beard and a majestic looking set of armor to suit his imposing aura of absolute order and stability.

But it was expected that the people of the slums were prohibited from being at the procession. Their chaos would lead to an uprising given their chance. But even with that, they had something to fear. Two prominent men that are tasked with protecting the ruler of Alrifer. That is their sworn oaths.

One is the great general Everett Luxe, a seasoned veteran that had participated in many wars alongside the former king Halycn Luvierre, but still serves the same family. His age and repertoire have given him the name of Regulus for his ferocity and will in battle, those of which was akin to a lion’s.

He wore a heavy set of armor to go with his robust build, along with a cape representing his Order’s banner, wielding a halberd and a shield to go with his ragged expression and rough demeanor.

He paid no mind to the people cheering as his gaze was focused solely ahead, glancing around momentarily to make sure that everything was safe around the king.

The second was one of the four Arch-Magni of the continent. A man whose wisdom through the ages have been sought out by many, and whose contributions to the world of Arcane, Alchemy, and Magic have greatly benefitted the continent. His presence alone in the kingdom is overwhelming to those who choose to oppose it. His name is Albert Foster, ranked third amongst the four mages council, four of which are already terrifying in their own right. His power comes from a plethora of spells which he utilizes depending on the situation, adapting to it, and eventually overpowering the enemy with his sheer knowledge of magic.

He is also loyal to the Luvierre family, but does not see eye to eye with how the current king handles the kingdom.

For most he is quiet, keeping to himself and simply observing his surroundings, but no one truly knows what goes on in his mind for when he speaks to someone, which is seldom, it contains a great lecture which the person would benefit from greatly if given the chance.

At the very instant that Everett Luxe’s sight wandered, he encountered the visage of someone he knew was familiar. Her very face and presence shook his entire being as if a fire had been reawakened within him once more. The gaiety within his being illuminated like it was from the past.

It’s you. You’ve returned.

The one whom he cherished much as if she were her own daughter, a man who took the responsibility of taking care of her came the passing of his friend. Yet he curses himself till this day for failing in that one task. To live with the shame was just, but to redeem himself with the pain was his chance that was presented to him now. And he would not let that chance get away from him this time.

But it was not of romance, but of a new beginning that was calling out to him.

At that very moment that he saw her, he heard the voice of his friend, opening his eyes, a gentle whisper from heavenwards graced his ears like a bastion from the creator.

Will you help me recreate my legacy?

Though he tried his best not to be swayed, it was apparent that his sight was focused on someone in the crowd, and that person stared at him as well, recognizing him.

He saw another familiar face as well, a sly fox of whom he had never trusted, but had grown to trust despite his nagging feeling of distrust for him.

He read his lips that formed a complete and concise sentence in his mind.

He thought to himself, His lips are sly enough to seduce a deaf maiden, the same with conveying words like a viper from a forest.

He understood clearly what that meant.

Thus, he cleared his throat and fixed his composure, focusing on the task at hand, yet he can’t dispel this resurrection in the making. His anxiety of wanting to see a better tomorrow made a small grin appear on his face, which was unusual to himself.

But that smile was abruptly cut as he focused on them.

There he saw in her arms a child who struggled to see the procession of the king, a small girl who seemed to be between the age of seven or ten, happily laughing and waving her hands in the air along with the jovial crowd.

That sly bastard! How dare he lay his hands upon her! And worse, they have a child! How unprecedented. Halycn, forgive me if I shed the blood of your daughter’s husband. Thy retribution shall be swift as it will be painless.

He clenched his fists and strode on with a steel-like face, biding his rage within himself.

The procession soon came to a halt in front of the steps leading into the palace.

Georgios stood in front of his subjects, awaiting the silence to loom over them.

The strongest of the kingdom’s royal guards formed around him, their banners and flags held high like the spirits of his people.

“Hear me, my people. I have come before you to mark the very beginning of our great stride towards the future! This is the end of our long history of standing idly by while the rest of the kingdoms look at us in disgrace for our lack of power. It is true that what happened to my brother struck a lethal blow to our kingdom, however, that should not be a reason for us to remain lying down. What we should be doing is continuing the legacy that he left behind, and to crush the opposition that dares oppose this great kingdom of ours! This grand army before you will march into Ylithia and conquer our long, historic enemy, bringing an end to the long stalemate between us. Now I ask of you, both my brave soldiers and my people, give your blessings to us so that we may be united under one cause!”

An uproarious cheer came from the crowd as he finished his statement. It left their hearts beating in anticipation, creating a geyser of morale to rise from their souls.

At this very moment, they felt like they could sieze victory by any means, even against an enemy like the demons which they feared greatly.

“Now, concerning the Luvic wall bordering the demon realm. I will assure you, that coming from that very wall, it will stand tall and strong against any adversary that dares encroach upon it. There will be little to worry about even if most of our brave soldiers are to fight in Ylithia. The best of the best, elites and veterans in their own rights, are guarding the wall as we speak. You may sleep safe knowing that the threat of demons rampaging through our great kingdom won’t come to pass, for even if they do, they shall meet the might of our forces, and there they will regret stepping foot in our homeland!”

“That was a very splendid speech, father. No doubt the hearts of the people are in the right place.”

“Ah, my daughter, Arielle. It is refreshing to see you finally. How have you been in my absence?”

“I have been well, but brother has gone away for unknown reasons, and has only told me to give you his regards.”

“Yes, I have sent him on a small journey where he will make his mark. I will not keep him locked up in this palace, so I have simply wished him luck on his travels. Now, tell me in depth how you have been. I would like to spend time with my beloved daughter over a meal.”

With a clap of his hands, the maids and butlers stood at attention and bowed their heads, scurrying over to arrange for them a meal to the king and princess’ liking.

Once their small gathering finished, the two of them parted ways and left to do their own work.

-As of this day, the preparations of the attack are nearly under way. With the Luvic wall left nearly empty, there should be no qualms for executing the remaining guards. If an attack on the kingdom would commence, a complete success is to be met.

-A paltry feat, but one that I will acknowledge. You would do well to further your efforts, Klaustre. A mere puppet master is of no use if his puppets cannot amuse the audience, especially if the audience is our exalted one. Do you understand the gravity of the situation? We cannot afford to be complacent.

-Ha! I would expect as much from the one whom took the liberty of overseeing the entirety of the board. I am impressed that things have gone smoothly like this. As expected of someone carrying the rank of Razhuen. However, I will keep this to myself. I suspect that you have your own ploys, am I correct?

-... You would do well to sew your mouth shut unless I seal it for you. Accusing me without basis allows me the honor of challenging you personally, and that means taking your life in front of every demon in the continent.

-Now, now. I was merely jesting. After all, you are to blame. With no one else to disrupt your total command over the entire operation, there will be no one to oppose you. The king’s trust in you is not that big, yet you think that you are trusted. Believe me, that is only an illusion that you have made yourself. As a middle class Ivaas demon, I have certain power at my disposal. I can see the darkness in your heart, my dear commander. I just hope that this is not all for your own benefit. Your loyalty is as transparent as the lies you spout.

-Just assure your success. I need nothing from you other than your cooperation. I am very much capable of handling my own.

-Understood. The attack will be announced when I everything is set. I have sent over the sacrificial lamb and will be there in a few days. Please do give him a warm welcome. The child is rather immature, but with a flick of my finger, he has turned into a puppet without a soul. The small cost of being under my control. I shall inform you at a later date, good bye.

And so, the silence returned to the eerie room, and the man reveled in the coming of a new age.

He coughed, and the rough tone of his voice returned, along with the upright posture and the discerning gaze.

There was no trace of the jester-like personality, nor was there a mocking attitude from him, not a trace in the wind.

“So, what is the meaning of this?!” he demanded, slamming his fist on the table, garnering the attention of the other tenants in the other room.

They were secluded from the others to avoid suspicion, all thanks to Gino and his acquaintances, they were able to make the meeting discreet.

He wore only his nobleman’s clothes and a sword on his belt, using the alleyways to hide himself as best as he could from the eyes of others.

“I thought this would be a more heartfelt meeting, but I was mistaken. Meaning of what?” Gino asked in bewilderment.

“A child. I saw a child at the procession. She is your child, is she not?”

“R-Ridiculous!” blurted out Daphne instantly, though she wanted to keep her silence. “Why would you assume that, Everett?”

“It is as she says,” Gino started, developing a grin on his face, where a simple ploy had just been developed for a small jab of amusement. “Even if she is a rather splendid and an attractive individual, I would not dare make a move on a woman so boorish in her actions. It is not my child, but someone else’s. That man has yet to take responsibility, and is roaming about freely. I’m sure that you would like to meet this outstanding young man, wouldn’t you?”

“Boorish?! Where is this all coming from, Gino?”

“Now, now, no need to get stirred up.”

The cup the upstanding gentleman held in his one hand easily broke under the pressure of his anger. He managed a small, I would be delighted to meet this… man, followed by a forced, wry smile.

“Please, Gino, stop this at once. I wouldn’t want Zachary to be pulled into a mess that wasn’t his in the first place. He will explain her when he gets here, but there is something much more important that I would like to ask you, Uncle.”

“Zachary? Who is this man?”

He retained the firmness in his voice and composure, listening intently to her as he narrowed his attention.

“Let us talk about him later. But anyway, will you support me in retaking the throne from my Uncle?”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

“Where is this child anyway?”

“She is occupied. Sleeping. But I would like to talk about something.”

With the tone in her voice, he knew what was to come next.

“sigh, I always knew that this day would come, but never at this inopportune time. But a tragedy can be made into a chance. I will support you, just like I had promised your father. This kingdom has lived long enough knowing pain and fear. You have a lot of your father’s qualities in you. That’s why I know that you can take over. But how will you do that?”

“Gino and I have already gone around the various towns and villages asking for support in secrecy. With your backing, we may have a chance at this. Other lords and nobles will follow.”

“Do you trust those people enough to reveal them your true identity?”

“I cannot blame them if they will betray me. But if they do trust, me then it would mean that they want a new beginning to this terrible present. Those who would not want it would be those who turn their backs on the kingdom. And I don’t think there would be any in the towns and villages who would want that. The various governors have already grown tired of his rule, already pledging themselves to a cause that will overrule the current reign, but my words alone aren’t enough to convince them. Here, I have a list of the villages and the towns that Gino and I have tried to call to our cause. You would be able to convince them best right now, not I, a stranger claiming to be King Halycn’s lost daughter.”

“It is nice to see you so dedicated, but are you sure that you are ready for this? Once you take a single step in this path filled with blood, you must commit.”

“I am. I have thought it over so many times that it was all I could ever think about. But there is someone that made me realize that this is my path, and the only way to avenge my father.”

“Well, that matters little, I suppose.”

“Why is that?”

“I have sworn once long before to protect you no matter what. That promise still stands. Now that you are here, I am ready to face the world’s divine retribution only to protect you, not because Halycn said so, but because I have chosen to. My allegiance is to you.”

“Well, that’s one,” said Gino. “Now that we have our foot in the door, holding it open, let us make haste with our chances and -”

“I only have one argument in this. What is your plan, Daphne?”

“It is to take the influence of the nobles and lords and turn them against my Uncle in force. Once he has no one to turn to, I will be there to take it. I know that battle and bloodshed are never spared from this, but I can think of no other way. As vexing as it may be to use the lives of others to succeed, their devotion will be my motivation, and through that I will ensure total victory.”

“... Too long,” he muttered with his arms crossed.

“What do you mean?”

“I have a better idea in mind. It will establish you as the one and only leader who can assume control, but we will be using the misfortune plaguing this land in order to obtain victory.”

“Oh? I plan from the brilliant general? I await in anxiousness,” Gino jested.

“Gino, make sure that there is no one listening. This is a rather ‘sensitive’ topic that I would not want anyone else to hear, lest we have riot on our hands. That would ensure that the people’s firm beliefs in this war against Ylithia will be shaken, and so will this plan be voided. All the pieces are on the board; thus my plan is ready to be put in fruition. All we need to do is wait.”

“But I have already had him secure the area. There should be no one listening in on us.”

“You cannot be too sure, my dear.”

Gino stood up and placed an old, worn square piece of paper on the table, and on it was a circle of various symbols, runes, and archaic letters inscribed on it.

“Silence the lambs, hush the shepherd with the horn and the commanding voice, grant the world a momentary peace, listen to the world where the trumpet of the creator sounds, show thy respite,” he chanted, tracing symbols in the air that would take form and slowly but silently fade into cinders.

And with that, an invisible dome coated the room they resided in, preventing any form of sound from escaping and entering, forming two separate worlds, two separate edens using the arts of magic.”

“It will keep the common rabble out. But if there is someone interfering with the spell, then I will know right away, so go talk to your heart’s content.”

“As if that needs to be said. Ahem, well then, where did I leave off? Yes, as many of you may have heard, the king has taken troops from the Luvic wall, most of them being elites and veterans, and had them join the invasion army. This leaves the wall at a complete disadvantage. You might even say that the king has given the demons an open door into the kingdom. I am still not sure of his intentions, but he is not thinking clearly. No matter what the people say and praise him for, that is something that they all fear deep inside. During his speech, he lied. There are nearly not enough troops to mount a defense, and surveying the outskirts of the wall, I have come to the conclusion that the demons are starting to form their armies outside.”

“What led you to that conclusion?” asked Gino.

“When we arrived there, no demons were present for miles away. Not one in sight. The silence was deafening, as if they had all vanished from thin air. Never had anticipated this in my years of service.”

The two of them went silent as they knew the gravity of the situation when it came to the Luvic wall and its history with demons.

“That truly is a conundrum,” said Gino as he fixed his composure. “This is the first I’ve heard of the demons giving up chase. But if the constant attack at Luvic wall had stopped, then something truly is amiss. It makes me tremble not knowing what will come. But, what does this have to do with your plan?”

“There is no use in overturning the king’s decision, so I propose using that as a means for your success.”

“Well this is rather unexpected, even from someone like you. Why would an upstanding gentleman like yourself allow the people to be put in harm’s way just for the sake of an ascension?”

“You expected me to take a stance where the people are safe while invading another kingdom during a demon attack? You can only ask for so much of a king who thinks narrowly. But I am by no means agreeing to letting them suffer. I want you, Daphne, to take a stand once they do attack. I will convince the other lords and nobles for support as fast as I can, and when I do, a supply of arms will be needed to be sent to them. Some trusted towns and villages will be needed as a staging ground for training soldiers. We cannot expect most of the soldiers under the eye of the king to help us, so we will use garrisons and newly trained men, militia. Once you rise up during this great crisis, the people will see the error in the current king’s reign, and there they will see you as the rightful leader who will protect them from this threat, just as king Halycn had done in the past.”

“A good plan, no, brilliant, but reckless, don’t you think?”

“It is your plan or mine. I cannot think of any alternatives that would otherwise succeed.”

“We will follow your lead, Uncle. I believe in you, just as I have come to know you in the past. It is a shame that we had to meet under these circumstances.”

“Oh, Daphne. There wasn’t a single day that I did not wish for your safety. It devastated me when you left, but seeing you here makes my heart and soul a bit lighter.”

They shared an embrace of two long lost family members brought together by conviction.

“Sorry to interrupt the reunion, but what do you think of Old Albert Foster? Do you think that the mage will join us? Even if he is only one and commands a small unit, magic is still a terrifying adversary. In addition, he is also a part of the four grand mages of the continent.”

“I assure you that Albert will be joining us. He might be adamant, but once he vents his stress on wine and drink, he starts to spill every detail, including his grievances. However, there are still some influential lords supporting the king, a vast majority who still believe in his vision. Taking them on will be challenging, but seeing how level headed you are, I can see no problem. I will be there to guide you anyway, so you need not fear anything.”

“I can agree with every sentiment. Thank you for your time, Uncle. Now that everything here is finished, why don’t you join us for a meal, Uncle?”

“Absolutely. There so much that we need to catch up on. I cannot neglect my duties as an Uncle, after all.”

There wasn’t much of a banquet, but more of a hearty meal made to fill the bellies of the hardworking and the tenacious. To them this was more than enough for anyone living outside the realm of the royalty.

“Tell me, what have you been doing since you left? It has been a long while since that time. It has been tumultuous on our side what with all the recent developments. I’m just glad you’re back here where it’s safe.”

“Thank you, Uncle. It has been eventful on our side as well. Roaming the kingdom of Ylithia has been quite the adventure, and a rather difficult ordeal. Gino and I have encountered a demon commander with the rank of Quas and defeated it somehow. But that alone was difficult enough.”

It was noticeable how he flinched from her story. He was surprised to hear it himself, though he knows that she would never lie about something like that.

“You have? Well I can only be proud of you for having made it past that. Even a demon with the rank of Quas can be challenging, and is by no means the weakest of all demons. A demon of rank is considered a terrifying foe that even I would find difficult to defeat. But how? I understand that you have a mage with ‘adequate’ abilities on your side, but it doesn’t seem easy the way it all happened. Not unless you possess any of the artifacts.”

“Unfortunately, we have not the luck of possessing such a valuable object. But let us say that we were aided by someone.”

“Aided? If that’s the case, then that is an excellent aid you had. There are only so much in this world with the bravery to challenge a demon and not incur their wrath. But let me ask, about that letter you left me before disappearing. What has become of it?”

She avoided her eyes and looked down, pondering for a while before meeting his gaze again.

“I… I had not been successful. It is not possible that I can find such an important person, don’t you think?”

I have to protect his identity no matter what anyone says. This is my own battle to fight now. I can’t depend on Zachary every chance I get.

“I suppose that alone would be your crowning achievement. But I agree. Such an important person would not be roaming the kingdom after all. They would be busy dealing with the demons. Almost everyone believes of its existence now. Those who’ve been graced with seeing the light have fervently believed that they exist. I’m sure Albert would have tagged along if he had read your letter. That man is fixated on trying to find and research a Thalisean that he’s nearly obsessed over it, but on a normal ground. I’m just glad that he is still grounded and not like those fanatics at the academy.”

“I have a question, Uncle, just to get my mind clear.”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you think that Ylithia is really our enemy? You oppose to shifting armies from the Luvic wall to the Ylithian border, but you’ve never made it known if you actually see them as foes or not.”

“I don’t. Facing old grudges isn’t enough of a reason to rekindle a doused candle’s fire. I’ve learned to move on after the peace treaty. Besides, I’ve been thoroughly convinced by someone that Ylithia is not the kingdom to face as long as he lives there. Besides him, I think we have a chance of taking them. But because of that promise, I swore to not fight a war against them.”

“May I ask who you made that promise with?”

“Yes. I don’t think I can forget that man’s name even if I try. His name is Frederick Erinn. The man who I look up to and strive to be. But that has been in vain until now. I wish it were that easy.”

“Frederick… Erinn,” Daphne murmured.

She thought to herself, there can’t be anyone else named Frederick Erinn, is there? There should only be one man whom a person such as Everett Luxe sees as a worthy person to look up to. If there were someone named that, it could only be him.

“Is something wrong? You look distraught. Care to talk about it?”

She glanced at Gino and saw his head shake sideways in disapproval, as If he had read her mind.

“No, uncle. It is nothing. Come, let us enjoy this meal while we can. I’m sure there is still a lot that you hve to do.”

“Ahh, yes, you are right. But it’s not about the kingdom right now, it’s for the kingdom that’s about to be reborn soon. I will act as early as possible, so expect news in the coming days. I will find you here, right?”

“Yes. And we will be ready by then.”