You're unique...

Every aspect of us is in you, but are you prepared to receive that grace?

The way you perceive this world, the way you live in this world, and most importantly, how you interact with the ones living in this world, they are all so important...

This light of yours, why is it flickering all the time, you ask?

You must find the answer soon. We cannot tell you, for your life's experiences alongside those around you is important. From there, questions will stem, then answers will unravel.

Though we are gone, there are still traces of us. Find them, and from there you will come to possess the strength to face all adversity that comes your way.

But whatever happens along the way... Don't let your light disappear forever.

I tapped into the mystic energy in this mark of mine, drawing power from it to enhance every part of my being, my senses, my abilities, my strength. Though I don't feel that this alone is enough to get me through unscathed, I am a cut above the rest.

As I clenched my hand, the mark burned, but the light gleamed weakly, producing the symbol that I have come to know. Upon focusing further, I could hear the faint sounds coming from every direction, the sound of frantic footsteps and the constant shouting of men to, quickly get into position.

I drove my horse straight into the ranks of spearmen lined up, waiting for me. Their spears were inclined up slightly, and the numbers of the front ranks measured to fifteen or so.

As my mount got close to the spears, I tensed my muscles and pulled on the reins as tightly as I could, pulling him to a stop, then using its back to leap behind the ranks of the spearmen.

That was easily enough done as the others were still running to their positions.

Upon landing, I ignored the spearmen behind me and immediately took hold of one of the soldiers, locking my arm around his neck and taking the sword from his sheath. I then tossed him towards the encroaching ranks and took a brief reprieve to prepare myself. The air was musky and thick, my legs and arms trembled, and my eyes would turn blurry.

The intense feeling of people's lives depending on my success gave me the bitter sense of what I had to face in the future, in fact, I was grateful that I was given a small taste of how would that feel. While it was nerve-wracking, what awaited me in the end was the sole satisfaction of having been able to do something for a change.

There was no need to face all of them for that would be near impossible for me. Yet, with this power, I had the chance and the strength to push through with my current goal: to reach the top of the ramparts where the gate's cog wheels were being turned close.

There were two sets of stairs leading up there, and in front of me were at the very least, ten or so men, and twenty or so men up on the ramparts with bows aimed down at me.

With the acute sense of vision I had been granted by the mark, I ascertained the fastest route and what I had to face to get there.

-Surround him! Don't let him get away no matter what!

I charged at the group coming towards me, parrying the first one's sword away from me, then hitting his face with the hilt end of my sword as hard as I could, hearing a strong crunching sound. Using my newfound strength, I then used his body and threw him towards his allies, creating a small disarray in them as they ended up stumbling.

Meanwhile, up on the ramparts, a row of spectators stood in wait, looking with their sharp eyes at the target that moved in a chain, not wasting a breath on idle movement without much intention.

"Ready your bows men! Focus at that man, and when I give the word, you will fire."

-Sir, are you sure that it is necessary for us to attack a single man with an entire unit of archers? I feel it unnecessary to waste them on a single fleeing man.

The man commanding the units up on the ramparts didn't move his gaze from the man moving swiftly and skillfully below him. He parried and attacked those that came to him with an effective technique that impressed him.

This person is quite skilled at being a fighter. Though in the midst of being surrounded, he's trying to clear out a path while dismantling the force that would eventually overpower him. This is not unheard of, but it is strange seeing such a play right in front of you. It is a shame that his head is wanted by the nobles. It would have been wise to try and force him on our side seeing as little in this land has such worth anymore... The way he is fighting, though he is shedding blood, he is trying his best to not kill them. Pathetic.

"I don't think I have to explain myself further, don't I, adjutant?"

With a look of disbelief in his eyes, he saw himself how the man was handling the grave circumstance by himself.

He parried, threw his enemies at their allies, discarded the chipped blade he was using to block and parry, then stole another one from a soldier he had grabbed and used as a meat shield.

-I understand, Sir! Men, be at the ready!

I'm getting exhausted. This is just too much. I don't even remember how many I've already taken down. But that matters little, I think. They've been throwing their men at me, and soon I'll be overrun. Just one more push, that's all I need.

I negated one of the soldier's attack by jabbing at his throat with my free hand. tensed up my legs then leapt high up towards the stairway, landing and using him as a shield to avoid their spears from hitting me. His agonizing scream filled my ears, and so did his allies.

Blood spilt from the man and splashed on me as countless spears pointed up punched through his body, fortunately missing me. It was a cruel way to fight, using other people for my own disposal, but I saw no other way.

Eventually, I got close enough to ascend and hear a loud cry from above me.

-Aim! Fire!

A hail of arrows came crashing down like a raging wave upon me.

Reacting as quick as I could, I picked up the closest body lying down near me and hid myself under it, using my back to lift the body and my free hand to keep it on me.

"Argh!" My shoulder! Damn this, it stings!

There was a constant thud and shaking until the hail stopped. It avoided the men as they knew right away of the volley. They wasted no time and quickly rushed at me once more seeing as how their plan failed, but my goal was clear and in place.

I took out the arrow that pierced my shoulder and hurriedly climbed the step, easily overcoming the soldiers meeting my advance by throwing them off the narrow edge, using their own soldier's bodies as shields to block against the constant firing of arrows. Even with my strength, the difficulty of defending, looking behind me, and attacking those close to me cost me scars and wounds, but not gravely to my great luck.

As things got worse, I further borrowed the strength from within the mark and felt a stronger burning sensation from it, making the wounds I received a numbing sensation that took my mind away from it, disguising it as a prick from a rose's thorn.

Finally, reaching the top, I saw the rows of soldiers looking at me with a chilling glare, bows, swords, and spears pointed at me.

There was a momentary standstill as I felt it. The air up here was fresh and invigorating. I would lie if I had said that it didn't matter in this situation. I looked past them for what felt like a long time, seeing the sight of a greener field where we had trod before arriving here. My constant admiration of the sights I never saw before were going to be the death of me someday, but today will be an exception.

"You damned monster!" cried out an angry soldier as he rushed at him with bloodlust in his eyes.

I felt the cold chilling sensation of a blade piercing my back-left shoulder. The man's words felt fearful, angry. But I couldn't move myself. I was captivated of the sight before me like it were a hallucination, or an illusion.

I glanced at the man behind me, and with a movement as gentle as I could manage, I took a swing at his stomach with a clockwise twist of my body accompanied by my blade, swinging upwards, creating a long, vertical scar on his torso. That became the end of him as he fell back with an agonizing scream.

I took the blade from my shoulder and tossed it aside, moving my attention to them once more.

"Please, move aside."

"Keep close to me, Julia! I see a narrow pass a few ways ahead. I'll handle them. Hold on tight, Dante. Don't be too surprised."

He responded with a nod, keeping his mouth shut as the transpiring of events shook him to no end. He was in the middle of a danger zone where a single mistake will cost all their lives, and the fact that the entire city is out for them didn't make things easier.

Aster pointed his open hand at the soldiers forming a blockade at the block that they were supposed to turn to, emitting a raging surge of electric energy on his arm. Unleashing it, the surge blasted the blockade easily, tearing the rank apart and causing a strong explosion that formed a dust cloud on the ground.

"Aster, this is getting too dangerous!" said Julia, feeling the fatigue of fighting on horseback which was slowly recurring to her. "Soon we're going to be surrounded when they block out the streets. There are only two directions for us to take. One is a minute away, and the other is two after that. What do we do? Are you sure that we can still get out of this mess?"

After having separated with Zachary, they used the narrow streets and districts to buy time for them while he tried to get the gates open for them.

The chaos they caused forced the city to use most of their manpower to surround them by blocking the various entrances they were speculated to go through.

"Trust him. He can do it, I know that he can. If worst comes to worst, then I'll handle them as best as I can and at least get you and these two out of here."

"Yeah, mom! Trust Zachary! I know that what he's doing is dangerous and scary, but I know that he can do it!" Caden said, encouraging her.

He looked up and saw the gates from a distance. As its descent stopped, Zachary's words, echoed within Aster's mind.

I knew he could do it!

"Alright, time to move!"

Just as he had rallied them, he was unaware of the sudden appearance of soldiers pursuing them. Soon they were surrounded and had no room to move.

"Aster, what're we going to do now? We're doomed!" said Caden, looking grim at the weapons being pointed at them.

"Damn, how did they catch up to us right away?!"

-Surrender! If you choose to give up the chase, then your punishments will be lighter, compared to resisting. There, a capital punishment will be given, Slum-dwellers. But that goes for the Half-breed regardless.

Aster looked around him and assessed his options. The first thing that came to mind was to use force, and that meant him using every inch of his being as a Half-breed to force their way through. Though he was skeptical, his knowledge of his own strength was vast but untested for the most part. It would cause the death of many, including the destruction of his sister's creed. But his decision needed to be made before they had to take them away with or without force.

We're so close! Why did it have to fall short?

In his lamentation, he cursed how he had to resort to the last means he had in his arsenal.

While still on his mount, he sent a surge of electricity flowing on his left hand, a more vicious storm of electricity rippled from his hand and on the ground, deliberately avoiding his mount and Dante from being shocked.

The soldiers that bravely and confidently pointed their weapons at them staggered back upon seeing the cascading ripples of lighting glowing in the dark, illuminating a terrifying glare from Aster's face, pointed back at them as if that alone served the purpose of a weapon.

But yet another incident began moving from behind the shadows. They, in large groups, positioned themselves silently behind the ranks of the soldiers and seized them by surprise, knocking them out and taking their weapons.

A large-scale attack had begun, destroying the focus of the unit and eventually a battle erupted, serving as a distraction that Aster himself did not see coming.

-We chose to listen to the words of the son of Erinn!

-Yeah! Even if we know that we'll lose this, eventually, we'll get the justice that we deserve!

-Go and live for us! We won't let them keep pushing us around any longer. We'll fight, even if it costs us our life. That's just how things go around here. We're not trash, nor are we useless vermin! We're the people of Alrifer!

The people of the slums' words gave them their saving grace, the very words that served the purpose of filling a broken cup, awaiting to be repaired by a man who will pick up after the mess and build it anew, stronger and better, or simply scrap it away and create a better one.

Against the more experienced armed men, they paled, but in numbers and the element of surprise, they overpowered them and succeeded in their endeavors.

"We can't linger here for too long! Let's go!" Aster said, regaining his senses.

"Mom! Let's go! It's getting dangerous!" urged Caden to Julia, who snapped back to her senses, quickly whipping the reins of the horse.

He had an ominous feeling in his gut as they continued to ride through the districts. He was glad to see that despite the time it took them to get closer to the gates, it had not budged after the initial signal.

There was light, light provided by fire. It slowly ravaged the outer district of the city where numerous people wearing tattered and worn clothes wandered the streets, fighting the soldiers trying to cut off Aster's advance. they caused an innocent chaos for a good cause on a massive scale, burning houses and stores where no people were present. A beacon that lit up the night.

The screams of people filled the streets, and soon, they were unimpeded.

"Uhm... Aster, do you think that Zachary is alright?" asked Dante worriedly. "I know it hasn't been long, but he's at the gates fighting by himself. I know that almost the entire army is here while some are moving to Ylithia's borders, but they're too immense for someone to fight alone."

"I know what you're thinking, and to be honest, I'm worried too. But I know that he can get us out of this. If only you knew, he's something else, one of a kind, and the last of them."

Dante didn't bother asking, but thought about what Aster said since it didn't quite make sense to him.

As they neared the gates, there they say the slow turning of the gates once more. It started descending, but would stop every few seconds or so.

Arriving at the gates, they finally saw what was happening.

Zachary fought back the large numbers of soldiers in front and behind him. Beside him was the wheel that was needed to turn the gates.

The soldiers would often get their hands on it and remove the lodged weapon that prevented it from moving. He would take it back right away, skillfully killing the one behind it and using their weapon or whatever he could get his hands on and strike it on the mechanism, forcing it to a halt.

He was covered in blood, arrows protruding from his arms, back, and legs. Yet beyond all that, he still fought continuously, displaying an awe-inspiring last stand that showed proof by the amount of bodies lying dead on the ramparts and below it.

However, his valiant fight distracted the soldiers who waited from below for their chance to take him down.

Caden and Dante stared in bewilderment as they saw their teacher fighting with much more prowess than he thought them. He was in a league of his own, as they thought. But they were far from amazed. They were terrified for the most part, seeing him fighting alone, not stopping even with the mortal scars he had received all across his body.

"Keep going! Don't lose your focus! Our only goal is to get past the gates," said Aster, rousing them back. "Don't let what he's doing be in vain! That's going to be worse than what he's going through now."

"But, we have to get him out of there! He said that he was going with us!" quarreled the two, opposed to leaving him behind.

"I know!" he shouted in reply, clenching his fist tightly. "Keep going. I'll see what I can do."

Looking conflicted, Julia knew all too well how all this would go down, but she simply bit her lip and placed a hand on Caden's hand, reassuring him with her warmth.

-Hey! Pay attention! There they are!

The soldiers turned and saw Aster and Julia, immediately pointing their bows at them.

"Zach! I'm coming for you! Sit tight," Aster shouted, surging another ounce of energy to his arm in a rapid manner.

"Don't!" he cried out, separating himself from the fight. "Keep going. I've done what I can. I've got nothing left to keep going. Just don't get caught, Aster," he said, breathing deeply, smiling in triumph.

Immediately he was knocked down to the ground, soldiers bearing down on him in great numbers, preventing him from moving. They began beating him in succession until he couldn't move. But without their knowledge, he didn't have enough to fight anymore. He only had enough left for one last thing.

Aster stared at his face, until he had not realized that they had just passed the gates. Zachary disappeared from his sight, but he could not tear himself away from the ramparts where they held him down.

"The cavalry! They're going to catch up to us!" said Julia, looking back at the approaching horsemen from within the gates. There was an entire unit of them, trained and well versed with the art of overcoming the barriers of speed to catch up to their enemies. Their presence spelled their doom.

But yet again, another astonishing turn of events, Zachary clenched his bleeding hand and again forced the mark to illuminate. It was weak, but it was enough to grant him the power to overcome the ones bearing down upon him.

He knocked them away momentarily, and with a roar, he placed both hands on the weapon lodged on the mechanism, pulling it. With the lack of energy in his legs, he was unable to support himself, and he fell to the ground where they thrashed him until the last flicker of light from the back of his hand disappeared.

The gates fell on the cavalry and prevented them from pursuing Aster and the others. They had not stopped moving, but their minds were occupied of him and him alone.

Caden's eyes slowly wept while Dante tried to comprehend what he had to feel. The silence in their group was apparent, but no one had the guts to address it as everyone knew.

Their eyes reflected the towering flames rising high into the clouds with a fuming black smoke.

"Let's... go," Aster said, struggling to get some composure back in his voice.

-Make way! Make way!

People were tossed aside without warning, making a safe open road for a surprise reception.

The city guards lined up and patrolled in a swift, spectacular manner, dividing themselves evenly and orderly to ensure the safety of someone whose life has become grim after stepping foot inside its enemy's domain.

Murmurs starting shifting across the city, but most importantly the castle.

The important figures present within the capital lined themselves before the red carpet, vertical to the throne where the king sat after hearing the announcement.

He had an intimidating, pensive look on his face as he waited for the doors to open, yet none had the courage to disrupt the silence of the room in the danger of agitating the king.

Tensions between the two were already sever, and war was imminent by an inch, yet why was the crown prince of Alrifer here on a diplomatic mission of all times? Many questioned that fact but never came to a conclusion. They wondered first and foremost why he hasn't been executed or apprehended yet.

It was not the unit of elite guards following him in ranks, nor was it his personal guard, a tall, limber man wearing a large brown cloak. His face was hidden under the shadow of his cloak, but his intimidating presence and image kept the people to faint murmurs.

The prince of Alrifer was a pale young man with white hair and a sickly demeanor. He was at the age of seventeen where he is at the pinnacle of his training for the ascension of the throne, yet the reasons leading up to here made people skeptical.

"Hey, Norman. What do you think they're up to, sending the next in line without so much as an army? You'd think that they would want him to be well protected, but there are barely fifty guards behind him, not to mention that giant of a personal guard. Where did they even find someone like that? I don't think it's normal to have someone grow that way."

One of the louder generals spoke, taking a relaxed stance, but a disciplined mind in the presence of his king.

"I do not want to speak nor draw any conclusions. These are already grave times for us and the kingdom, so I wonder as well. But we will find out soon enough. But do not mistake those guards, my friend. If you can see the emblem on their capes, they are the Nox Vilrefas. A well-known order of heroes within the kingdom of Alrifer. They are similar to our Fur Yggdratoras. We would do well to stay vigilant and wary of their presence."

"Well, no matter who they are, if they make so much as a ruckus, they'll feel the wrath of this kingdom. But it's a shame that my shoulders are beginning to ache, and so is my back," he said, stretching himself out. "Don't you feel tense at all, Leonar?" he gestured to the man beside him."

"I do not feel anything in particular. It is simply another squabble in politics that we are all to take a dabble in. Honestly, while it is a pain, it is necessary. Do not do anything to make a commotion, understood?" he glanced back, giving off the impression of a glare.

"O-Oh, alright, you got me there," he said, laughing wryly.

"Quiet. They're here."

Norman narrowed his eyes to the direction of the door where it began to open, revealing the figure of a young man accompanied by a giant.

They made their way at the feet of the stairs leading to the throne, in the middle of all the generals of the kingdom, and in front of the king. There they knelt as a sign of respect and acknowledgement.

"Greetings to the Ylithian royal family and to the esteemed generals in these very halls! I am Vriesse Luvierre, the crown prince of the kingdom of Alrifer. I am sure that the tensions of our two kingdoms have driven us apart, and that my presence here sent a disturbing ripple of unrest within your kingdom. That I understand full well."

He spoke with eloquence, gesturing with his hands at every turn, flourishing at his own words. There was not a sense of fear in his voice for being in the middle of your enemy's capital, the worst place you could possibly be. In fact, he seemed to revel in the fact that all their attentions are focused on him.

"However, I come here on more peaceful circumstances. That is if you comply," he said with a grin. "I wish for our two great kingdoms to continue living with prosperity!"

People began whispering one after the other, creating a small buzz amongst themselves.

"Silence!" cried out the king. Immediately the room fell into a deep silence.

He stood up and stared at the prince with a fierce glare.

"State your business. You seem to understand your predicament and ours, so I don't think I need to explain things and point out your petty attempt to rouse my people's worries with your pathetic words. Speak!"

The prince's body faltered for a bit, but he immediately regained his composure, fixing himself in front of the crowd.

"My, my. How virulent. Ahem, very well. I shall get to the point. I wish to negotiate in representation of our kingdom. But I am very tired after that long travel. Would you be so kind as to allow us a lodging for a while before the negotiations begin?" he bowed ardently, displaying his grace with words and gestures.

Waving a hand towards one of the attendants to his side, the king whispered into the ear of the maiden where she nodded in response, leaving hurriedly.

"Everyone here is dismissed. Prince Vriesse, follow me. I will be showing you to your lodgings myself."

No one opposed to the decision, but the people took it bitterly.

"Leonar," he beckoned to him. "Gather everyone to the hall. I will be with you shortly. And bring your son as well."

Without saying another word, he simply nodded and stood his ground until the generals and lords were excused as well.

As Leonar spoke with the generals and excused himself momentarily to retreat to his abode, he was greeted by the sight of his son waiting by the castle gates.

"Geoffrey, what are you doing here?"

"I heard about the arrival of Alrifer's prince."

"Starting to take interest in politics and diplomacy? You are still unprepared for such things. Return home."

"You know I can't do that," he protested firmly, looking into his father's eyes.

"And why is that?"

"My presence has been requested by the king, right? I think I have earned my right to stand alongside you. I am more than prepared to fight and die just as I have been raised. I lived my second life for this very moment."

"You were not raised to die. You were raised for a second life to avoid another travesty like the past to happen. After the commotion you caused with the son of Kaelus, I'm starting to think otherwise of your right. What would your mother think of you spouting nonsense about dying?"

"It's not nonsense. I will prove it to you. And I promised to my mother that I would become someone who can protect the weak so that they don't have to suffer the same fate as me. To live alone without the warm feeling of being with your parents."

His words shook the man's resolve, both physically and mentally. He knew that it was pointed at him, but his stern gaze never left his face. It was a strong shield that took the blunt of the damage.

"Do as you will. Your failure is imminent. You would do good by heeding my words, boy. What you are becoming has been contradicting your own doctrines. I hope that you will realize that before it is too late."

He passed the gates and left Geoffrey without another word.

I will show you, he murmured. Strengthening his resolve, he pushed through and made his way to the conference halls of the castle.

The conference hall was adequately spaced, not too large to be grand, and not too small to be cramped. It held a total of forty people including the guards, other than the generals, the acquaintances, and the king.

People argued back and forth, showing their clear disdain for the arrival of the prince. They expressed their own insights in the matter and their grievances. It went on long enough that the king himself had been strained too much hearing about it that it made him tired.

But all eyes turned to the doors when it opened.

"Forgive me for my tardiness. I had to get much of the plan's records and some details I had left at home. Shall we start this conference?" he sat down on the round table.

The very table of the conference room was a large one with a hollow space in the middle where the one who would speak needed to be. That person would be surrounded by the people and their peers.

The generals and notable figures sat down while the acquaintances and the guests stood beside the ones that invited them.

When the silence settled down, the king stood in the middle of the hollow circle and looked around him to make sure that their attentions were pointed at him.

"This will be about the retaliation of Alrifer's encroaching attack on our southern boarders. I am sure that you are all aware of the fact that they are gathering their armies at a staggering amount near our borders for only one intention. One does not need to be a tactical genius to know this. This meeting will be to decide whom will be leading the charge against their offense. I will ask of your opinions and take a vote at the very end."

One by one, the generals proposed their preferred leaders, those being the well-known generals, the distinguished nobles, and the king himself. There were those that abstained and had no one to vote, so they remained in silence and neutrality.

"Before we continue on. There is another matter that we have to worry about," said King Gareth with a formal tone. He stiffened his back and cleared his throat.

"There is a larger army forming near our borders. Demons."

The room began buzzing with words and people talking amongst themselves. The sudden uprising created a clear tension that added up to their current problems.

The scars of the kingdom were still fresh, and there were still wounds being created at a rate that they did not anticipate.

"Silence. We need order before we can settle anything. That is why I decided to bring this up before continuing on with the voting. This is another matter that we need to express since it is far more pressing than the threat the Alrifer poses."

He made room for the inner circle and gestured for the guards. In response to a nod, they began pulling a mechanism that brought up a table. The king was brought a large weathered map of the kingdom which he placed on the table for all to see.

"At our western border, the demons have been seen massing their ranks, thanks to our reliable scouts. Though their numbers are not that much, demons pose a much greater threat for their ferocity and tenacity when fighting. It would take two to three men to battle a single demon, therefore we need to focus on this before anything else. I propose that Norman Niels will lead the operation, and accompanying him are the sons of Merevas, Geoffrey, and the son of Kaelus, Alexander."

As their names were brought up, they stood before the crowd for all to see.

Compared to the relaxed and grinning Alexander, Geoffrey tried to keep his surprise hidden. But the pressure of such a tall order gave him anxiety that was getting out of hand.

"I think it would be high time for the young generation to take flight and show their prowess, thus I have decided to put their skills to use. If you have heard of their achievements, then I am sure that there are no arguments to defy this suggestion of mine. If you have, then speak up now."

"I refuse!" said Leonar Merevas, slamming his hands on the table. He stood firmly and placed his hands on his back, clasping his hands. "My king, despite my son's upbringing and repertoire, he is still unprepared for such a role. As his father, I do not vouch allowing him to take the front lines this early. I ask that you take me instead. I would suffice, would I not?"

"Leonar? Surely you underestimate your own son. There is no doubting what he will become, so why not allow him to flourish? Besides, I have other intentions for you. Seeing the votes, you are unanimously the one to command the defense against the army of Alrifer. That task is a much more daunting one if it were not you."

"Forgive me, but I thank you for allowing me the honor to serve the defense, and I accept the honor. However, I am firmly opposed to my son being in the front lines! Overturn the decision, I plead to you. Choose someone else."

"Father! Why must you look down on me?! Can't you see that I've worked hard for this very moment? Why can't you open your eyes to that? I am not a child anymore, I am so much as a warrior like you are!"

"You do not understand, Geoffrey. It is I who can see if you are ready or not. I am your father; thus I can see that you are not prepared."

"You call yourself my father even after all these times of not being one. That is so much easier to understand. I am ashamed of you that you can't see my own worth. It is clear that you are blindly spouting nonsense. Forgive me, my king, everyone. But I need to excuse myself."

Geoffrey stormed out of the room with an upbeat pace. The room felt the awkward tension of a quarrel between a father and son that no one could say anything afterwards.

"My, my. How childish of you to simply storm out. You just proved your father's point," said Alexander whom scoffed and laughed as the events transpired.

"Forgive me, my king, but my immature son still needs more time to learn when he is ready. But please do go on with the meeting. I shall gladly take the honor of leading the troops to defend our kingdom. I will take the left-out details when I return. Now, if you will excuse me," he bowed, following after Geoffrey's trail.

... So it is you who will ruin our glorious ascension to power? Then you are my enemy.

His footsteps trailed after his son's to the empty streets of the Valour district leading back to their home, a quaint district where the silence is solemn. Here was where his mansion was built, a mundane design, different to every other house in the district.

Having a competition on the looks of one's abode didn't suite his tastes, and he scoffed at attempts of those that tried to convince him.

He didn't find it odd at the very least that there were no people roaming about, since at this time, people would be enjoying their time inside the comfort of their own homes, but he only worried about reaching his son that he upped his pace, going past the familiar sights such as the various houses that nearly brimmed with gold and marble, and the grand statues and garden decorums on the front lawn of his neighbors.

He wanted to tell him something, but the words simply didn't come out right. The feeling of wanting to tell someone something pained him on the inside, enough to want him to blurt it out, or worse, yell it to the heavens where his wife could hear it.

But it was not meant for her, but for him, his son, the one person that he had left in the world to cherish the most after losing the other.

I know my wrongs, son. I am sorry that I cannot explain to you why I don't want you to go through with this. But now, I need to explain myself. I can't risk losing you again.

Just as he turned the corner of the district, he bumped into a large figure wearing a cloak. He staggered back, not realizing that his thoughts made him lose his composure. But he did not fall to the ground, instead, he felt the cold touch of steel on his back.

He grasped for air, arching forward.

Behind him he saw the face of one familiar in his eyes. The pale face, the wicked smile, his anger swelled, but he could not move.

"With this, the obstacle to our plan is gone," he whispered.

He pulled the blade from the man's back, kicking him away.

"How ironic that such a renowned man would die so easily by a single stab of a dagger. I expected a fight from you," he said, spitting at the fallen man's back.

But to his astonishment, Leonar's body twitched, then moved fluidly, rising from the ground.

He drove his fist into his left cheek with a twist of his body and immediately took hold of the walls to support him.

"I've taken worse scars than a simple stab wound," he said, spitting out blood, coughing. "How did you mask your presence, you fiend? I should have known if someone was following me, you damned snake of a prince!"

Wiping his lip of the blood, he stood. "I am no simple someone, Leonar Merevas. I am the catalyst to this war. I shall be the one to spark this greatest bloodshed of the continent between two kingdoms. But before that, I must eliminate you, and seeing as you are not armed, I must finish what I have started."

He nodded with a gleeful grin, urging the giant behind Leonar to take hold on his arm firmly, slamming him unto the the wall like a doll.

There was a loud cry that came from him, including a small tremor caused by his body hitting the concrete. His bones were shattered, and he was made to be like a puppet whose strings were cut.

His hair was pulled up, forcing him to stand. That alone severely battered him, enough to make his entire body numb.

Vriesse slowly walked up to Leonar, who was restrained to the wall, and gradually sunk the dagger into his heart, looking into his eyes with a sadistic and contented grin as he committed the atrocious act.

"I will tell you this. I am no simple someone. I am a demon, and I shall bring about the extinction of the human race," he softly whispered into Leonar's ear, instantly driving the dagger into him until the dagger went through him.

"Sleep knowing that you were fortunate enough to not witness the end, but to be the one to die first for it."

He pulled the dagger and wiped it on Leonar's uniform, leaving him to bleed to death.

Or so they thought.

He struggled to keep his breathing regulated. He did not panic as his body quickly started getting cold.

He pitted his back against the concrete wall he was slammed into and carried the burden of his pain whilst grinding his teeth.

Fiends! I will not rest until you are all brought to justice! I will not die, I will not...

His eyes started slowly closing, but he bit his lip and instilled pain within himself to stay awake.

This can't be the end of me. Not while those demons walk the earth, I cannot leave my legacy unfished. Someone, please, anyone.

As he wished and pleaded to the silence, he heard the sounds of footsteps inching towards his resting place.

Glancing, to his left, he saw the face of the very person he wanted to see, in fact, he staked his dying wish on seeing him. Even in the face of death his adamant demeanor fought with him and opposed what he wanted for what he needed to do.

"Geoffrey..."

His eyes were full of shock. He couldn't believe what he was seeing before him, but he wanted to think that it was a nightmare.

He had heard of the sound upon storming back to their home, but never in his wildest imagination did he think that this was the cause of that.

"Father!" he cried out, cradling his head into his trembling arms. "What happened here?! Who did this?"

"The prince of Alrifer. His arrival was all a ploy. He and his companions are all demons! You must stop him. No one else knows but you," he said, coughing up blood.

"Please stay still! I will get help, you will get through this!"

But just before he was able to set him down, Leonar took his son's hand firmly and shook his head, pulling him close with his dying breath.

"Listen to me, son. There is something that I need to tell you before my light vanishes. I don't have long. But I want to ask for your forgiveness. I know what I said back there was berating towards you, but I wanted to steer you away from the chaos so that you wouldn't have to live another life like that. I am also ashamed to call myself a father for being cold-hearted towards you. I have been always proud of you, my son. Never had I not been proud of you. But it pained me every day that I told you that I wasn't because I had to hide it somehow."

"Why are you so unreasonable? You could have told me, and I could have come to understand, but why? Why did you have to do something like that? I don't understand!"

"Because I promised it on your mother's grave. I promised her that I will give you the life that I was not able to give you when she was alive. But now, I don't think I have the right to stop you now. It is as everyone says. You are meant for greater things. Forgive me for not being a father to you when you needed me the most. It will be a sin that I carry with me to the greatest depths of the underworld. Make me proud, son..."

And with his last breath, he gave him a forthright smile with a discerning eye, an expression that he had never seen him make before.

Seeing his face alone made him tremble, but hearing the last words shattered him.

His father's hand, which were on his shoulders, lost strength and fell to the ground.

Unable to say anything, his own arms and legs went limp, and an overwhelming amount of sadness washed over him like a tide.

His eyes which were full of tears and regret remained open as his head fell to the side, devoid of strength.

No, not again. Why did I have to lose someone again? Why did this have to happen now of all times?!

Tears streamed down his deadpan face, and upon looking up at the dark clouds where droplets of rain started drizzling down, he whispered his intentions with a grave tone.

"I will have you repay this with your blood, demon or not. I will have my vengeance..."

Though he had just realized his father's true intentions and thoughts after years of berating, he had cast all that aside instantly.

His true self was masked all for him, and that alone made it clear that he was his father, the one who would go as far as to discourage his own son to make sure that he doesn't fall prey to fate's mysterious plots once more.

But the backlash was greater than what he expected. It was as if an obsessive cruel spirit had taken over him, amplifying his rage into action. And whatever evil intention that this cruel spirit had, he allowed himself to be absorbed into it.