The dust flutters, passing through the beams of light that peeked through the cracks of rubble. The walls and ceilings were destroyed. And the earth mourned, pained, and cracked. Venomous air swirled within the broken temple. A row of pillars, tired and weary, at the verge of collapsing. What was left of the once bright and wide hallways where the deities walk was a narrow walkway where even two people could not fit. However, at the end of the passage awaits a spacious area where an altar still stands. It was wide enough to hold the grandest banquets. However, the floor was no longer smooth and shiny, decorated with sharp rocks, dust, and dried blood that couldn't be rid of.

On the stone platform was an altar. Or what was once an altar.

A stone table, gilded with gold, where a statue stands untouched. The stoned curls of her hair fell to the sides of her breasts and a single ruby droplet rested on her smooth forehead. Within the orb in her grasp, there was a faint blue glow.

The place appeared as it was abandoned for years and not one soul had taken a step in it. However, a man stands lonesome. The color of his robes was as dark as midnight. The end of the fabric appeared burnt as it drags on the floor. Silently, his hooded face was facing the altar. Long black silky hair fell down his shoulders until its ends stopped just below his hip. The bottom of his sleeves stopped above his elbow, revealing the horrid scars on both of the man's arms. It looked unbearably painful but the hooded man was long accustomed to the pain.

His sigh echoed throughout the area.

Thud!

A strong knee fell on the ground a few meters behind the man. A humanoid creature with a single horn on his forehead kneeled with a lowered head. His sword was placed beside his knee and he waited for punishment.

"You failed to capture him?" The hooded man spoke. His voice sounded hoarse as amusement his tone. A low chuckle followed.

"... Yes, Master" Alha responded.

"Raise your head, Alha... Let me see your face..." The man turned and a pair of ominous blood-red eyes was revealed from his pallid face. His gaze spoke of death and the undying want of suffering.

With no hesitation, Alha lifted his face. There was no anticipation in his expression as though everything was insignificant. However, when those red eyes met his master's face, it softened.

Smack!

Blood splattered on the ground. Alha's face was whipped to the side at the blow of his master's slap. His lip bled and the red dripped down his chin. Deep red claw wounds gaped on his cheek, exposed to the dirty air and bleeding excessively. His expression remained unchanged.

"You already lost the female elf, and now you tell me you failed once again?" The master's voice was laced with smoldering anger. "I cannot wait... Alha. I am weak and as long as the sacrifice lives... He will continue to consume my life..."

A despondent laugh escapes from his lips. "Our

"Forgive me, master... I will capture him"

"I can no longer trust your words..." The master turns around and he stares at the statue of Ethowna. He was unaware of how much his words affected the man behind him. Alha was gritting his teeth and his fists trembled.

"We... are the last of our kind..." The hooded man spoke as he stares at the statue of the goddess. "I can no longer bear the heaviness of waiting. So many decades... The ceaseless bleeding hearts of our kin... Those insignificant creatures slaughtering our people because of the ancient blood that flows in our veins... We have come so far, Alha... Are you not feeling the misery in my heart, anymore?"

"No, It lives inside me and devours me, Master. I feel your pain..."

A chuckle echoes in the darkness.

"We must suffer to get what we desire... So you must not fail me again... " He raises a hand and Alha rose from the ground at the command. "The Soul Summoning ritual had rendered me weak and vulnerable. Stay by my side for now..."

Alha abruptly raises his gaze. Eyes widening in shock. "Master, I-"

"See what our spy is doing... I still have little fate in him but he is one of the finest of my people. Let him go in your stead..." He glanced at Alha. His smile was hidden in the shadows of his hood. A palm opens towards Alha...

Reluctance overflowed within Alha's eyes. His hand holds the thin fingers of his master. Although they felt as if they would break within his hold, Alha knew that these were the hands that had were soaked with the blood of their enemies. Their miserable cries and tormented souls lived within the scars of his master's arms. The blood of his master was sacred... Anyone unworthy would melt and die.

"My Alha, that boy's death will be near... We will only wait for it..."

Alha hears the faint mutterings of the man beside him. His fingers softly caress the man's bony knuckles as he listens.

"When that day comes... Our brothers and sisters will be revived from the ashes... And our creator will cleanse the world..."

"Yes..." Alha slightly narrows his eyes as he scrutinized the irksome statue of Ethowna.

............

A humungous creature struggles to roars bitterly as the blade breaks through the bones of its neck with a snap. Blood gushed and sprayed in the air, completely dyeing the earth red. With a heavy thud, its lifeless body falls and its eyes remained opened from shock.

Blood trickled down the black blade belonging to the Lord of the Hercullio Family. Crimson droplets dripped on the ground in dots.

The Fire-breathing Crimson lion lays dead before Lord Hadrian's boots. Golden eyes shift their attention elsewhere as Hadrian swings his blade to rid off the blood on his black sword.

From the healer's directions, it seems they were not far from the location of the golden-leaf herb, Nalan. However, they were near the territories of carnivorous creatures. The journey would be perilous as the nearer they are to the herb's birthplace.

"My Lord..." Ordan sheathed his bloody sword before glancing at their surroundings littered with the corpses of beasts. Surprisingly, the healer naga remained calm when in the presence of bloodshed.

Silently, Hadrian briefly glanced at Ordan before telling the naga to continue to navigate them. They continued to walk through the forest while raising their guard. When the naga was distracted, Ordan took the chance to speak to Hadrian.

"Your excellency... " He called calmly.

"What is it that you want to know?..." Hadrian narrows his eyes without looking at his subordinate.

"It is the matter between you and the aphrodite Moulin..." Ordan spoke with a bit of hesitation.

"Hm..." There was a storm brewing in those golden eyes. Even the filtered sunlight, peeking through the leaves of the trees was unable to brighten the darkness within those pupils.

Although this was the case, Ordan continued. He felt that he would feel unsettled unless he speaks to the lord about it. "Moulin is the third son of the left imperial court... I have witnessed the bond between the two and I have acknowledged your relationship..."

A corner of Hadrian's lips was raised. "You are uneasy about the happenings of the imperial court when our affair is exposed..."

"I..." Exposed of his thoughts, Ordan lowered his head. "I am the Archnoble of the Left court... Most of the prominent lords oppose to marriages between the children of the two courts..."

A low chuckle escapes Hadrian's mouth. His eyes deepened in color. "They think that no one knows of the filth they hide. Many children have already been born between the two courts. Their opposition is ineffective and insignificant when you give them a taste of their own filth. The court is nothing but a theater for the king. You place too much significance on your position as the Archnoble, Ordan"

"...I apologize" Ordan lowers his head. "However, the Fraunces Household-"

"Nothing will stand between me and Moulin. If anyone dares to, be it that worthless king or even Moulin's brothers, I will not be merciful..." Finished Hadrian with a terrifying tone.

Ordan Cillius felt a wave of fear wash over his soul as he was subjected to the menacing gaze of the lord's eyes. He felt a terrifying chill climb up his spine as if the gruesome fingers of death curled around his throat to strangle him. Subconsciously, he lifted a hand to his throat.

Turning his gaze away, Hadrian ended the conversation and their journey became quieter. Venturing through the dark forest, monsters of much larger sizes began to frequently obstruct their path. Most were venomous and were even capable of controlling the earth beneath their feet. But with a swing of their sword, they cut down all of those perilous beasts and their clothes became more and more filthy with the stench of beast blood.

As the day waned, the night took its place. Camping underneath the starry skies of Skilis, the temperature was almost well below freezing. The fire was the only source of heat around them but it also lured the most terrifying monsters that wake in the darkness. They sat in the darkness when they decided to smother the fire.

Lifting his head, Hadrian calmly stares at the skies of the night. His thoughts began to wonder at the time when he and Moulin had walked on the frozen waters of the lake in the northern mountains. Their finger intertwined, their words shared, and their gaze was gentle. That night was the warmest that he had ever experienced.

There was a threatening growl that entered his ears and Hadrian sighs. His eyes darkened as he took his sword from his side.