"Is this the second? No... I think this is the third time someone has pointed a sharp blade at me.” Ezer smiles as he tightens the grip on his dagger, the only weapon he currently carried.

"I've been looking for you for a long time, it was rumored that you would be further east... perhaps within the deep forests of the north. Who would have thought that you would cross me in the opposite direction?” Siergo blocks the only exit to the alley. "Believe it or not, your father is in town. That means there is no escape and I will receive my coins without waiting.”

"W-what?" Ezer can't believe what he hears and the fingers, which until a moment ago had a firm grip on the dagger, begin to tremble without him noticing.

“It was easy to recognize you at a glance. Did you think that hiding your hair would change anything? If it wasn't for that witch, I would have dragged you out the door right then and there. Where is that bitch now? Never mind, I can deal with her later.” Siergo speaks hastily, unable to hide his excitement.

Thanks to the information, Ezer could imagine the soldiers rushing to catch him, he had to get out of this place and fast. He didn't have time to fight to the death with the man in front of him, so decides to somehow persuade him.

"I don't know how much my father promised you, but I can…”

"Can you shut up kid? I don't give a shit what a guard thinks, I don't know how blind you are to follow the lady on a suicide run. When they catch you... Ha! I don't envy you for escorting a beauty.”

“But what...?” Ezer never in his life was so disconcerted, the tension and uncertainty swirl in his stomach, involuntarily squeezing him.

“Miss Irene Karsin …Would you be so kind as to accompany me without resistance?” Siergo bows slightly without lowering his guard.

Ezer for the first time perceives that the man's eyes were not focused on him. He turns his head looking for the true recipient and there he finds Irene, motionless and with a dark smile, one with emotions totally opposite to what it should be.

“So I only got to this point.” Her emotionless eyes contrasted with his smile.

Ezer stands stunned at the situation, in a few seconds all the information is rearranged in his brain looking for a coherent answer. Karsin, the family name became known decades ago for belonging to a regent who was in charge of the land until the legitimate heir, Ezer's ancestor, came of age.

It was clear from the records that, before his term ended, Karsin strengthened his position and took over the town of Rock Harbor, assigning land to his subjects loyal to him, and of course, building a residence of his own. Before long he becomes a self-proclaimed baron with enough power to be untouchable by the Inmerlan, unless they wanted to further destabilize their domain. A brief part of the long Inmerlan story that no one wanted to accept, Ezer was sure that if his father saw the records, he would burn them on the spot.

That the daughter of the current Karsin family is on the run, and worse, that he helped her, meant that he might have made a new enemy in the most inconvenient place, the only port that offered him a pass to freedom.

Handing over Irene crosses Ezer's mind for a second, but he dismisses it instantly. He didn't know the background of the events and didn't want to because of the resemblance between the two, and even if he did, he would have to fight the man in front of him anyway.

"Miss... I'm not going to say it again. Accompany me by your will or I will do it by force.”

Ezer was running out of time so he rushes in and makes a decision that half of himself rejects. Abandon her, cut himself off completely from any connection, they hadn't recognized him so he could continue on his way with Lyaria. He felt how the rejection of this idea grew with the seconds, and therefore, it sets it in motion instantly.

“I refuse.” Irene smiles strangely when she sees Ezer and notices, as if it were a mirror, each one of his thoughts. Before he can even say a word, she takes the action that would corner them both.

“Then...!” The mercenary pounces on what he thought was the only thing standing between him and his money, Ezer.

Without time and recognizing that he had two enemies, in front of him a sharp blade and behind a poisonous tongue, he decides to face what meant immediate damage. This time Ezer has vivid the experiences and mistakes of the combat that happened the day before, so he decides to have a more flexible approach and dodge instead of blocking, apparently the tactic works by avoiding the first thrusts and slashes of the dagger.

The close combat made the battle frantic, where one wrong move would mean death. It doesn't take long for Ezer to realize that he has the advantage in speed thanks to his smaller size and the occasional fleeting move he's already practiced. It was clear that the mercenary was used to fighting with much larger weapons and that he did not expect a young man to stand up to him with such serenity and good reflexes.

During that time, Irene watches the show with empty eyes without ever moving her feet to try to take advantage of the opportunity and escape.

The dagger cuts some of Ezer's black hair as it passes over his head, he may have the advantage in speed, but clearly the mercenary had the stamina stacked up from years of training. He has no choice but to define the combat in the next movement, the moment Siergo opens his arm to cut Ezer's neck, he blocks it by placing his hand on the inner edge of the elbow, cutting off all possibility of movement, at the same time, the free hand that wielded his black dagger seeks to embed itself in the stomach of the mercenary.

Drops of blood fall from the mercenary's abdomen as does Ezer, who lies on the ground with his nose dripping red as a result of the quick counterattack he suffered.

"I blocked it late, but I did, and it still managed to get through my leather armor, grazing my skin... awesome dagger you got there boy."

"Thank you, it's a memory of my mother." Ezer sits up not bothering to try to stop his nosebleed.

“Not for much longer.” Siergo doesn't plan to give his opponent room to regulate his breathing and lunges again with his dagger raised.

“Enough!” A deep voice resounds throughout the alley forcing anyone to pay attention.

A group makes its way through the alley, at first difficult to recognize due to the darkness, but as they approach, Ezer manages to distinguish that they were soldiers led by two well-dressed people.

"You came early! You were supposed to watch the surroundings.” The irritation was clear in Siergo.

“Use your words carefully! You are talking to the lord of these lands!” The messenger's words bring reason in Siergo, he understood that he no longer had the chance to get more merits.

"Are you happy daughter? Did you vent your unreasonable hatred to the world? Did you drag more unfortunate souls to share your so-called pain...? It's time for us to go home.” Like Irene, her father had a stony face that showed no emotion.

“You never understood me…or tried.” Irene resigns herself and walks to her father, leaving Ezer who is static, seeming to be ignored by everyone, although this would not last long.

"I hope you haven't forgotten about me!" Siergo interrupts realizing that it was time to demand his cut.

“You did well to find Irene, you will have what was promised. But do not think that this attempt to add merit is worth anything.” A leather bag falls to the ground right in front of the mercenary who quickly counts them and walks away without saying a word.

"My lord, regarding the young man...?" The messenger, who was acting as an intermediary, doubtfully asks the head of the Karsin family.

Irene continues walking until leaving the alley escorted by soldiers, she clearly didn't care and made it clear by not saying a word.

“Take him to that prison, it won't be long before the next installment and there are still empty cells.” With a few words he seals the fate of Ezer, who does not stand still to accept it. He knew that if he was imprisoned, sooner or later, they would discover his true identity and that was something he had to avoid at all costs, the only solution was to escape.

He visualizes the same window through which he dropped and decides to climb up to it using the barrels that were below. However, when he is about to run taking the first step, an arrow is embedded in his calf forcing him to fall prey to the stabbing pain.

The soldier who fires the arrow from his crossbow lowers it satisfied with his aim, a weapon of such quality and cost resulted in a good shot, he just had to make sure not to kill and only disable.

Ezer doesn't mind the pain, he doesn't have time to worry about it. The moment his body hits the ground he knows that his chances of escape are slim and close to none thanks to his wound.

Several soldiers begin to approach and drag him by grabbing his arms, he tries to resist, but it is in vain, a blow to the ribs makes him stop. He turns his gaze one last time towards the window and it is at that moment that he sees how Lyaria prepares to jump and try to save him. But Ezer makes a quick sign shaking his head, he knew that if she went down they would capture her, or worse, kill her.

“Don't come.” He manages to move his lips before a grimace of pain fills his face as the arrow stuck in his foot hits the ground as he is dragged.

"Ezer...!" Lyaria wanted to jump right then, but she knew Ezer was right. She had to devise a new plan and follow them looking for an opening to take advantage of, before turning around and getting ready, she throws one last look that crosses Ezer's. Neither of them could imagine how much they would long to see each other again in the future.

From that moment on, Ezer loses all orientation thanks to the blindfold that is placed on the eyes blocking his vision. No matter how hard he tried, his bonds wouldn't give and the carriage he was in wouldn't stop. That was, for both Lyaria and Ezer, a long night.

On that date a legend was created, many people heard the howls of a wolf and perceived the pain that was released with each cry, there are those who say that a white ghost that took human and wolf form could be observed at each interval between howls. That night was known and remembered as the white wolf moon.