Green’s End, atop the fortress

A short girl was sitting on a wheelchair, which was pushed by Viscount Kirn Sparrow. The girl had curly orange-hair, a slim body, and a round baby-like face. If Arthur were to see her, he would recognize her immediately. It was none other than Ami.

She enjoyed the peaceful and breath-taking view from atop the fortress, though she didn’t look as energetic as in the past. In fact, there was some hesitation and restlessness written all over her face.

“What is it, Ami?”

The Viscount, who’s golden Arman eyes were covered, lowered his head and asked with a soft voice.

“E-ehm… won’t a lot of people die? I… I don’t want that.”

“It’s War, Ami. We can’t reclaim what’s rightfully ours without sacrifice.”

“But…”

“I will concede that, after millennia of exile and oppression, reclamation may be mistaken as invasion. Nevertheless, it is not- and those who till stolen soil have no right to object when cast out in turn.”

The girl lowered her head, feeling conflicted and sad. She knew what the Viscount was going to do, and although it pained her, she had no choice but to stay by his side and help him.

Contrary to before, her eyes had turned completely golden. Anyone who might see her would immediately know she was an Arman, a descendant of that race of humans. They called them misbegotten, blasphemous, and even cursed.

“This land is ours, Ami. What right does anyone have to drive us away?” Kirn’s voice got more emotional as he clutched the edges of the wheelchair.

“No one said a word when they slaughtered us by the hundreds, yet if a single noble dies, all hell breaks loose. We deserve better. We deserve a home. Peace.”

“But… won’t everyone attack us?”

“Yes, they will, which is why we need to be prepared for war. To stand our ground and fight till the last breath.”

After a short pause, he fixed the beige hat on top of her head and added, “It’s getting cold. Let’s take you inside.”

…

Later that day, inside Kirn's small office.

Veronica, his protector, loyal confidant, and best friend, knocked on the door before entering.

“My lord.”

“From the looks on your face, I doubt it’s anything good.”

“There are more Imperial spies than usual. They must know.”

“What if they do? It is too late to back down now. Just a little over a month left…”

“Sir Sulong and Sir Adam have gathered their armies and are on their way to Blackcrest. They are expecting you to block the Southern exit.”

“Are they now? Very well. Send half of my troops but tell them to standby and do absolutely nothing. I’ll send you in my stead.”

“My lord!”

She sounded worried and unwilling to go.

“Please, Veronica. You are the only one who can stall them. If it comes down to it, help the Duke but don’t push yourself. I expect you by my side when the time comes.”

“What of Madam Olivia, my lord?”

“A traitor to her kin. A disgrace.” He responded, his face livid and filled with rage. “I swore that I would kill her with my own hands. We Armans will never submit or surrender.”

68 days left until the scheduled Translocation

Trab Village, Central-West of the Desert of Peace and Commerce

“The ale is good! I like it!”

“I’m glad. Please enjoy!”

The housewise working at the tavern smiled back at Christopher and then went back behind the counter.

Aerin was chugging down the ale without rest, only stopping to take a breath.

“You’re an interesting person, Aerin!”

Chris’ face had turned a bit red, a clear sign of intoxication. In contrast, the Minstrel seemed to be handling it pretty well. He took a good look at the tavern, which was modest and lacking any decorations.

There were a couple of tables and, excluding them, only three more customers.

“I could say the same to you, Sir Christopher.”

“I’m just a regular dude who somehow got reincarnated… or do you call it transmigration?”

“Transmigration is when the soul passes to another body, which is the case for Sir Arthur. Reincarnation is basically being reborn. I would say you got transported.”

“But I died.”

Aerin chuckled and thoughtfully looked at the man sitting across from him, “Even Death is not beyond Destiny, Sir Chris. Perchance, did you ever see a frog? An orange one with three eyes.”

“An orange frog? I’m not sure…” Chris tilted his head and pondered for a good minute.

“When that bitch tortured me, I saw a lot of things. Hallucinations, I thought. Hmm… comes to think of it, I did see a frog. Yeah! I did! Why can I suddenly remember it?”

“Fate is a predetermined thing, Sir Christopher. Destiny, on the other hand, is something propelled by an individual’s choices. The former is difficult to change, but it is nonetheless possible. The latter, however, is like a single line that always goes forward, bound by choices and rules.”

Chris, looking very perplexed, drank more ale instead of responding. He found it hard to process everything that Aerin had said.

"..."-Chris

“Destiny is something we can actively shape and alter, so one could say it is ever-changing, but... ultimately, it remains on the same path. Put simply, changing one’s Destiny means that one has become free. His choices are absolutely his own and Fate cannot influence him or events that happen around him.”

“I still don’t understand.”

“I’ll give you an example. No one fears death and wants to go through it, right? When you had died, you probably thought the same. I told you that Destiny is beyond Death, meaning that you came to this world on your own. It was you yourself shaping your own Destiny using a greater and mystical force. As for why you came here… maybe you wanted to reunite with Sir Arthur? The thought itself might’ve been vague, but the will behind it was enough to overcome Death.”

“So I cannot die as long as I will it? That seems a little outrageous.”

“It doesn’t work like that. You can't avoid Death just because you don’t want to. If you have a motive, a burning desire - one backed by your actions, of course- then it would work.”

“And you’re telling me this because you’re like me?”

“Precisely, Sir Christopher. If you truly come to understand how your actions can affect your Destiny, then you’ll be able to do wondrous things. However, know that it’s not omnipotence. There are limits and one can only cheat Death so many times before it catches up to him.”

“I’ll just have to not die, I guess.”

“Hahaha! Indeed… indeed!”

Christopher hesitated for a bit, fiddling with the empty wooden cup.

“All of that was because of the frog?”

“It is called the Frog of Destiny. It cannot be controlled or caught. Moreover, only a handful of entities can actually see it when it’s moving. It appears spontaneously before mortals and changes their Destiny, or to be precise, gives them the ability to do so. Just like it can give someone the ability to cheat death or achieve unachievable feats. Meeting the Frog of Destiny can also do the opposite. Thus, Sir Christopher, I beseech you to be careful and responsible. Know yourself and what you want to do. As someone who experienced the same thing that you did, that is the best advice I could give.”

“Thank you, I will keep everything you said in mind. Speaking of which, you said you’re old... how old exactly?”

“2782 years, though in the grand scheme of things, that’s nothing. I have travelled through time and even beyond the Vast Expanse. I always think that I’ve seen pretty much everything interested in existence, but I’m proved wrong every time. There’s always something mystical and interesting in every world… every place.”

“... Alright that sounds like bullshit. 2782? Really?”

“I have no reason to lie to you. I have gathered wisdom and knowledge, but I’m just a simple human, Sir Christopher. I’m not strong or deserve recognition… except for my ballads. They’re the best. I think and act like anyone else. I’m no God or special being.”

“I don’t believe that you’re actually weak.” Said Chris as he scrutinized the poet, trying to see through that inscrutable friendly smile of his.

“I really am.”

“Then how did you survive? Didn’t you say that you travelled to a lot of places?”

“I wasn’t always alone. People helped me. And I have the blessing of the Goddess of Luck, so I tend to survive when others do not. I have a multitude of artifacts and blessings that guarantee my safety, though none of which give me actual powers, so to speak. Without them, I am genuinely a normal human being.”