Seeking the unknown, rewards us with the greatest treasures, in spite the chance of finding one would be extremely dim. History remembers only the tails of the achievers, not the ones who lost their way in pursuit. Even among the achievers, only those at the summit had the potential to carry down their legacy through their offspring. And thus, the Three greatest families of the Navian Kingdom were born.

The art of magic was greatly influenced by the individual’s blood, which made the members of the Great Three highly talented mages.

Emily Azwart, the second lady of House Azwart, and a member of the great Three was known to have exceptional reign over magic even among the nobles. But that was not enough.

You could find at least a noble family in every town of this kingdom. Skill would meaningless if all she had were comparable to common Noble folks.

She wanted to be exceptional, not just among any ones, but even among the members of the great Three. She had cleared the preliminary step, which was to get admitted into the greatest source of magical knowledge that any of the four nations could provide, The Algahus Academy.

Still, that was not enough. Great mages always had great legacies attached to their names. And that was the reason for her arrival at the mountains. To hunt a formidable enemy and take glory in it.

Then, why was she fleeing from the same enemy she was meant to kill? Why was she, not the one who made the first swing at that creature?

“Stop”, she cried as the three of them were heading downhill.

“I said, STOP”, she shouted, pushing away Shain’s hand that held her.

“We need to get back. Hunt that creature down”, she was catching her breath after the long run they had.

“No need. Hughes would have already dealt with that. Our priority should be reaching the ground as soon as possible.” Shain stated, trying the grab her hand.

“Don’t touch me.” She knocked off his hand and started climbing back.

“Miss Emily. We should not head back. Of all of us, Commander Hughes has the best chance to defeat that foe.” Harry tried to change her mind, but

“I am the leader of this team. I will decide what to do. Now, just shut your mouth and follow me.”

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Harry remained immobile. Seeing him denying her orders, she boomed, “Harry, I asked you to come with me.”

“I apologize Miss, but that is a request that I cannot fulfill.” He bowed his head, leaving Emily frustrated.

“Then why did you accompany me? You should have said that from the beginning, not now.”

“Why are you with me if you can’t even follow my command”, she yelled. Harry remained voiceless.

“Never appear in front of me again,” Emily ordered and continued her ascend.

“How long are you going to act like that?” It was Shain who spoke that words. The rate of snowfall around them kept peaking as night approached. The sky was filled with black clouds, barring them from knowing the exact time.

She frowned at him.

“If he comes with you, he will die. Why would he choose your life over his?” he continued his speech with the straight face he always held.

“Because that is what he is for! An outsider like you will never understand that,” she shouted, but the noise of the snow largely inhibited her hearing range.

“You are behaving like a child, Miss Emily.”

In a flash, her sword reached his eyelashes.

“Say that again, and yours will the first life I am taking today.” Neither her sword nor her words affected his posture.

“Where was your confidence when you were standing beside that creature?”

Words make into the deadliest weapon and of all that, true words hit the hardest.

“You just ran away, without even trying to take your sword out. And what are you planning to do once you confront that beast?” he asked, to which she remained baffled.

“I am sure you already know, but let me reassure you”, he continued.

“You can do nothing.” Shain lacked any kind of feeling while he spoke those words. He lacked any kind of intentions to temper her, or to make her anxious. He was just stating the facts.

For her, he was like a mirror. Those words didn’t belong to him but were coming from her reflection.

The snow was making it hard to notice, but her eyes were turning red. The authority she was holding up a minute ago crumbled like a sand model, destroyed by high tides.

Without saying anything, she sheathed her sword and walked down the slope.

“Thank you, Mr. Shain”, Harry bowed at him and followed his master.

Any creatures found below would not be dangerous enough to harm them, but he was ordered to bring them to any safe. He jumped above the snow, using it as a slide to descend toward them.

***

Hughes reached the bottom of the hill only to see a sole person waiting for him. Shain was staring into the sky, both his hands tied to his back. Looking from here, he resembled more a soldier than a fourteen-year-old boy.

The sun shined at his pale face, almost giving him a false glow. His black hair was swayed by the cold breeze that flowed down from the mountains.

“Where are others?”, noticing him, Shian saluted at his senior.

“They left, sir.”

“Is that so?” Hughes could feel something ominous had happened, and somehow the boy standing here might be the reason.

“At least they were safe”, he exclaimed. He looked around, but the wagon they came from seemed to be departed with the nobles.

“Look like we need to walk to the nearest town”, both of them started walking, alone in the seemingly endless dryland.

I hope Risha doesn’t learn about this incident.