Another day dawned. It was a dark morning in the Citadel of Whitehollow. Grey clouds rolled in, swallowing the top of the White Tower. Inside the throne room, stood Areyn with hunched up shoulders and hands behind his back, looking over his city through the window.

"How many did we lose?" Areyn grumbled. A man in full steel armour stood behind him, wearing a red shoulder cloak typical for Valquen commanders. A carefully trimmed greying beard revealed his old age.

"Four-thousand and still counting Your Grace." the commander answered, "But two-hundred fled the battlefield and told us everything they know. She will have to go through Seguja Castle. A hundred men can withstand thousands. With your word, I will send more of my men to defend it. But she still has a lot of power overseas. Her ships are a threat, too."

Areyn took a deep breath, watching the clouds pouring rain over his city. "Go ahead. I'll have my naval forces take care of that problem, but that wyvern of hers, whatever it is, will be the greatest threat. Make sure to provide your archers with additional training."

The commander nodded and said, "Of course, your grace. Anything else?"

"If you ever manage to come across her, bring me her head," Areyn growled before turning around and walking past the commander, leaving the room with his black fur cloak dragging across the floor.

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Inside the cargo hold of Valmir's ship, Kiera, Marlock and Areiya tensely awaited their fate when the hatches finally opened. Valmir walked in with two of his men. "Alright, ladies. It's pay-" Valmir halted, nailing himself to the ground as soon as he noticed Areiya wasn't tied up anymore. She seemed to have disappeared. His first instinct was to get back up on deck, but a bump on his back, a sharp splinter on his throat and warm breath on his neck immobilized him completely.

"Any scream or cry for help and I will cut this man's throat. Move it!" Areiya growled, pushing Valmir further into the hold. Kiera and Marlock stood up, and their bindings were removed as well. They just pretended. Valmir's two guards didn't know what to do, so Marlock and Kiera bound their hands together.

"Alright, Kiera, watch the hatch. Warn us if you hear someone coming." Marlock commanded with his deep, hoarse voice. Areiya went up to Valmir and took one of his blades, rasping from its sheath, and smiled, "I'll take that," She walked over to a bunch of crates.

The immobilized pirate captain pretended to have everything still under control, rolling his eyes. But deep inside, he knew he didn't. "Do you really think you can keep this going long enough? We arrived at Graywatch. Areyn is waiting outside, what do you think happens when they think something's wrong?"

Marlock stomped over to him and sent his fist flying into his face, forcing saliva to shoot out of Valmir's mouth. "Shut up. I don't want to hear a word from you, traitor."

Areiya pried open a crate with the blade. Its content was not useful, for it was only mere bottles of rum. She tried another box, and again, it revealed the same thing. "Kisu pii'thias..." (Fucking pirates) Areiya muttered while trying the third one. And finally, she exclaimed excitingly when the crate was filled with steel swords and cutlasses. She grabbed two swords and handed them over to Kiera and Marlock, keeping Valmir's for herself. "Here, take these. We'll probably need them."

Kiera took it by the grip and inspected it. Brand new pristine steel, with the dangling lantern's light reflecting on it, serving as a mirror. Her attention went to Marlock when he began speaking.

"Alright, you know the plan. Since they're pirates, they'll follow whichever captain is stronger. Areiya and I will go upstairs and try to convince these pirates to let me lead them. And remember, violence is our last resort. Make sure he doesn't go anywhere, Kiera." Marlock said, glancing at Valmir. "If he tries anything...kill him. Good luck," he added before heading upstairs. "Come on, Areiya. We got some work to do."

And so, they opened the hatch onto the main deck of the ship, closing it behind them. It was just Kiera and Valmir now. She leaned against the wooden beam, eyeing the pirate captain, who was looking towards the ceiling, trying to hear what was happening and then mumbled, "I should've just killed you all and be done with this damn thing."

Kiera didn't reply. She only observed him carefully. She didn't really want to say anything at all, considering she wasn't out of this mess just yet. Even though she got quite good at hiding her emotions to the cold-hearted look on her face, inside she was still nervous. A mixture of adrenaline and a deep fear of ending up a slave again. Putting her right back to the start.

Valmir scoffed, "What? Have you lost your tongue? Are you really that surprised that I betrayed you? Come on. I'm a pirate. Your excuse for a rebellion will never win against Areyn."

Kiera rolled her eyes; she couldn't hear any more of him and finally opened her mouth. "Shut up."

Valmir chuckled and hung back, looking back to the ceiling. "You guys are determined, I'll give you that."

Suddenly, Kiera pushed herself off the wooden beam and crossed her arms, glaring Valmir intensely. "Why are you such a cunt? I honestly can't tell. What was it? Bad parents? Or were you bullied just a little too much?"

Valmir exchanged Kiera's cold look. Some strands of hair fell in front of his eyes, dripping with sweat. "None of those, I'm afraid. In this world, the only way you'll grow old is by looking out for yourself. The Valquen name has been around for centuries. The Citadel of Whitehollow is built by a Valquen. But there is no going around this; we are dying. Centuries ago, we were all around the world. Everywhere you went, there was a Valquen ruling a city. Now, the only Valquens that are left is me, my sister and my uncle. Everyone else is gone, and you know why? Because they gave too much of their own, and people took it for granted. People broke down houses we built for them, and they revolted against the people who fed them more than enough. They tore the family apart that built this bloody damn world. House Valquen is the foundation of everything this world can be. I can't save my family anymore. We're already doomed. But I can still make sure I can live out my life like I always wanted. That is why I am a cunt, whether you like it or not."

Kiera couldn't help but feel at least a little bit of sympathy for Valmir. After all, he had a point. But she still had another. "That doesn't mean you can take away the lives of others who might have the same dream as yours. If that's who I'm going to be, then I'd rather die earlier knowing I always did the right thing."

Valmir and Kiera both looked towards the ceiling when they noticed commotion brewing upstairs on deck. Dull thumps and muffled groans. This only made Kiera even more nervous, tightening her grip on the sword. Bang! The hatch flew open, and a pair of pirates poured in. Kiera held her sword in front of her, and her heart began thumping inside her throat. One of the pirates charged at her with a swing of his sword, but Kiera blocked it, clashing their swords together, the sound of metal against metal filling the hold. They exchanged swing after swing until she suddenly saw Valmir charging at her with his bound hands. He bashed against her with full might, forcing her onto the ground and drop her sword, sliding a bit further.

Valmir crawled on top of her, and wrapped his bindings around her neck, pulling as hard as he could.

Kiera desperately reached to the bindings, groaning and moaning, trying to ease the tension on her throat, but he was way stronger than her. Unable to breathe, she clasped and scratched Valmir arms, but to no avail.

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"I might be a cunt-" Valmir grunted, raising his voice even more as he increased his pulling power, his face twisting and flushing red, "But I'm not letting you shits humiliate me!"

Kiera's mind went blank. Nothing else roamed her mind but the will to survive, and the need for air. Her face turned red, then blue, then purple. Her vision slowly began fading as she struggled less and less. It was over. This was how she was going to die. Her fingers twitched, and her arms slowly descended to the ground. Before the last bit of her vision faded, she saw big arms wrapping around Valmir's neck before pulling him off of her along with a loud and angry roar. It was Marlock, throwing Valmir against the wall and bashing his head against it over and over. Blood splattered around as Marlock didn't stop, fully covered in blood, he completely crushed the Angel of Death's skull. In the meantime, Kiera gasped for air, grabbing at her throat. Even though she was released, she could still feel Valmir's phantom hand wrapping around her throat.

Marlock stood there, watching over Valmir's lifeless corpse, covered in blood and wounds. Areiya ran down and immediately sprinted towards Kiera, looking as if she saw a dead person. "Kiera! Are you okay?!" she crouched down, pulling up her head. "Stay like this, it'll be easier to breathe!" she panted. And she was right. Holding her head like that opened up her airways much easier. Kiera felt so good to feel the air filling her lungs again finally. Her facial colour slowly returned to normality. Areiya looked at Marlock and noticed something was wrong. He just paced around, breathing heavily.

"Marlock?"

He didn't react. He stared at Valmir's corpse, disregarding anything happening around him. Areiya stood up and approached him with care.

"Hey, Marlock? It's over, but we still have to go."

Still not a reaction...

"Don't look at the body, Marlock, you hear me? Don't look at it. We won, all we have to do now is leave before Areyn sends his armada after us."

Marlock slightly turned his head but didn't say anything. He then just walked off and went back upstairs with heavy steps. Areiya watched him leave before tending back to Kiera, pulling her up. "Come on, big girl. It's time to go..."

"Where?" Kiera asked weakly.

"We don't know yet," Areiya answered, helping her get on the stairs. When they reached the deck, Marlock was throwing bodies overboard. In the distance stood Whiteridge. Tall houses and towers of white stone stuck above the walls. It was terrifying to know that Areyn could be in seeing distance.

"Marlock, please take the wheel. You're better experienced in this than all of us." Areiya asked. Marlock only responded with an approving grunt and went to stand behind the helm, turning around the ship.

"Kiera, help me lower the sails again," Areiya asked.

On the walls of Whiteridge, Areyn watched the ship turn around. "Wait, what is he doing?" he asked to himself, "What is that damn knucklehead doing!"

His advisor, confused as his emperor, shook his head. "Maybe he changed his mind, Your Grace."

"Changed his mind?!" Areyn exclaimed, "I want Valmir here, and I want it now!" he turned to his commanders. "What are you all standing there for?! Send ships after him, damn it!"

His commanders nodded and immediately left the vicinity. All Areyn could do now was watch to see his opportunity of ending the rebellion once and for all sail away into the horizon.

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A certain air of victory loomed above the captured city of Jiron. Areyn's banners burned in piles along the streets, and new flags of Saenna's griffon proudly fluttered in the wind, decorating the walls and palace. She changed her colours again, to the griffon spreading its broad wings, painted in gold on a white background. Her guardian flew high above the city in eagle form. People were leaving their homes, and Saenna's guard escorted a massive crowd of slaves towards the city centre to wait for the speech of Jiron's new ruler.

She made her way through the streets, watching and observing everything. The city was all hers. She made her way towards the city centre, followed by guards and her new Lord Commander following her.

"How many slaves did we free, Vaegir?" Saenna asked.

"They haven't done any official counting yet, but they estimated at least a thousand. Possibly more." the commander answered. A bead of sweat rolling into his black, firmly shaven beard.

"You don't have to stand beside me during my speech. I need you to find Marlock and Areiya. We cannot afford to lose the Volarian tribes." Saenna added, turning around a corner of a street.

"The tribes already went back into the Silent Waste, Your Grace. Without a leader, they had no reason to stay." Vaegir said.

Saenna rolled her eyes and sighed, seeing the city centre at the end of the street. "Great. Things really couldn't be any worse. Saving them is our best shot. Areiya might return the tribal hordes, and Marlock's plan is still a go, with or without him."

Vaegir nodded. "Of course, Your Grace. What about the girl from Etheon?"

"Kiera?" Saenna attempted to confirm, "Save her too if possible, but she's not our priority."

He then left her to do as he was told. Saenna continued down the street. Her guards already split the crowd in two to form a path for her to reach the temporary wooden podium. When the freed slaves saw her approaching, they all began cheering and praising her name, sticking out their arms trying to touch her. Horns were blazing victorious, upbeat tones, cracking up everyone's mood as she walked between the crowd, smiling to the people before walking up the podium. Once she stood high, her choice of clothing stood out once again. A regal white dress with a leather gorget around her neck topped off with a belt that tightened the soft silk at her waist. Her light blonde braided hair rested on her shoulders, and her white iris eyes glistened in the sun.

The crowd didn't stop shouting her name until she began the first words of her speech. One by one, they silenced.

"People of Jiron! My name is Saenna Qoheris Valquen, Protector of the Last Guardian, Sentinel of Lunarion and Queen of Lunaria. I need you to remember today. The day you have been set free from the vile hands that are my uncle's. Yes, I am a Valquen, that I cannot deny, but once, my people represented freedom and prosperity. My family originates from the lands you stand upon. House Valquen began as a minor family of former slaves serving the kings and warlords that once ruled Volaria. Now, because of the emperor, my entire family and her descendants are doomed forever. But that doesn't mean you are! I will make sure my uncle pays with blood! I will take the White Throne and crucify those that ever supported that monster. I will make them suffer in the Silent Waste and let their bodies rot in the blacking sun."

She raised her voice louder and louder. "Once all of those goals are achieved, I can assure you. You will live in peace and safety within the walls of your cities. There will be no more fear of being torn from your homes and die as a slave. But I cannot do this on my own. I will need help. Your help!"

When Saenna said that, some people looked at each other, some murmuring in confusion.

"I need you to spread a message to every city existing with slaves! I need you to tell them to unite together with the Flames of Dawn in four nightfalls. Rebel against their oppressors, and end this tyranny once and for all! If we do this all together, we will prevail!"

Unfortunately, the crowd wasn't that convinced yet, continuing the confused murmuring.

"I know this will be hard. Many people will die. But know that they will not die in vain. They will be the sacrifice that is necessary for all of you to gain back your lives! Isn't that what you want? Do you want these slavers to keep hitting your children? Or your grandchildren? Or taking them away from you? While these monsters are doing this, they are sitting behind stone walls, sipping tea and mocking everything you stand for. They are not better than us; they are worse! This. Ends. Now!"

With those final words, Saenna's guardian released a loud shriek echoing through the skies. Turned into a giant wyvern, it flew overhead and stirred up sand, making Saenna's hair dance along. It startled some people, but then the unthinkable happened.

A single person in the crowd started muttering a name. He kept repeating "Flames of Dawn". Then, more and more followed. It soon became a loud chant of a thousand people shouting the rebellion's name. It surely did cast a smile on Saenna's face. She succeeded, and it filled her with indescribable joy.

"Prepare for long journeys! You can have anything you want. I will provide it for you! Go out there, and send my message!" Saenna added.

And then, they dispersed, preparing to leave the city. It was pretty clear that everyone knew that the end was nearing whether it be good or bad. In four nights would be the fall of slavery, according to Saenna. Even though she was victorious, with this knowledge, she couldn't help but feel extremely nervous. The enemy isn't someone to take lightly, and it's almost certain that there will be losses...