Harsh snowy winds blew across the Ukiwa Mountain Range in Aurenia as the sun slowly sunk into the horizon.

Seven figures stood by a ledge made of dark rock and they all looked down at a small town in the distance.

It sat at a low point in the mountain range and was shielded from the winds that blew above.

One of the figures, Raläe, a man dressed in a thick, dark coat crossed his arms as he violently shivered.

“How many of you will it take to kill them?” He asked.

“Four at most. I will lead the attack.” Said Sarim, a tall man covered head to toe in golden armor. Although most of it was hidden beneath a dark cloak which covered his helmet and most of his body.

This was the same for the six other figures behind him.

He wielded a golden sword in his right hand and even from behind his helmet, one could clearly see his eyes. Eyes which burnt a bright gold. This was the same for his men.

“Make it quick. Also, cover me in a barrier before I freeze to death.” Raläe demanded.

Sarim nodded before suddenly disappearing along with three of his men.

They reappeared by the northern wall of the town that was called Kiti Cha Ukiwa.

A half frozen guard by the rickety wooden gate trudged through the snow to approach Sarim who looked down at him with dim eyes.

“G-greetings, sir knight. What brings you here?” The guard chattered. He was covered in thick furry clothes although not much could be done for his exposed face which was covered in snow.

“Where are they?” Sarim simply asked.

The guard’s eyes widened but he lowered his head before gesturing toward the gate.

The guard then led Sarim and his three companions into town and they made their way towards one of the many small homes along the town’s only street.

Standing next to the small building were two tall men who helped clear the snow that blocked the home’s only door, allowing the woman next to them to easily enter.

The men were as tall as Sarim, were dressed in thick leather clothing and had short white hair along with golden eyes.

They also held in their hands golden lances from which flares of light rose as they turned to face Sarim and his men who were led by a certain guard.

The townsfolk all hid within their homes including the guard who quickly fled the scene.

“Could I ask that you spare this town?” The one known as Rinka asked.

“No. They willingly harbored deserters and so they deserve nothing less than swift deaths.” Sarim said plainly.

“I see.” The Lance wielding man said.

A moment passed as the six giants glared at each other.

“I will ask only once. Lower your weapons, traitorous Rinka and Fea, so that we may deal out justice swiftly.” Sarim said.

“I do not plan on dying so easily. I also do not plan on allowing you to torch this place. So I guess we will have to settle this with our blades.” Rinka said while raising his Lance alongside Fea.

Sarim nodded before raising his sword as flares of light rose from his body.

He then charged towards Rinka, but Rinka dashed towards him and kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying out of town.

Rinka dashed towards Sarim who tumbled across the snowy mountainside before eventually coming to a stop.

Rinka thrust his spear towards Sarim’s neck but Sarim deflected the attack by swinging his sword and striking the Lance away.

Sarim then created a large ball of light in his hands and he threw it at Rinka, but Rinka was also a light magician and so he struck the ball of light with the back of his hand sending it hurtling to the side of the mountain where it landed with a cataclysmic explosion that lit up the evening sky.

Sarim scoffed before dashing towards Rinka who raised his Lance once more.

Their weapons clashed sending out a massive wave of air that displaced all nearby snow.

“It seems as though you and I are evenly matched.” Rinka said with eyes that burnt brightly.

“That seems to be the case.” Sarim said and just as the words left his mouth, a golden sword tore through Rinka’s leg.

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Sarim then dashed towards a wide eyed Rinka before cleaving off his Lance wielding arm.

“AHHHHHHHHH!” Rinka screamed as his eyes glowed their brightest but they dimmed instantly after seeing Fea only he was being dragged towards him by Sarim’s companions.

“FEA!” Rinka cried as they dropped Fea’s mangled body in front of him.

His arms and legs were gone and there were several holes in his torso.

“For the crime of desertion, I, Sarim, captain of the Tsudo Legion of Golden Knights sentence you to death.” Sarim said as Rinka crawled towards Fea. His wounds bleeding profusely.

Sarim raised his hand and created an orb of light above Rinka who tightly held Fea.

Sarim’s men all stepped backwards as the orb pulsated with energy.

Rinka then looked up at Sarim with a face that was twisted by hatred and grief.

“Tsudo… Mmm?” He muttered through gnashed teeth.

“Haha! I wish you luck on the day you eventually meet your progenitor.” Rinka said with a twisted smile.

A torrent of light then fell from the orb above and it quickly stripped off the flesh from Rinka’s exposed skin, but even as he burnt, he didn’t scream.

He simply glared at Sarim as his flesh broiled and burnt.

Moments passed and Fea and Rinka were eventually reduced to a pile of coals.

One of Sarim’s men walked up to him.

“Should we heed any of what he said?”

“Those were the words of a treasonous, not to mention cowardly dog. Treat as his words aptly.” Sarim said before raised his hand and created another orb of light.

He then sent it to a point above the town in the distance.

Several deep pulsating noises then filled the air before a massive torrent of light fell onto the town.

Screams and the sounds of burning became the mountain’s ambience and Sarim simply watched as the town was reduced to ash in a matter of minutes.

He then teleported him and his men back to a certain ledge.

“Are you done?” Raläe asked while standing closely to a knight who let out weak waves of light.

“Yes-“

“Good! Now take us back home!”

“Not until we report our success to the Grandmaster. Also, have you forgotten that we need to meet with the Goldcrests?” Sarim asked with a tilted head.

Raläe clicked his tongue before walking up to the Golden Knight.

“Fine, fine! Just take us away from here.”

Sarim nodded before teleporting everyone to a wooden platform that stood in the middle of an open field several kilometers south of Gordias, the capital city of Aurenia.

A large chuck of the grassy landscape had been severely damaged.

It looked as though someone had torn through the ground, mincing everything in their path, creating a rectangular pit of mud.

Sarim and company walked up to the only person who stood on the platform.

An old, but rather handsome man who wore uniform which was perfectly white. It contrasted well with his dark grey hair and silver eyes. His skin was wrinkled, yes, but it retained a firmness that probably had something with the near invisible silver lines that ran across his skin.

Sarim and company all knelt upon reaching the man, but he didn’t so much as turn to acknowledge their presence.

“The last of the Doyennefell have been executed, sir.” Sarim said after removing his helmet revealing his white hair and golden eyes.

“Is that so? Then move on to your next objective. The Goldcrests failed to appear after being summoned to join the vanguard. They were also the first legion to interact with Yna. Bring them here so that they may be trialed.” The old man said.

“Yes, Sir!” Sarim said as he stood with his companions.

“Sir… may I pose a question?” Sarim asked but the man remained silent.

“W-will we be part of the final force to crush the mud crawlers?”

A moment passed and Sarim’s only reply came from the whistling wind.

He nodded to himself before teleporting him and his men to the knight’s headquarters in Gordias.

It was a sturdily made building that was built to accommodate knights who towered above most people.

Raläe sat on a nearby chair in the lobby before rubbing his temples.

“What compelled you to embarrass us so?” He asked.

“I… I apologize sincerely.” Sarim said but Raläe clicked his tongue in response.

“So, when should we leave for the coast?” One of Sarim’s comrades asked as she removed her helmet. Her eyes were golden, yes, but they also had a green tint to them.

“Accompany me to the nearest temple first. I am starving and I do not plan on travel in this state.” Raläe said as he removed the thick hood that covered his head. He was a fairly handsome middle aged man and had a pair of golden eyes along with faint golden lines across his face. He scratched his bald head while standing to follow Sarim out of the building.

It was still quite early in the morning but the few people who walked the streets of Gordias bowed deeply upon seeing Sarim and his men.

They made their way through worn stone streets before eventually arriving at a large temple near the city’s center. It was made from dark stone and was covered in faint silver lines. Hanging from various points were banners engraved with a blue tear at the center of which sat a full moon.

Sarim and company entered the temple and Sarim walked up to the front desk while Sarim and his men made their way to a waiting room specifically made for knights.

It was a large room which was lined with the finest furniture.

A large window allowed the morning sunlight to bathe the room’s interior.

“Ten thousand men. All gone.” The woman with greenish eyes muttered as she stared at the wall.

“We can rest well knowing that they were all deserters. There is no place for their kind in Summus’s embrace.” Sarim said with crossed arms.

“True. I suppose my feelings are rooted in a deep fear I felt as he, with a single hand, snuffed out the lives of an entire army.”

“Hoh? Enoçia, a mighty knight, can feel fear?” Sarim scoffed only for Enoçia to lightly tap his shoulder.

“I beg that you stop teasing me. Fear is a… natural response to danger. It is also fundamental in making us human. Tell me, captain… do you feel fear?”

“Of course. I suppose the key to all this lies in what one chooses to do with their emotions and instincts. A weak man will succumb to them and stray from Summus’s light. We knights cannot waver even a little because it is Summus who gives us strength. Straying would be a two-fold mark of weakness.” Sarim said. His raspy voice was absorbed by the dark walls and thick tapestries that hung.

“Well said, captain. Say… do you think that death is an appropriate punishment for those who stray?”

Sarim glanced at a wide Enoçia.

“Yes. Why do you ask?”

Enoçia dismissively waved her hand before leaning backwards.

“I just think that it is much too merciful.”

“Is that so?” Sarim asked.

He then noticed a satisfied looking Raläe entering the room.

“Ahh… now that that’s over. Let us quickly conclude our business with the Goldcrests and finally head home.”

Sarim nodded before teleporting everyone to a certain place on the outskirts of the city.

It was a marketplace of sorts where people would sell goods to people who used the teleportation platforms.

The afternoon sun’s heat lifted the many exotic smells of the market as Sarim and company made their way towards one of the three platforms.

The sea of people parted allowing Sarim and company to stand on the platform.

“Where to, sir knight?”

The space magician who operated the platform asked.

“Eslaf Noitcefrep.”