"You have no idea what you are asking for, Ludica," A priest answers the dangerous proposition that the priestess has made "I know our king has his faults...but what you want, this is treason"

"We are supposed to uphold the laws of the Demons of virtue, to serve their magnanimous will and save what's left of humanity. Instead, the nobles let witches live in the fringes of society and seek to do war with everyone... can't you see it? The people are at risk" Ludica's mask of concern manages to move the priest, who frowns and looks away for a moment "You know people, right? Others who are unhappy with his rule"

"Look, come to the temple in the city, tonight at midnight...I may know some names" the priest finally gives in, leaning closer to her.

"Oh, brother. I knew you were a true devotee" Ludica whispers, her mask of seduction subtle, and enchanting as she whispers to his ear, her bosom pressing against his chest "But I would like at least a name right now, I don't want to come...unprepared"

"W-Well" the priest jerks backward, his eyes moving up and down as he clears his throat" Jhonatan Welt, he is a powerful merchant around these parts, and I'm sure he would appreciate it if you came, prepared, to entice him into supporting our holy cause"

"Thank you so much for your trust...please, leave now, return to your duties before you arise suspicion from anyone" Ludica turns her back on the priest, scowling with disgust once he no longers sees her face.

They are in a garden, large and with several benches, inside a castle that overlooks the largest city of the border territories. The priest leaves as Ludica, with a comfortable and slow pace, walks around the mosaics on the ground, looking at the many flowers and carefully tended bushes. Eventually, she reaches the center of the garden, where a statue of a woman atop a horse rests.

She looks mighty, a hero of times past, back when anyone could join the knighthood and fight for the right to own land, and lead humanity to a better tomorrow. Ludica looks at the face of this woman, her expression is vacant like that of many others, but even though there is no written name of who she was in life, her deeds were great enough to be immortalized forever in stone.

And then she looks at the other side of the garden, the short wall that separates it from the long and painful fall from this hilltop. And the city below that poisons the otherwise beautiful view of the land. The sun is bright and warm despite the cold of autumn.

"When the field is full of butterflies, nobody sees the flies" The Sentinel speaks, making his presence known as he approaches Ludica, the priestess turning to meet him but looking only at his naked feet, the sword in his hands "Sister, I trust you have been well"

"But flies don't need to be seen, they always go where there is rotting meat" Ludica makes a gesture with her hand as if she gave something to him "Yes, everything has been well. I expected the Sentinel to be at the side of the king at all times"

"We finished our affairs already, and he is making a passionate speech about the duties of one to the crown and the enemy at our borders. Your fiance is not there, any idea where he may be?"

Ludica's practiced smile wavers for just a moment.

"He is a busy man, surely, he has a good reason to miss the greeting for the new squires"

"Of course. Just remember to make sure his business, doesn't get in the way of his training. I was skeptical when the demon of chastity chose you to be a priestess, but I know better than to question the will of the Virtuous, and at the moment you have not proven them wrong...make sure it stays that way"

"Of course, Sentinel" The two of them look at the city in the distance " Can a butterfly hide among a field of flies?"

"Without becoming a fly? I believe that to be impossible" The Sentinel replies without hesitation " Something as beautiful as a butterfly can't live among flies without withering away, slowly, steadily, until they are just another fly of the bunch"

"But if this butterfly lives as a fly for long enough, could it not pretend to be a fly? Hide the color of its wings?"

"Not in this world, whatever you do marks you. Live among flies and you become a fly, the same applies to the butterflies. Live among them and you become them" The Sentinel smiles, his head turning towards Ludica and she immediately looks down, even if she wasn't staring at him " It's the rule of this world, live long enough in a role, and even if you don't like it, you will embrace it"

He lets the silence grow long enough before looking away from her, focusing his attention on the city once again. Specifically in the large brothel that dominates the view from there.

"I must leave now, there is much to be done with the recent events" He turns to leave, but glances once more at Ludica before he does "And you should be there too, supporting the boy"

"He is not my son" The mask cracks, her voice is stern and she notices "What happened to his village is still fresh in his memory, I'm sure I would just-"

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"You are a loving, and supporting woman" The Sentinel interrupts her, remaining silent for a few seconds to make sure she understands what he just said "You are not a butterfly yet, Ludica," He says before making his way out of the garden and back to the castle.

Ludica relaxes her hands, her nails digging deep inside her hand as a few drops of blood fall and paint the mosaics. She finally lets go of the breath she had been holding. And with her hand wipes away tears that had formed, her hands trembling with pure rage.

"...And together, we will lead Luath to victory!" King Frodiff exclaimed raising his sword and pointing at the sky as the young squires stood in front of him.

The king spoke from above the walls of the castle, the large group of teens standing outside its open gates, surrounded at all sides by countless soldiers. Once he finished his words the whole place erupted with applause.

"My king," Liam said as he approaches the king, kneeling in front of him. He missed his faulds and cuisses.

"We are sorry for the delay" A woman kneeled next to Liam, a member of the Ahajhalnar, an elf.

Her skin and proportions were perfect; her long, thin pointy ears were adorned with intricate chains and precious stones. Her platinum hair shined with almost a metallic shine, and her eyebrows and eyelashes also shared the same color, her skin fair and without imperfections. Dressed similarly to Liam, except her armor was better decorated, and her cape was purple.

"I don't give a shit about this, just get on here and finish this speech for me" The king replied and immediately walked away, a group of knights following him close behind.

"Welp, that wasn't so bad," Liam said with a chuckle as he stood up and made sure his pants were secured "He didn't even care, he would rather be in a war camp than speaking with spoiled brats"

"This will never repeat" The elf spoke sternly as she stood up behind him, her left eye blue and the right one yellow "Never," She said once more as she walked past him, standing where the king once was.

"We will see, Deidre" Liam replied with a cocky smile as he stood next to her.

"I am Deidre! A pure-blooded Ahajhalnar, and champion of Thornstead. You will be training under my command and when I decide you are ready, you will be sent to support missions in the Farwoods, to either help to contain the monsters or aid the armies in clearing the dense woods any way they need it. I do not tolerate disobedience, but I'm also not deaf, if any of you has any questions speak now!"

None of the teens respond, and for a while, all that can be heard is the wind and the sound of moving feet as the soldiers around them, but when Deidre is about to speak again one of the recruits steps forward.

"Name and house!"

"Lucas! of house Farwent!" the teen with luscious chestnut hair and green earrings shouted, his brown eyes glancing at the person next to him before a smirk grew on his face, "I think there has been a mistake in the selection of squires, Champion Deidre!"

"Elaborate"

"Well, someone let a peasant dress up and stand with us!" He addresses both the elf and the rest of the squires behind him, they snicker and laugh.

"Shit" Liam whispers "Deidre-"

"Silence!" Deidre managed to command enough respect to quell the mocking of the teen next to Lucas, it was Gotz "None of the squires present here are peasants, show respect to your equals!" But the silence she earned soon vanished, the teens laughing even louder.

"No, Deidre-"

"But it's true! He said to me himself! And look at his ugly tan, surely he has callous feet and dirty nails!" Lucas added to the fire, as the laughter intensified.

Liam squeezed the bridge of his nose, knowing well that he had no authority to silence or interfere so long as Deidre, his superior, was present.

"Enough!" Deidre shouted louder, but this time there was little to no effect "What is wrong with these midgets?" She asks turning to Liam.

"They are not your elf warriors, Deidre, they are fucking, idiot sons and daughter of the nobles. Let me handle this, with your permission of course" Liam said slamming his sword on a stone, shattering it and sending small pieces down, now managing to silence them "I will tell you right now, you can't discipline them the same way you do your squires, that's blue blood for you"

"Then why would the king put me in charge of them?"

"Because he doesn't care about anything he doesn't have to kill or rape, that's why"

"I'm sorry, Champion Deidre!" Lucas shouted "I was mistaken, he is no peasant. I think he is a goblin!" Everyone laughs once again. And now Liam grits his teeth in anger.

But he doesn't get to do anything. He sees it but is too slow to stop it.

"GOTZ!"

He swings his blade at Lucas, and faster than the teen can react, he raises his hand but it gets cut, and two fingers are sent flying as he falls to the ground screaming in pain. Gotz is already preparing for another swing of the blade but Diadre throws a magic spear at Gotz's blade, sending it flying from his hands.

Liam jumps down and tackles him to the ground, a few of the nearby squires reach out to help Lucas to his feet, but he slaps their hands away.

"HE CUT ME!" He yells, his voice cracking "THE FUCKING DONKEY-FUCKER CUT MY FINGERS OFF!!" He rushes to Gotz, raising his feet to kick him but Liam digs the sword in the dirt to protect him "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! I WILL KILL THIS FILFTHY-"

"Enough of this bullshit!" Liam shouts and pulls Luca's leg, making him fall backward, and then keeps him on the ground by placing his hand on his chest. He leans closer to Gotz "You shouldn't have done that! I can't protect you from everything"

"I don't need, protection" Gotz spits out, still furious and struggling to get free of Liam's hold.

"Release the boy, Champion," One of the soldiers says as he walks up to them, followed by another handful, they all wear the tabards of the horse trampling a snake "He harmed the son of Alfred, his hand must be cut off"

"Wait, wait a moment"

"Liam!" Deidra comes down too, her right gauntlet an artifact that created the magical spear she now holds "The law is clear, I do not know your attachment to this kid. But he must pay for his actions"

"Fucking- Just give me a second!" Liam looks at Gotz, a thousand thoughts running through his head.

"Let go of the kid, champion. We won't ask again" The soldier says as the rasp of his blade leaving the scabbard echoes in Liam's ears.

"Just one moment! Just-" Liam's eyes fall on the handle of his sword.

"Don't, Liam" Deidra takes a step forward.

"Everyone, stop"

The voice was unnatural, inhuman. A man, no, something else. His white cloak covered his entire body, like a vision of a ghost, he walked through the gates of the castle, joining the commotion outside.

And Liam's heart almost stops. Like seemingly everything else, everyone holds their breath and drops to their knee. All the soldiers and squires. The very wind ceases and the birds fly away.

"Master Dante," Deidra says, kneeling in front of the thing that has joined the field, head low, lips trembling.