Luda was a name that no one heard before. That was because he hid in the mountain covered in mist.

He was a man with intellect. He was a man who had to make hard choices to maintain balance. He was a man who would erase evil from this world with his own callous hand. He was a leader with a cold heart.

It was cruel—but—that was Luda.

Luda was the man who was able to foretell the future. He could see thousands of years into the future. He knew the disastrous events that would occur.

So, he decided to sacrifice his health for the betterment of this world. He created a band that would do his work for him. He trained the best of the best men as much as he could before his mind rotted.

Before he was brain dead…dead…

Yes, his mind rotted as he continued to work. It was the side effect when he foresaw the future. The more he did it, the more he became insane. In the end, the man met his fate, and death welcomed him.

These were the stories he heard about a man who sacrificed his life and offered it to the world. It was a noble deed but a woeful one.

But someone, some old man, could take his throne. That man was Abiah. He could do the same as Luda. He could see the future just as Luda could. But he had no intention to use it to save the world. He wouldn’t.

Abiah would not do it. He refused to do it and instead did it for the children who needed him the most. These children loved him.

He was a father who did not share blood with these children but shared the same heart with each other. He smiled, but that soon faded.

Abiah touched his chest. He could feel it. He didn’t have much time left in him. He must find this man…this man that was on the run. He didn't have a choice as he remembered he was forced into this situation.

It's been a week since he observed this man, Silver.

He rode into the forest with two other women. That was all he could see for a few seconds, and those seconds cost him as he felt his heart slow down and lost consciousness after that.

Abiah leaned his head back on his stone throne; he was in a small cave, a cave where Luda had once been. When he first found this cave, it had nothing in it but a throne. Someone cleared this cave, and he was sure of it.

Abiah turned to his left where the exit of the cave was and a woman walked into his cave. He frowned as this woman touched his shoulder. "The sun hasn't even peaked, and yet you are awake. Abiah, it is wonderful—"

Abiah stiffened his shoulder. "Don't touch me. You and I are not friends." His voice sounded like a thunderstorm as it echoed across the cave. He took his cane to the side and held it close to him. "Move that hand…woman."

She smiled and lowered her hand down. "I have a name, Abiah. It is—-.

Abiah rose from his throne and walked out of the cave, hovering his arm over his head. He stood on the mountain looking at the sunrise and felt the cold breeze brushing his brown hooded cloak.

She walked beside him with a bitter look as she turned. "I shall alert Governor Ash. But Abiah. You better be careful, talk to me like that, and I will have the children killed. That blood will be on your hand…"

Before she could walk, she flinched as she saw Abiah clenched his cane. "You can talk ill of me, Nasha." His cane started to crack as the muscles on his forearm hardened like a rock. "Not the children…"

The silence wandered between them.

Nasha breathed it in for a moment before she nodded and turned to leave this tense aura from Abiah. He eased his muscles and stood for a while as the sun rose and shone on him for a few more hours.

Once the sun rose to his satisfaction, he turned and walked over the stone slabs that acted like a staircase that led to another mountain. He held onto the cord hammered into the mountain as he walked down.

When he first discovered this mountain about four decades ago—it took him two hours to touch his foot to the tallest mountain. His chest felt crushed, and he could not breathe due to the dense mist. But he had become used to it.

Abiah made it down to the second mountain as he saw the breeze rustling over the wildflowers in the field like a wave. It was a beautiful location as he oversaw a small hamlet down the hill. He started to walk down.

"Father!"

Abiah heard a distant shout before seeing a dozen children. He smiled as he lowered his cane one knee down and embraced them all. "Oh dear, not that hard, dear children. This old man is hurt from before."

One of the children shouted. "Father! Will you tell us more stories?"

Abiah smiled as he touched the child's head. "I'm afraid I need more time to recover, Gus."

The children fell silent.

Gus' smile soon faded as Abiah rubbed his shoulder. "But once I recover, I will tell dozens of stories, some of which are new ones."

One of the children looked back at the elder and smiled. "New one? Like what, father?"

Abiah sat down on the field as the children did the same. This would take a while. "Well, Rene. It is about a man who believed he had lost his life as he left his home. He was a man with a friend who was a rock like this one." He lifted one, then tossed it aside. "With him and his newfound friend—"

Abiah saw Rene chuckle with his hand in front of his mouth.

Abiah smiled. "He soon found himself in the middle of a battle, a battle he should have left, a battle he should have died, but he found purpose there and founded the Guardians. I’m sure you heard of Guardians?”

The children nodded.

“So, do you want to hear more about this man?"

All of the children nodded.

Abiah lifted himself back to his feet. "Then we shall talk about it tomorrow. For now, go have fun out there. Where is your teacher?"

Julie pointed behind. "She is with the other kids."

Abiah nodded. "Tell her to guard the mountain for a while. I'm needed elsewhere, children."

The children waved. "Bye-bye, Father!"

Abiah smiled, and he waved and continued on forward. He walked down another set of stone slabs to the last mountain. There, he saw a small base camp hidden in the mist. He frowned.

The camp was slowly invading and was trying to take over the mountains that were his and the children's safe haven. He needed them out, but they refused because they wanted Abiah, not him, his blessing.

He walked to the last mountain, where soldiers stood to scout the area as usual. He saw a fence built around the hill as a soldier stationed at each corner. When the soldiers saw Abiah, some started to talk to each other about him, and none came close to him. He didn't care as he continued to walk.

Abiah stood in front of a tent with two soldiers. He frowned as he stabbed his cane into the soil. "I'm here for him. Is he in there?"

The soldier to his left started to chuckle as he stood tall. "We ain't have time, old man. Move on and bother elsewhere—" He fell before the old man. He tried to move his hand, but it wouldn't move an inch.

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

Abiah said in a monotone voice. “Would it be nice…to greet an old man better.”

The soldier frowned and looked at Abiah. "Release me—" His muscles started to tremble, and his face looked horrified as if he saw a monster.

The soldier to the side stood and looked down at his fellow soldier before he raised his revolver at Abiah. But was held back as a voice came from behind and in the tent. "I would not do that, soldier. You would be executed for sure once the World Order finds out that Abiah is dead. Let him in."

The soldier held back as he cursed. "Next time…next time…" He loosened his revolver and moved to the side as Abiah continued to walk. He ducked into the tent and felt the intense heat coat around his skin.

It was like a wildfire here.

He frowned. Well, over ten lanterns were in the tent, and hundreds of candles were scattered across. Even though there were holes in the tent for the hot air to rush out, it was still hot.

The elder stood half naked with his refined muscles in his sixties. He ran his silver hair back as he fixed his monocle. He smiled at Abiah as he wore over his white buttoned coat to poorly hide that massive scar on his chest.

Abiah looked at the elder’s left hand. It was horrible to look at. The skin was burnt as it was a bit dark with a hard, thick, and fibrous texture. He abused his fire ethern that killed his skin over time.

He rubbed his face as he felt the sweat.

The elder smiled. "Ah, it is hot in here. Here I shall…" He felt the elder's ethern aura fill out the tent as the fire was doused and left one candle alive on his desk. "Much better, honestly, I didn't think you woke up this early."

The elder offered a chair as he brewed tea on the side. "The faster I come, the faster this individual leaves this mountain." He frowned as he hated his name and his face. His face was hittable. "Governor Ash…"

One of the Five Governors.

He had this hawk-like face that loved to smirk even when his scars went over each other across his chest as if some animal tore him. He had the look of a warrior when he was naked, but with clothes on, he looked weak.

Ash turned and wore his nobleman suit in white and black. "Ah. You hurt me dear Abiah, that is not how you treat a friend, I'm a guest after all and I even brewed you the best tea from Borofall, here." He slid one at him.

Abiah frowned at the slight of this, he didn't like how carefree this man was, he was in his land, his mountain. "We are not friends."

Ash chuckled as he settled his tea down. "I see. Nasha told me the same thing. You broke her heart. She cared for men like. She has a soft heart."

Abiah raised his brow as he sat down on a chair. "Soft heart?" He took the tea in his hand. "She threatened me with the children."

Ash twisted his head. "Ah, she did not tell me that. I will talk to her about that next time. However, I'm here to extract information." He sat down. "So tell me, Abiah, where is this blond woman bastard, Flemonia."

Blond woman bastard…that was a mouthful.

Abiah took a sip and looked at his drink. He liked it as he tasted the bitterness still in his mouth. "Your men failed to catch her, but she is on the run." He laid his feet over his knee with his cane on the side.

Ash rolled the chart of Borofall. He had marked the slum in red. "So I have heard. Flemonia must have hired more mercenaries. The more mercenaries she hires, the more we must kill." He smiled.

Abiah nodded. "I…fear that is the case."

Ash cocked his head. "Fear? Do you…feel sad for these kinds of men? These killers that run around and kill innocent children?"

Abiah shook his head as he cursed in his mind. "I fear what these mercenaries are involved in, that is all." He smiled. "I hate them and their motives to become rich with blood in their hands. It is inhumane."

Ash finished his drink. "Well said. Now…” He held the list of dead mercenaries from underneath and chuckled. "Remember Lobar Crox? He is dead and you can thank Flemonia for that."

Abiah remained silent.

Ash then held out a record of all alive mercenaries and laid them out with their latest face. "So, which did she hire this time? We have the infamous Black Felix Von, Mark Harlan, Osman Pax and Cane Nuller. It hit me now that these names here are the most dangerous men on each continent. Here.”

Abiah reached for the record of the mercenaries and observed each of their faces. They each had the face of a warrior, but one held a mask…and it was a woman named Delta? It was a woman all this time?

He heard of Delta before but no one knew if it was a man or woman until he saw this. They never had a woman in the list, this was the first, it was rare since this line of work was for men. Delta…he would remember that name.

He held one that had an illustration of a face hidden in shadow and noticed the text. Only Dead. He was bald and carried a thick blade.

Abiah laid on the table and said. "Who is this man?"

Ash took it and hid it under his desk. "This man is unknown. We don't know his face since the witness is dead. He is unknown…well, he obliterated an entire base alone…killed over twelve thousand soldiers in a week."

Abiah noticed he was a little nervous when he talked about this unknown man, but the man still smiled. "Continue Abiah, I will wait." He turned and boiled more tea. "I have a lot of time…" He chuckled, nervous.

Right then…

Abiah returned back and wondered, a man that killed twelve thousand soldiers in a week? That was not…that means he killed almost two thousand soldiers each—hell, man… twelve thousand lives in an instant.

Abiah continued to look and handed the record to him. "None."

Ash finished and took a hot tea drink. "None? Don't be a fool, Abiah. You and I know there is at least one in that list. Unless we are talking about a new mercenary but no, Flemonia would not seek a weak one.”

Abiah rose from his chair. "There is none here that I recognize. Now I should be—"

Ash rose from his chair and slammed his hand down. "You think I'm a fool like the rest, Abiah? I'm sent here for a reason. I'm the blessed one." He loomed closer in his face. "I read truth and lies."

Abiah felt his voice shake the tent. He sat back down as he cursed. He knew this man was blessed, or he would not be sent here. Abiah tried his best to trick himself to not know this man's face. He tried.

He nodded. "Ash. I have no intention to avoid you. I merely wish to know more about this man before I cast my judgement on whether he is a mercenary who needs to be hunted. So forgive me…"

Ash lowered back down on his chair with his back flat and smiled. "That is incorrect, friend. Mercenaries don't need to be on trial, these are killers, not innocent ones. These mercenaries need to be dead with no second chance at life.” He smiled…a demonic look on his face. “So who is this man?"

He changed his emotion fast, Abiah thought. What a frightening man.

His obsession with this mercenary was not normal. The World Order such as him was meant to maintain balance but this man here wanted to rid the mercenaries for fun. There were more serious issues other than mercenaries in the world. Does that mean he had a motive to eliminate them all?

Abiah was not a fool, it was obvious but some saw Ash as a maniac. He took a moment and said. "Silver Break.”

Ash flinched. "What? Break? We have no one named that, are you sure?"

"You tell me. I'm sure that your blessing can give you the answer."

Ash scanned his face. "Give me his description."

Abiah nodded. "He has silver hair."

"Uh-huh." Ash shuffled through the list of mercenaries that fit the description. "Go on."

"Has a hawk-like face."

"Uh-huh."

"He has a somewhat wrinkled face with scars on the chest."

"Uh huh—wait a minute…you are talking me—"

"But he is also much more handsome."

Ash crushed the list of mercenaries in his hand as a vein was revealed from his neck. "I could see the truth…and it is true, but be serious, Abiah, while I'm still nice." He returned to his smile.

"Silver Break is Vlad Break."

Ash turned to Abiah with his mouth frozen. "W-What? Vlad Break? He has been dead a decade." He took the list of dead mercenaries and took out Vlad Break's record—which had been crossed out. "He is alive?"

Abiah nodded.

Ash fell silent as he rubbed his chest that had a multitude of scars. "So Leven's sacrifice was all for nothing!?"

Abiah frowned as he clutched onto his cane. "Yes. Leven has failed." He felt sick in this tent.

Ash rose from his chair. "Leven that sack of shit, useless, incompetent, brain dead, fool!” He said, which made Abiah clutch onto his cane even harder. "He had one task to do! That was to kill Vlad Break! But I know for sure that she is dead." He looked to Abiah, who nodded.

Ash walked back and forth. "So Vlad lived, and a decade later, he revealed to the world that he is alive…I must alert him about this. I know he will be furious.” He chuckled. “Oh dear, it will be chaos once more!”

Abiah felt a bead of sweat roll down his face. "Ash. You must know that this man is not the same…he is not much a threat as he once—"

Ash’s smile broadened. "This is very useful information. Very. Thank you, Abiah. You may leave now." He waved his hand as the soldiers walked into the tent. "Guide my friend out."

"Wait. Listen to me—"

Ash turned around as the soldiers led him out of the base. Abiah lashed his cane at the soldier. He looked at Ash, who covered his mouth with his hand and refused to look at him. "You coward…" He mumbled.

He scowled and turned, and he left the tent. He knew damn well Ash was smiling behind that hand of his.

He knew the news would cause chaos for 'him'.

Once out of the base, he turned and looked at the stars above. It was happening again. "Forgive me, Vlad Break."

He was doing it again. "It seems fate once again wants you dead. I didn't think Flemonia would find you despite my best efforts to hide her in a house with no one to talk to. I fear you will be hunted again due to my selfishness…but…"

He must do it for the children.