“The moon is so bright tonight!” Shina murmured aloud, her eyes glued to the night sky, the moon’s cold light illuminating her face. She was standing on top of Maliri manor, the large silver moon, pinned to the night sky above her head.

“If you stand like that, you’re going to be silverwetted against the night sky,” grunted Cam, his words pitched low as he tried to stay quiet. He was hiding in the shadows created by the manor tower.

“It’s silhouette, my dear oaf, and if anyone sees me, they will lose themselves in awe at my beauty,” Shina shot back, shaking her shoulder-length hair, and striking a pose.

“Stop that and get back here,” insisted Cam, the annoyance on his face causing Shina to laugh. “No one wants to see your muscular body.”

“No one wants to see me?” Shina raised her hand threateningly. “Say that again!”

“You heard me. Now be quiet, we are still on watch.”

“If we weren’t on watch! I’ll…”

Although the two quarreled with each other, there was never any heat in their voices. It was their way of passing time as they kept watch on the grounds below.

“Why do we have to keep watch every night?” Shina complained as she plopped down next to Cam, her eyes constantly observing their surroundings. As part of the Diamond Guards, she was a professional, even while complaining she never stopped doing her job.

“You should ask our leader,” Cam replied, absentmindedly holding the collar of his armor with both of his hands, his head turning slightly as a sound came from behind him.

“Hey, June.”

“Hey, Cam, Shina. I was hoping I could sneak up on you two,” June said, materializing out of the darkness, his shield on his back, bow in hand.

“You were sneaking?” Shina gasped, a look of mock shock appearing on her face. “We could hear you coming through the window.”

Grinning at Shina’s words, Cam waved June over. “Can’t sleep?”

Ever since Zenrom acknowledged June’s potential to join the Diamond Guard, he had been living and training with them. He was assigned to share a room with Winks.

Tilting his head to the right and left, June stretched his neck, yawning, he answered. “I'm not tired. I just wanted to keep watch with you two.” Crouching down on one knee, he stared into the darkness. “Did anything interesting happen?”

“It's Winks’ snoring, isn't it?” Shina guessed, her lips curving up in a smile. “That man can awaken the dead with his snoring. I swear, I once heard him out snore a thunderstorm.” Snickering, she came over to June, ruffling his hair. “I would also be unable to sleep if I had to share a room with him.”

“He is snoring,” June confessed, his face turning red in embarrassment as he fixed his hair. A scowl appeared on his face. “I'll go to bed once his shift starts.”

“Well, we can use the company,” Cam grinned. “Keep your eyes sharp, the night is still young.”

As the night wore on, June settled down in the shadow, his back against the cold building. It’s going to be harder to keep watch with the light vanishing, he thought as a large cloud drifted over the bright moon. I hope the cloud goes away soon. We still have a couple of hours left.

“Did you see that?” Cam’s urgent voice pulled him out of his thoughts. Cam’s voice was so quiet he almost missed it. Looking over at him, June saw him crouched down on the roof pointing at the tree line.

Focusing on the spot Cam was pointing to, June narrowed his eyes. He did not see anything, but that did not mean anything. Slowly drawing in Aether, he skillfully rotated it to his eyes, making his vision better. As the power flooded into his eyes, the darkness became brighter, the night turning into shades of gray and purple.

“Something just moved, near the big tree,” he whispered as he lay flat on the roof. His heart was beating rapidly. It was the first time he had seen anything during his watch.

“Looks like four or five people,” Shina hissed. “June, go and wake Zenrom. Don't make noise, they could be scouts. We don’t want to let them know we see them!”

Silently nodding at her command, June slung his shield on his back and grabbed his bow. Slowly creeping backward, he made his way to the window he had come through earlier that night. Holding his breath, he moved. Grasping the window ledge, he pulled himself inside.

Landing softly inside, June cursed to himself as his bow hit his shield making a noise. Goddess, reject me. Heart pounding uncomfortably, he started to run down the hall, the adrenalin in his body causing him to sweat. I don’t think anyone outside can hear me. But I need to get to Zenrom without making any more noise!

Heart thundering within his chest, he reached Zenrom’s room. Just as he lifted his hand to knock, the door abruptly opened. Zenrom stood on the other side, armor, and sword in his hand. Stepping out of his room, he looked at June.

“I heard you running down the hall. What’s happening?” he asked, handing his sword to him. Freeing his hands, he started to put his armor on, skillfully slipping into it like a second skin.

“Cam saw movement by the big tree, Shina thinks it’s four or five people,” June hurriedly reported, passing Zenrom his sword.

Grunting in acknowledgment, Zenrom marched down the hall knocking on the doors of the other guards as they hurried past. Reaching the window he stepped onto the roof.

Blinking in surprise as Zenrom seemed to melt into the shadows, June scrambled outside, his clammy hands gripping the window ledge. My hands are sweating, he realized, wiping his hands against his pants. I need to keep calm!

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“Boss.”

June almost missed Cam’s hiss as the bald man waved in their direction. His eyes were still locked onto the tree line. “Near the big tree.”

“I see them,” Zenrom breathed, his eyes on the verge of glowing. “Shina is right, I see five. I hear Reges coming through the window.”

Hearing Zenrom’s words, June turned his head seeing Reges cross the distance between them in a flash, his face devoid of any emotion.

There were three Arcane Lords employed by master Maliri: Zenrom, Captain of the Diamond Guard; Hagan, Captain of the Golden Caravan; and Reges.

Gulping as Reges appeared beside him, June had to admit that he was afraid of Reges. Everything about the man—his movements, his speech, and the way every room seemed to fall silent when he entered—made him uneasy.

“Cam, Shina, both of you take the five by the tree. Reges, you and I are going to see if they have more men hidden elsewhere. June, stay up here and support Cam and Shina.”

Zenrom quickly laid out his plan as Reges crouched next to him. “June, when Winks and San arrive tell them to stay with you to keep watch. Any questions? No? Let’s go!”

Noiselessly the four guards vanished leaving June alone, holding his bow. Keeping his anxiety in check, June scanned the ground. He could not see Zenrom or Reges, but Shina and Cam were still visible to him, their outlines vanishing as a cloud passed in front of the moon.

Time seemed to flow differently as he tried to keep his nerves from affecting him. Each second felt like an agonizing eternity. As the seconds drifted by, Winks and San finally arrived, allowing June to do anything besides wait alone.

“What's the situation?” San asked, his longsword still sheathed in his hand.

“Cam and Shina are going after the five people creeping by the big tree. Captain Zenrom and Reges are looking to see if they have more men hidden elsewhere. Captain Zenrom told me to tell you two to keep watch,” June explained, his eyes locked near the big tree.

Exchanging a nod with Winks, San turned to June, whispering. “June, get ready to assist Cam and Shina. Once the fighting starts, Winks and I are going to focus on keeping watch. If there are other groups, it's the most opportune moment for them to attack.”

Feeling nervous at San’s seriousness, June nodded. “I understand,” Setting an arrow in his solenarion, he brought it to his bowstring.

“They are about to fight,” Winks hissed.

Drawing in Aether, June looked towards the fighting.

Cam was the first to start the fight, flanking the five creeping men, he silently charged one, striking him viciously with his buckler.

With Aether coursing through him, June could hear the crack as the buckler collided with the man's skull, a terrifying sound that broke the silence. Chaos erupted as the remaining four men charged Cam and Shina, the biggest one facing Cam while the other three ganged up on Shina.

Panicking slightly, June wanted to help Shina but could not find an opening. They were all moving too close to her, surrounding her in a constantly moving circle. Angrily giving up on helping her, he turned to Cam. Cam was fighting a large man, trading hard blows with him. Loud booms erupted off them as they deflected the other’s strikes.

As the warriors fought, the area around them started to brighten, Shina and Cam glowing with Arcane Light. This was not the first time June had seen this phenomenon, but it was the first time he had seen it in a real fight. When Arcane Knights or warriors ranking above them, drew in large amounts of Aether, their crests would start to emit light, slowly enveloping their whole body with breathtaking light. It was even rumored that when Arcane Lords fought, the very image of their crests would be visible to everyone.

Although impressive, there was a slight drawback to this phenomenon. When trying to run away or conduct a surprise attack, the light would reveal their location. This forced most Arcane Knights to hide their power until they had engaged in combat.

Taking a deep breath, June drew his bow, feeling the muscles in his back flex.

The twang of the bowstring was the only warning he gave as the deadly arrow flew towards his target. He had aimed true, his arrow striking the large man in his back as he raised his axe, causing him to stiffen momentarily. Cam did not let the chance go. As the arrow burrowed deep into the man, he struck with his blade, his weapon coated with Aether splitting the man in half.

Trusting Cam’s ability to capitalize on the situation, June turned towards Shina even before Cam landed his final strike.

Skillfully fighting three people, Shina had her two swords dancing in a defensive flow, her swords constantly deflecting the enemy attacks, the usual smile on her face gone. The way she fought was something only she was able to do.

Suddenly, she whipped her right arm forward, throwing one of her swords with terrifying force. Like an arrow, her sword flew out impaling itself in the neck of a dumbstruck man, his eyes wide with disbelief. Jumping to the side without stopping to see if her sword had hit, Shina rolled before leaping forward, driving her second sword into the stomach of a second enemy, her blade angled upwards. Reaching up with her right hand, she pulled down on the dying man's neck. Crouching down she caught the third man's attack with the body of the second man.

Before the third man could dislodge his sword from the body of his comrade, Cam arrived, swinging his wide blade, decapitating the man with a roar.

June stared in shock, he had never seen anyone throw a sword at their enemy, much less use the body of an enemy as a shield. Shina’s battle awareness was something he could only dream of having.

“Fight’s over; both of them are fine,” he uttered to the two next to him.

Heaving a sigh of relief, San glanced over at the two. “I didn’t see anyone else. I think it was just the one scouting party. But don’t let your guard down.”

In a couple of minutes, Cam and Shina climbed back to the top of the roof, happily smiling, but June could see signs of exhaustion on them. From what he could see, Shina had a cut on her shoulder, blood turning her armor red.

“Hey June, don't think I didn't notice you helping Cam and not me,” she said pointing at her shoulder. “Look I got wounded, and you know my blood is precious—like gold.”

“I'm so sorry,” June apologized, looking down at his feet. He wished he had a clear shot when Shina was surrounded, but he did not trust his skill.

Seeing the look on his face, she quickly walked over, patting his shoulder with her good arm. “It's not your fault. I was just teasing you. Don't beat yourself up about it. In fact, I'm glad you helped Cam, he’s getting fat and lazy. he would probably have died without you.”

Looking up at her, June smiled, he knew she was trying to cheer him up. It did help a little, but he knew he had to train harder in order to not be put in this situation again. “I have a healing salve that Grandpa Veston made. Let me help you with it.”

“Oh, good! Using Veston’s salves usually prevents me from getting scars,” Shina exclaimed, taking off her armor and letting June apply the salve. “I hope, Boss and Reges get back soon.”

A couple of hours later Zenrom and Reges returned looking as if they had gone for a light jog.

“Boss, you find any more of them?” San asked.

“There were around ten of them, all wearing Salizian armor,” replied Zenrom, scratching his chin. “But as a former First Pillar, I can say with certainty, that they did not fight like Salizian soldiers. Each of them fought differently. If I had to guess, they were a bunch of mercenaries trying to blame General Calahan for this assault.”

“Why? Who else is targeting the Princesses?” June asked, feeling his stomach tighten at the news. Elina’s smile flashed before his eyes.

Gazing over at him, Reges cracked his neck. “Targeting the Princesses might not be their primary goal. If they get hurt, Maliri will take the blame and will be punished—executed if they die. This might have been an attack aimed at making the merchant look bad.”

June’s heart sank, this was something he hadn’t even considered. “What can we do?” he asked, looking at the warriors around him.

“Now?” asked Cam, a grin on his face. “Now we clean up and sleep.”

“Cam is right,” agreed San, stretching, and yawning loudly. “You all go get some rest. Winks and I will take watch. June, trust us, we will keep everyone safe.”

Later that night, June lay awake in bed, looking up at the ceiling. Clenching his hands together he made a promise to himself.

“I will become strong, strong enough to keep everyone safe.”

That night he dreamed of flying.