...It didn't take long for the city guard to arrive; five men decked top to bottom in hard leather rode on their steeds to the scene in front of them.

"By god..." Reigning his horse in, one of them muttered as he took off his helmet, "Brother... What did you get yourself into?"

The man's blue eyes were wide open, as if unable to believe— no, comprehend what he was seeing. Fifteen silhouettes were lying limp on the ground, a copious amount of blood surrounding them.

Wiping away the sweat that had formed on his brow, he saw, from the corner of his eye, a slight shift from one of the bodies. And by the looks of it, his men saw it too...

-Shing!-

All five simultaneously unsheathed their weapons, ready to attack if the need arises.

He took a deep, shaky breath before saying, "Don't move... I'm Ben Callaway, Chief Investigator of the Rand City. Cooperate, and we'll make sure no harm comes upon you,"

"Urgh..." He flinched; shit. Could it... could it be? His face warped in horror as the person's face finally came to light, "Uncle... Ben..."

"...Connor?" The gut-wrenching realization hit him: something happened... And he was too late, "Connor!!" He ignored it; what's important now is the safety of his nephew. Everything else can wait... but not him...

Rushing towards his nephew, Ben was shocked to find him in a state of severe delirium: his eyes were half-open, and the parts he could see were glazed over and hazy. Furthermore, his skin was cold to the touch, abnormally so, as if he was encased in ice for the past day.

"Men! Take my nephew to the church; tell the priest to take care of him! I'll investigate what happened!" Heeding his orders, the other guards took Connor from his arms before rushing off to the church. Their horses' hooves barely touching the ground for even a second.

-Clop! Clop! Clop...-

Dreadfully quiet, Ben was finally exposed to the full horror he could only flit past whilst running towards his nephew. And it became immediately clear to him why Connor had fainted:

"Brother... Horrible time to kick the bucket, isn't it?" Ben quietly murmured, no doubt mourning the loss of his kin...

-Step!-

"He would've died anyway, you know..." Suddenly, an old and decrepit voice interrupted him.

"Oh? And who are you to say?" Turning around in a fit of rage, Ben didn't notice the sad undertone of the voice. But he did see her face...

"Adelaide?" She nodded, only speaking after walking closer.

"...What do you mean by that?" She only smiled in response.

"How are you, Ben? It's been a while sin—"

"Enough with the pleasantries, woman! Tell me: what are you implying?" At his outburst, Adelaide could only heave a small sigh and answer:

"...There was no preventing his death, even if he managed to escape alive, he would've been fated to die, albeit at a later date,"

"Could—"

"I know what you want to ask. I cannot tell you that; I only know of these things after it has already happened,"

"...Who are you, really?" Ben had a complicated expression when he stared into her aged eyes. He could still remember how close she was to him during the war. Yet she seemed so distant now...

"I'm merely a normal woman, like everyone else; I just happen to have the extra wrinkle of guiding Connor to where he is fated to be,"

"...Guide Connor? You had something to do with this?" He had thought she was slightly more well informed, but it seems her role in all of this is still to be questioned...

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"He didn't tell you? I guessed that's to be expected... he never told his father either,"

"What is it with you and suspense? Speak and get over with!" Maybe he'd had enough of being taken for a fool, or maybe he was tired, but Ben finally snapped.

"..." Biting her lips, She slowly began, "...I gave him the... the Book of Fate,"

"W-What? How could you?! How could you..." The news crashed down on him like a wave; unable to take it anymore, he began to weep. His tears for his late brother, but also for the uncertain fate of his nephew: someone who he wouldn't be able to help even if he so desperately wanted to...

"...He will leave us no matter how much we try to stop him. It's revenge he seeks, and it would only sow discord if we try to stop him... let me meet him; I will equip him with the necessary tools to survive... this is the least I can do,"

After a pensive look at the ground, Ben relented, "...Fine,"

"Thank you. Dear,"

"Mn... I will talk to you later, Adelaide,"

"Goodbye..."

----------------------------------------

Machiavelle Church, the next day,

"How are you feeling, child?" A nun spoke to Connor while helping him get up from the bed.

"T-Thank you, sister Thorri... I'm fine. It's really a bit too much to take in,"

"I understand. Anyone would be if they were placed in your situation," The nun had a look of pity as she left the room, giving time to him to be alone.

-Click!-

However, whether for good or for bad... he would never truly be alone:

'...I'm sorry for your loss, kid.' It was the Book of Fate, and unlike its normally cheery tone, it was much more subdued and considerate this time around. Connor didn't reply, his arms now tightened around his knees in the fetal position, as if trying to protect himself from the outside world... Regardless of that, the book continued.

'I... I know you're mad. Maybe at me. Maybe at the world. I understand that it's hard... to lose someone you love, especially when you think your fault. But I want you to know—'

"That you're with me? That I shouldn't blame myself? I know!" His face was full of tears as he struggled to continue, "...I know I shouldn't blame myself... But... But it just won't stop hurting..."

"Then blame. Me..."

"?!"

"Look, It was my fault you were forced into this mess; I should've warned you when you decided to sign the contract; I should've stopped you... But I didn't. And your parents had to pay for my carelessness... I'm sorry," Silence once more took over. Only this time, it was Connor who broke the ice:

"...Thank you,"

"Don't worry about it, kid... You can talk whenever; I won't say no,"

"Mn..."

-Click!-

Just as their conversation came to a close, the door began to open.

"Mrs Adelaide?" The woman at the door politely greeted him before coming in and sitting down next to the bed.

"Hello, Connor. How are you? Care for some lunch?"

"I'm doing fine, and thank you, Mrs Adelaide," He gladly accepted her offer and quickly took the basket of food from her hands.

-Growl!-

Connor blushed, but seeing that she didn't mind, he began to voraciously devour the food.

As he was eating though, he noticed the sad look Adelaide was giving him. He paused, took out a sandwich from the basket and handed it to her.

"Oh... Thank you, child," She looked surprised at first but otherwise accepted it without a fuss. Seeing this, Connor went back to his own food.

The two ate in silence for a while, with only the quiet sounds of chewing as evidence to them even being there... Until, of course, Adelaide spoke:

"I'm sorry, child. I know of your... Misgivings regarding me. But I assure you I had no intention of harming you when I gave you the Book of Fate that day,"

He raised an eyebrow; her words were right: Connor didn't trust her, though what she said next did pique his curiosity.

"I have no doubt you wish to avenge your mother and father, yes?" Connor nodded almost immediately.

"Then I trust you'll leave us, yes?" Another nod.

"I see... I hoped you would've said no," She briefly lamented to herself before continuing.

"I have just recently come across some information from a... trusted source. They have informed me that the person you seek is the current Sultan of Murukhali. He is responsible for the deaths of your parents, but to what degree... I don't know,"

"He has accomplices?"

"Mn, my informant tells me when they heard the plan to kill your parents, there were two more men speaking,"

"..."

"Well, whoever they are, the road to their deaths is filled with dangers on every turn. Are you able to go through that?"

She spared a glance after his silence. However, it wasn't fear or sadness that answered her... No, it was a determination:

"No matter how far he is from me, I will chase him; to the ends of the earth or to the mount of gods. I will avenge my family, no matter how long it takes..."