Grabbing the thick red cover book on the shelf, Lunavay began skimming through. Taking in key elements from it, she walked over to the table as she took the quill from the corner of it. Then taking a piece of parchment out from her leather bag, she began writing down what she took away from the book.

"Lady Lunavay," Someone knocked on the door behind her, "Dinner is served."

"Be right there Ann! Just let me write this part down. And I thought I told you to call me Luna during when we're alone."

Annie pushed the door open and waltzed into the room, studying the bookshelves as she closed in. After finishing what she had in mind, Lunavay turned shifted her gaze around and tiredly sighed. She leaned onto the table and rubbed her brows as if she had a raging headache.

"Fascinating really," Lunavay said. "But still doesn't prove its existence."

Annie smiled, "Luna, why are you fixated on this character of a myth?"

"Ann, it's not just any character of a myth. This known entity is the Last Wraith who ended the war five centuries ago."

Lunavay smiled as she recalled how Annie and she met at the village outskirts of their dukedom, on a visit with her mother's trade business. They were around six years old as they played house while Lunavay's mother discussed business with the village. Fortunately, the villagers were on friendly terms with her parents, so she would often play with kids her age. However, Annie was different since her mother abandoned her to the villagers to raise her after her father had died a year before. Every villager loved her company, but couldn't afford to take in another child due to the extra expense. However, Lunavay managed to convince her mother to take her in as a servant, and the two of them shared every moment of their life together since.

Looking back, Annie was awfully dirty when they first met, but Lunavay didn't mind. However, now she had grown beautiful and mature. The usual dress that Annie often wore was the traditional black and white maid outfit. Interestingly, her short silky blond hair added to her charm as a woman of proper background. She rarely ever wore her casual clothes since she's been known to be diligent with everything she does much to Lunavay's expense. However, she saw Annie more of a sister than a servant.

"Yes, but that was five centuries ago. For all we know, the Last Wraith may have been smoke and mirror."

"I often tell myself that," Lunavay agreed. "But something always urged me to return back to the start and reexamine the evidence. I for one believe that this thing exist due to the numerous unknown events that occurred during the war."

Indeed, the low casualties at the end of the war suggested that it ended early, however the question still resides as to why it ended early. Perhaps the losses outweighed the gains, Lunavay thought. If one were to examine the overwhelming evidence surrounding the ruins, one would notice that the number of people that died were numerous. However, five areas in Grandaius stood out oddly enough to suspect that something different happened in those areas, something dangerously powerful.

"The Five World Scars," Lunavay muttered.

"Ah yes, the Five World Scars," Annie smiled, "Those places have suffered the worst damages from the war rendering the land from ever recovering."

Lunavay sighed, "But how did those lands become like that? No known magic could ever do those damages, and the Gregare Kingdom doesn't have any knowledge of a weapon that could cause that kind of damage."

Perhaps the war ended early due to an unforeseen force that even the five kingdoms united feared. Such a powerful being or thing mimics the powers of the Wraiths from the fairy tales. Then again, perhaps the only way to deal with these kinds of anomalies is to create tales in order to come to terms with it. After all, it's been five centuries, so who knows when it the tale was created. Therefore, bringing the research into a full circle again, did the Last Wraith exist? If it did, how would she be able to prove that it exists?

"So you are theorizing that a higher power has caused these disasters?" Annie asked.

"There's a possibility that it does, can't say what though."

"Who do you believe did this?"

Lunavay sighed, "I could only theorize who it is."

"Let me rephrase my question. Who do you want to believe did this?"

Lunavay smiled, "You know. I've dedicated my whole life to studying such a figure."

Indeed, ever since she could remember, her mother would often tell her stories about how the five kings died and threw Grandaius into chaos. Nobles fought against one another for power and friends betrayed friends to get an edge on the other. The world slowly, but surely waltzed to its death due to the constant warfare as the land became less and less fertile for grown food. Bandits raided farms, assaulted and pillaged villages, and turned into slavers selling off human merchandise. Once the world fell down to its knees, a godlike being, called a wraith came and defended the weak. Bringing balance back into Grandaius and saving it from the decaying land.

However, a fairy tale is just a fairy tale, but a bedtime story happened to peak her interest in a being such as a Wraith. At first, it was just a hobby, but as she grew older hearing stories about the Last Wraith five centuries ago, it became her lifetime goal.

"Of course," Annie smiled back. "Come, dinner will become cold if we do not go."

"Let's go, Ann."

After finishing dinner, Lunavay remembered that she the book she had in her satchel and brought it out to read. As always, the book would always involve stories of the Last Wraith even if some stories blurred between truth and lie. Either way, it's a fun read whether it'd be true or false as long as she enjoyed it. Most of the research she read was about how the Last Wraith is a mortal capable of slaying a god due to its power to create traverse between plains.

"Luna, you know better than to read at the dining table!"

Lunavay jumped up in surprise, "I'm sorry! I got carried away!"

"It's about Wraiths isn't it?" her father asked.

She smiled sadly, "Yes."

Her mother sighed, "Listen, I know that this is a hobby of yours. Writing stories for people to enjoy and reading about the Wraiths is good and all, but please remember what you promised."

She casted her eyes down, "Yes, mom."

"Remember, you can always deny the proposal if you want. We'll take care of the rest," her father said.

"I know..." she replied, "but this is the best choice for all of us. The mad king of Raultivon has slowly cut ties to other kingdoms and his son seems to be assuming his father's role as the next king. If I were to deny this marriage proposal, the Kingdom will want our heads on a platter."

"We can negotiate," her father suggested.

Lunavay sighed, "Negotiating with a mad king and prince will get us nowhere."

"I fear that the tension between the other Kingdoms will break out in war," her mother added.

Lunvay's mother is a strong willed and blunt woman, and in contrast, her father is a gentle and caring man. The two of them were skilled in specialized vocation: her mother in trades and her father in crafts. Together, they make the best team however, by becoming famous; the eyes of the Raultivon Kingdom crept up on them. Lunavay recalled how the prince's declaration came out of nowhere to marry her.

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"That prince only wants you due to our income!" Her mother roared as she turned to her father. "Why didn't let me deal with those bastards!"

"If you did, an army would've showed up on our front door wanting our heads on a platter." He scowled, "Besides, it's not like I wanted this to happen, so the best I could do is to delay the marriage."

Lunavay forced a smile, "I know the two of you love me very much, but I can take care of myself. Besides, mother taught me well in the close quarters combat."

"You break his peashooter or whatever that is between his legs if he as much as hurts you!" her mother exclaimed.

The three of them laughed in unison.

***

Annie stood Lunavay's side at the table over watching the three of them chatting and laughing. Seeing Lunavay laugh in such a manner is a rare opportunity for Annie as she smiled along with them. Ever since Prince Dorian made that proposition, Lunavay, her long time friend and family, has been troubled. Whenever she did research on the Last Wraith, something would always agitate her, as she couldn't focus. Either way, in her eyes, Prince Dorian is a major asshole for forcing such a decision on such a young woman.

Lunavay's father, Gerence von Volfram, had brown curly hair neatly fashioned in such a way that it seemed natural. His brown irises contrasted his red wool vest and green cape that he draped over his chair. Apparently, he didn't have any facial hair as he said that it's been passed down from his family. For his age, he seemed too young to be around his thirties since he had Lunavay at sixteen. Sometimes, some of the female servants would give him that look, even the married ones as well, like they were interested in seeing him share a bed with them. Of course, being the faithful husband he is, he denied sharing a bed with anyone other than his wife.

However, Lunvay's mother, Marian von Volfram, is a physically capable woman even if her slender body doesn't show it. From her attire, it seems as if she had just gone through some physical close quarters training because she wore a brown leather chest piece over a dark cotton shirt. Her brown denim pants were more suited than skirts when it comes to fights, which may be a reason why she favors pants over skirts. Her shiny blue eyes, her gorgeous dark silky hair, and her beautiful serene looks, often made servants jealous over her beauty, but none would dare to defy her.

On the otherhand, Lunavay herself has her father's personality and her mother's beauty. On occasions, Annie would feel envious of Lunavay when Lunavay puts effort into herself. Lunavay can be really charming and fun to be with when she wants, but for the most part, she dedicated herself to the Last Wraith. Much to Annie's dismay, Lunavay doesn't act like a noble should act with dignity and nobility. Rather, the problem that Annie noticed with Lunavay is that she doesn't elevate others to her position, and instead lowers herself to those under her. She is the type of noble that if people kneel in front of her, she kneels to get to their level, and not to mention that she dresses sloppy due to her not caring about her appearance.

"Ann," Lunavay called, "Join us for a drink will you?"

Annie smiled, "I appreciate the offer, but I am on duty Lady Lunavay."

Playing favorites on Annie made some of the other servants hate her, but she could care less about the others since they don't affect her duty one bit. On the other hand, sometime in the future this kind of favoritism could cause harm. Maybe she should advise Lunavay about this.

Suddenly, a man kicked the door into the dining room and stumbled across the floor, sprawling himself on it. From his leather armor attire, he seemed like a knight who had just taken off his heavy armor to come inside the building. However, the patch on his shoulder with the black dragon sowed on represented the Raultivon Kingdom.

His odor smelled a bit sour like alcohol, so Annie confirmed that the man was a drunk. She did not know this man, so she moved in closer to examine his face to see whether he was a figure that she should welcome. As she got closer, his beard reeked strongly of alcohol causing Annie to turn away, gagging. Immediately after, she felt a presence behind her push her down. She hit the floor hard as she felt large hands feeling all over her body, and in disgust, she resisted accordingly. Attempting to push herself upward, she felt his heavy body preventing her from moving just as his arms fondled all over her. This drunk attempted to force himself on her, making her submit to his will!

Tears slowly beamed down her face as she struggled to push him off her, but he forcefully flipped her body around and straddled her legs around his waist. Annie began to beat at him until an arm reached for the collar of her uniform. He tore her dress exposing her cloth undergarment as she desperately tried to cover up. Knowing her weaker form compared to the knight, she struggled with her legs. Immediately, silver light flashed between the two of them, and blood spurted all over her face. The drunkard instantly moved himself off her covering his right eye, and using the opportunity, Annie crawled away sobbing. She noticed Lunavay quickly moving towards her and also made her way towards Lunavay.

The knight groaned behind Annie and reached out for her just as Lunavay jumped in to cover her. Instantly, silver light flashed across the room and lodged itself into the knights shoulder. At the corner of her eyes, she saw Lady Marian jump from the table and kicked the handle of the knife pushing it in deeper. He took a couple steps back as he cried out in agony and tried to pull the knife out. Lady Marian saw the opportunity and kicked at an angle hitting behind the knight's knee forcing him to kneel. Then Lady Marian sent her knee directly into his face making a satisfying crunch as it made contact. Confirming that he had no strength left due to being intoxicated as well as having a knife lodged in his shoulder, she pulled on his messy hair.

"Why the fuck is a Raultivon Knight doing here!?" she demanded.

Annie looked over Lunavay's shoulder and noticed that the four guards running in had blood splattered all over them. Fear and anxiety gripped like the depths of despair as she stared at the blood littered men. She figured that they had just finished a fight earlier. One of the men kneeled in front of Marian and bowed deeply as if he was apologizing.

"My deepest apology Lady Marian," he said. "This drunkard said that he was a messenger from the Raultivon Kingdom."

"That explains the patch on his shoulder, but why did you allow a drunk inside my manse!?" Lord Gerence angrily demanded.

"Punish me accordingly my Lord, but leave my men out as they were just following orders," the chief guard said.

"That depends on your explanation, Redus!" Lady Marian retorted.

"Very well," he nodded. "We thought this drunkard came here out of good faith as a messenger, but my naivety got the best of me. This drunkard had angered some of the local bandits by stealing their wine and indulged in it while he had sanctuary here."

"So you fought off the bandits while this fool made his way inside my chambers! You're a failure of a chief guard! I should have whipped!" Lady Marian roared.

"Wait dear," Lord Gerence stopped her. "Those three are your best are they not? You had them come with you. Why is that?"

"A knight's patch is always on the left shoulder, and a knight is skilled with the sword. I alone would not be able to deal with him if he acts."

Lord Gerence scoffed, "I guess we should count ourselves lucky he's dead drunk. So how many men did we lose?"

"None," chief guard, Redus said. "As far as I could tell, we were more organized than bandits."

"Good," Lord Gerence complimented. "Continue doing your job."

"Since my husband says so, you are free to go," Lady Marian said. "But make one more mistake and you will be whipped."

"Wait!" Lord Gerence called, "Did he say his reason for coming?"

Redus bowed, "Yes, he mentioned something about Prince Dorian holding a ball and would like to invite Lady Lunavay. And he also mentioned that Lady Lunavay would be interested in talking to their Seer for he knows something about the Last Wraith."

***

"Using my studies as a means to invite me over for a party?" Lunavay scowled, "Pretty pathetic of a prince."

Exerting a little more force, she squeezed Annie harder. Noticing the tears streaming down Annie's face, Lunavay wiped them away. Perhaps it's best not to go to the party after a drunkard of a Knight barged into their manor and did something so traumatic. Who could say what the prince planned for her? Then again, the Mad Prince known as Prince Dorian is capable of doing horrifying deeds such as sending his own soldier to raid a village within their country as a means for entertainment.

"Luna, he has something planned for you," her mother said. "Don't go."

"It makes no difference whether I go or not," Lunavay scowled. "Either way, it's safer to get on his good side. If I don't go to the party, he may march an army towards us."

"What are you planning on doing?" her father inquired.

"Do as he demands me to."

"Really?" her mother retorted angrily, "If he asks you to strip bare in front of him, would you do it?"

"If necessary."

"I won't allow it! You're staying here whether you like it or not! I have contacts all over Grandaius, I can ask for their aid against the Raultivon Kingdom!"

Lunavay shook her head, "Mother, do you really think that your contacts will aid us in a war against a Kingdom? Would they really wage war for one woman? You're a Trader, you know better than anyone on how humans act for their own selfish greed. If they have nothing to gain, they will not take part in it."

Lunavay saw her mother bite her lips understanding that that the statement is true and will always be true. If people have nothing to gain in doing a deed, it's highly unlikely that they will never take part in it. In other words, like how her mother always says, it's just good business.

Her father sighed, "I guess it's decided then."

"I'll be careful," she assured both her parents.

Looking back at Annie still sobbing in her arms, Lunavay understood that she couldn't bring her to the Raultivon palace. Annie would need time to recover from this incident, and recovering from psychological damage takes longer than any physical damage. She could never imagine the fear of people bending her will to their own. However, what scares her more is that some never recover from the damage. Maybe a doctor could probably help her recover, but then again, it's better if she's left alone for a while first.

"Annie, I want you to stay here," Lunavay declared.