The beautiful sunset and the relaxing sound of the wind, brushing against the cliff-like slope of the mountain is disturbed by the noise of metal clashing against metal on the treacherous path and elf scream in pain with fear as they fall down the slope. The handsome male elf with short, dark, purple hairs clad in a light leather armor, parry the incoming sword of the enemy knight that is wearing a full body armor in front of him. He then stabs his sword through the enemy neck where there is a gap between his armor.

The enemy knight's body quickly falls limply onto the ground after the elf pulls out his sword from the enemy neck, blood drips from his sword. The heavy armor soldier behind him pushes his own ally body off the slope with his feet and replace the fallen knight's place.

The fight continues. 

"We just need to hold them here for a few more minutes," The handsome elf said aloud to his squad behind him. 

"Regeeum Demiseo!" The young male elf with a short red hair casts a spell on his own squad. 

The squad feels energized as if their stamina has returned. The young red-haired elf takes a long breath to regain his strength after his own Mana begins to deplete. 

"Easy for you to say, Ariamnes. My Mana has begun to decrease, we can't keep this up any longer," The young elf said. 

"Don't despair, Yinlar. We can get through this together, right Nesto?" Ariamnes said aloud, hoping to raise his subordinate's morale. 

"Nesto?" Ariamnes called out to the human male with a silver-haired ponytail that is standing behind him after noticing that he did not reply his question. 

"Eilna is down there, I don't think she can make it here in time," Nesto said to Ariamnes. 

"Don't worry, she will be fine. She is one of the strongest Knight that I have ever known. She will make it. Believe me," Ariamnes said as he parries another attack from the enemy knight that's clad in heavy armor. 

Nesto looks down the edge at the path below him, his feet straddle on the edge of the slope. The light, golden-haired elf woman below him moves her saber in a swift manner that it's almost impossible for anyone's eyes to catch up to it. She alone takes four enemy knights down while two more elves in her squad support her by battling the other knights. Her beautiful stance and her amazing hair astound Nesto; everytime he sees it.

Nesto notices the enemy behind the one that Eilna is fighting is currently loading his crossbow with an arrow to fire at the elf woman. Panic grew inside his heart as he saw the knight carefully aim his crossbow passed his ally and toward Eilna. 

"I need to get down there!" Nesto said as he slides down the slope then takes out a short metal baton from his back. 

"Nesto, stay here and follow your order!" Ariamnes shouted, but it was too late as Nesto was already halfway down. 

Nesto jumps midway and unfolds his metal baton into a long staff. He then landed in the middle of the knights and smacked the crossbow away from the enemy hand. He swings the long staff, hitting the knight in the head, knocking him out, crushing the skull inside the metal helmet and causing him to fall down the slope.

Eilna stabs the knight that she is fighting then she kicks him to the side, throwing his body down the slope, and giving Nesto a way to retreat. He then took a step back to Eilna side while the woman whips her saber to get the blood and gore off from her weapon

"What are you doing here? You are supposed to be with Ariamnes," Eilna said, her tone sounded disappointed and gladness at the same time. 

"I thought you needed the help," Nesto said with a smile on his face. 

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"Nesto! You're supposed to follow the plan, you dummy," Eilna scolds lightheartedly.

He felt his own morale raise after hearing those cute words coming from the beautiful woman. As long as he is with her, nothing could stop them.

"What's wrong with breaking a few orders?" Nesto said as he smacks the enemy knight's helmet, stunning him after that Eilna took the chance to stab him with her saber; taking him out easily. 

"You can't just break orders, there are consequences," Eilna said.

"I willing to break any order just to be with you," Nesto said with confidence and smug. 

Those words cause Eilna cheek to blush red a little, she looks away from Nesto with a loving smile and focuses on fighting the enemy. 

"Please Nesto, don't break any order just to be with me," Eilna said. 

Nesto was about to reply when he turns his head toward Eilna. There is fear on her face when she looks at Nesto, she quickly grabs his shoulder and switches places with him. Nesto heard a sound of a crossbow going off and Eilna yelp in pain. He looks behind Eilna finally realize that the knight that he pushed off had climbed back and reached for his crossbow. The enemy was aiming at Nesto, but Eilna had switched her place with him in the nick of time.

The look of horror donned on Nesto's face as he saw the arrow pierce her back. His heart drops while Eilna looks back at him with both of her eyes widen in fear while her mouth parted in surprise.

"Nesto! Now Yinlar!" Ariamness order as he saw Eilna getting shot. 

"Please forgive me goddess," Yinlar pray before casting the spell. 

"Immi Thundulus," The cloud above them begins to darken then lightings strikes the enemy from above, destroying the path, and killing the enemy knights near Nesto.

Thunders echo at the mountain path, ground tremble beneath everyone, the enemy commanding office yell out order while enemy knights fall down as the path crumble beneath them.

But all that happens was unimportant to Nesto as he focuses only on Eilna while she gasps for air as her body falls to his arm. Everything suddenly went quiet for Nesto while he felt her body become cold in his arms and blood drip down the arrow shaft. Eilna gaze into Nesto's green pupils while he gazes into her blue eyes. A tear begins to flow down her cheek as she places her soft hand on his cheek, then she let out a gentle and loving smile. Nesto stroke her golden hair while passing by her oversized elf ears, the biggest one he ever saw and his favorite feature of her.

He saw her mouth moving; she was saying something. What did she say?

His surrounding and the enemy around him begin to melt away until everything became black goop. Eilna body slowly disappeared into nothingness, and there was nothing around Nesto except for himself and the regret he felt that day. 

*

Nesto opens his eyes and his sight is greeted by the room ceiling. He gets off his small bed and walks to his window. Then, he wipes the one tear away, when his gaze off to the distance, he can saw the majestic Royal castle and the beautiful orange dawn, shining behind it. After taking in the fresh air, he grabs his towel and makes his way to the door, but he stops when he saw his reflection in the mirror that hangs on the wall of his room. 

He rubs his own chin, feeling the stubble of hair already begins to grow. Then he moves his fingers to the metal collar around his neck, scratching the skin behind it just like always. The years have been kind to Nesto as his face has matured significantly. 

Nesto breathes in and stands straight. He continues to walk toward the door and open it. His sight was greeted by the green lush yard with a well near his modest shack. He goes outside and goes to the well to clean himself with the water. 

The water washes down the sticky sweat from his body and he ran his finger on the many battle scars on his body. A few of his scars come from the battles he fights, but when he moves his hand closer to his sight, he notices the knife scar on his wrist. Nesto remembers those came from his dark days after Eilna...He shakes the dark thought away. After his mind calms down, he took a few moments to shave his stubble with a knife and cleans his long silver-haired. 

After cleaning himself, he goes inside his modest shack again. Then wiping his body dry first before he brushes off a little dirt off his butler uniform. After making sure that his butler uniform is clean, he proceeds to wears it. He tugs down the lapel part of the blazer to make himself look cleaner and proper. He gathers his long silver-haired in one hand and begins to tie it into a ponytail with another hand. He practices his smile just like always in front of the mirror. 

Nesto doesn't want his smile to look too manic, or too happy, or too sad. It just needs to be the right amount of smile, like a smile of someone who contents with his life. A good smile doesn't grab the attention of the people around him. 

Yep, that's the right one; Nesto thought as he looks and sees the smile he wanted on the reflection. 

Nesto took out his pocket watch and looked at the times. He still can reach the mansion in good time before everyone awake. Nesto cracks his neck, then he goes outside of his modest shack and closes the door behind him. 

He turns to face the direction of the mansion and begins walking toward it. Through the light woods, using the dirt path provided.