The sound of a loud march could be heard on the horizon.

An army made up of demons both small and large steadily paced themselves as they approached the wall which had stood for years, the bane of their advance upon the remainder of the mortal realm.

The amount of manpower poured into the great eastern advance army made every single demon in the continent confident of their victory. It was clear to become a part of their history as one of the most largest assemblies to date. The amount only showed how much they wanted the taste of victory, to follow their one and only goal, the eradication of humankind.

Beastmen, Giants, Centaurs, Ogres, Goblins, Salamanders, Harpies, demi humans, and a dozen other kinds of demons. They wore armor and wielded various weapons. Behind them were large mechanisms meant to tear down the walls of the opposition by pelting giant stones at them.

There were large flying beasts as well, mounted by the smaller demons to utilize their speed and strength, the terrifying cockatrices, gargoyles, and the giant eagles named the Roc's.

With their eyes filled with blood, they stared at the wall they were to break through.

With their constant advance, they were to reach the kingdom's border walls within hours, if not minutes.

"Listen up you ugly bastards! Slaughter the humans, conquer the land that belongs to us! They're nothing compared to us! If you die, then die in the name of the king, the demon king! Don't even think of where you're going when you die and how your mangled-up corpse will end up. Just keep killing until the last demon! No mercy! Use that hatred inside of you, that very same hatred that the filthy humans have thrown at us for decades! We will be eternal!"

With a rousing call for battle, their cries for war shook the land they walked on, and the morale of the men that stood on the walls, looking at the massive army that came face to face with them.

More so that they were being led by two generals of great esteem and rank.

One was a silent, tall and bulky demi human carrying the rank of a lower Ivaas personnel, who wore a heavy set of dark armor, enough to make him look like an impenetrable wall with his size and build. He wielded a hammer, mounting a large, vicious looking dark horse that didn't seem at all burdened by its owner's weight, in fact, it strode down faster than those that were smaller and lighter than it. 

The second was a brutish and cruel looking demi human with short brown hair. His snake like eyes encompassed his character of a frenzied beast along with his aura of arrogance. He wore a light set of leggings, leaving his muscular top bare. His hands were empty of any weapon, but he was surrounded with an immense amount of energy that made it suffocating for a normal mortal to be around him. He had two horns protruding on the sides his head, twisting to the front like a bull's.

With the two of them leading the charge, it was like fatigue did not exist with the payment of sure success. Their morale was high and remained high as the brutish one's rousing call gave them the sense of what they truly are, demons, in every aspect of the word.

They gulped, looking at each other.

"What do we do, Commander?" asked a soldier who looked at the distance with a grim expression on his face, one that represented the entire wall's morale in transparency.

"There is little point in retreating. If we are to die, then we will die fighting. Defend the wall till your last breath! You are a man of Alrifer, and we shall live up to its name just as we have sworn on our oaths! Are you with me, men?"

No one responded. It was more that they were terrified of saying anything wrong that forced them to the ground. They each looked around at each other to try and find their answers, but it made it harder to find one.

"I know you're scared, and I am too. But can you see it in my face?" He took a step forward and looked into their eyes, leveling himself to their statures. "I am the same as you. Though we are few now since many have been taken elsewhere, we are the same people who have taken arms in defense of this wall. We're already like a family, so why don't we die like that in the end?"

He considered their emotions, what they felt. He read them like an open book and took in the tragic atmosphere enveloping them.

He had dealt with men who had resigned their fates before, but this challenge and their answer to it was natural. He didn't doubt their actions nor did he want to chastise them for it, in fact, he was proud to see them not lying to themselves. But this was not the way to go about it. Sure, they could go and say that they're scared and cry their eyes out, but in the end, they are still in control of themselves. They can still move and make a difference, no matter how little or insignificant it seemed.

"I won't force you to fight with me. You may leave if you want to, but know that you will still die by their hands no matter how fast you run, just mercilessly as usual. But, if you choose to remain here with me and last out their attack, then I ask you to put your faith in me one last time. I will risk my life with you on the front like your blood brother, and I will not leave this wall no matter how grim it might seem. That is the only promise that I can give you."

He unsheathed his sword and struck it to the concrete on the wall, then knelt while holding it with one hand and placing the other near his heart, clenched. He bowed his head to them as a sign of respect from one warrior to another. It was an oath to be sweared on ones dying battle.

There was a brief silence, but then the sound of metal falling to the ground sounded.

With his head inclined forward a man in the crowd spoke. "I will fight with you, Captain, just as I always have for these past few years. I swear my sword to you and this kingdom, even in the afterlife."

The rest then followed suit until every single body on the wall had knelt and bowed their heads, even the lowly servants, squires, and the slaves that were treated as equals courteously bowed their heads.

"Then we shall fight one last glorious battle?" he asked them, a fierce expression showed on his face where countless of scars were present.

The walls filled with a roar that echoed through the land. It challenged the demon's cry for battle, which alone gave birth to an even greater amount of bloodlust.

She paced back and forth inside the room where the commanders and generals that she had gathered sat. They had pensive expressions similar to what she was feeling. It was expected, but this was another problem entirely.

News of prince Vriesse's death at the vengeful hands of someone named Geoffrey Merevas stirred the kingdom, and roused the king to send his armies to invade Ylithia at once. And what's more was that demons attacked in unison, forcing the prosperous kingdom to its knees.

The fall of the kingdom was imminent.

There was also news of the royal castle being attacked by the demons, and the capital having been taken over by them. No one knew how it happened, but word spread quickly like wildfire across the neighboring kingdoms.

"With the state of Ylithia, it's bound to fall soon. Even with the generals that escaped having formed their coalition to retake the capital. With the king, the royal family, and most of his retainers and generals' states unknown, we cannot make sure that they are even alive at this point. But I see this as our great chance to begin our attack, don't you think, Lady Daphne?" A stout but formal man said, taking the first step to break the silence of the room. "The soldiers on King Georgios' side have already departed for Ylithia. It is free for the taking."

"That sounds tempting, Lord Balamir, but I would say that it is still too early to strike. We are not even sure about the state of the capital since our departure. The way things are, we cannot make any moves that will rouse the suspicion of those that are not with us. We are fortunate enough to have all been gathered here safely. Forgive me, but I think that it is not the right time."

"I understand, My Lady. You make a fine point," the lord said, crossing his arms and nodding his head in agreement. But the mood had not calmed down in the least.

Just as the silence again began to take hold of the room, Gino and Everett came in at the same time, both looking to have something important to say.

"By all means, please go first, Lord Luxe. My information is grim, but yours should take priority." Gino Gestured for him to take the the floor which he did.

He stood in front of all the generals and Lords, looking around him to gather their attentions.

The room was not as wide, but was enough to give them the space to hold a conference. It was a hall made of thick wood. The furnishings were benches where the decorated generals and lords sat contently, making do with what they have rather than an extravagant setting.

Everett Luxe, the uncontested supreme commander of the new Alrifian authority, stood gallantly in front of a podium overlooking the rest.

"This is recent, but I have received information where the first step of our plan lies. However, it has been broken. We will not be able to implement the first part of the plan, so we will have to improvise."

His words carried weight, and with this news of their plan failing from the very beginning, it was not avoidable that all in the room would be shocked. They staked their very lives and fealty to a new cause, but that fealty was being shook by fear and uncertainty.

"Well, do not hold out on us now, General Luxe. What else is there for you to say? What is the dilemma?"

"I will not withhold it, but I need all your silence now. You are all fastidious men, that I can praise. But to easily lose your composure over a vague piece of news that comes from my mouth, have you no faith in your decisions?"

He silenced them by hitting them where it hurts the most, their faith and devotion. They wanted to change the kingdom, but they half-heartedly joined in hopes of this being an easy, downhill battle because they thought that by simply having the former king, Halycn's daughter, they were righteous.

However, that was not it. They had to prove that their cause was righteous, and not a fake usurping one that would abuse their powers when they get the chance.

He was conscious of their one weakness that he wanted to fix it as fast as possible. Words meant little if action could not be seen. They wanted to see if there was a real possibility of this succeeding, but the bitter taste of some of them treating this as a mere gamble didn't sit well with him.

"I believe that this simply isn't something that you thought to spend your free time on. Now, I shall continue. As you all know, the relocation of the armies from the Luvic wall to the main invasion force was a decision that I was unable to see through. But our greatest fears have been recognized. What had happened in the past has come to haunt us once more." He leaned forward and placed both hands on the podium's sides.

"The Luvic wall has been breached, and the demons are already advancing at a staggering pace towards the capital. They're not even targeting anything other than those in their way, so I've done the liberty of evacuating those with our alliance to safer territories."

"H-How? That's impossible! The Luvic wall has stood the test of time, and the trial of demons attacking it for decades. How has it fallen so quickly?"

"That I don't have the answer to, Lord Erst. Just as I received the news of demons advancing, I acted as fast as I could. Fortunately, I was able to save the people living in the town of Asul, and relocate them elsewhere."

"Are you sure that they won't be attacking us? How many of them are there anyway?"

"More than what the Luvic wall can defend against. It was as if they had anticipated for the wall's weakness and took this chance to break through. But I cannot be certain that they will not attack us in the near future. It is clear that with the way they are moving quickly, they mean to advance to the capital. But the king is there, so it is still well defended. If it will be attacked, then it will hold out."

"What will this mean for us now? If they take the capital, then our kingdom will be taken over. There is no way that we can hold them off seeing as they've breached the walls."

"Do not lose hope. It is not the first time in our history that we have been faced with such a fate. Always we were able to get back up, and this time is not an exception," protested Everett firmly.

"Then what are we supposed to do now? Even with our manpower, which is already low to compare with, there is no way for us to fight demons and our own kin at once. We may, but the losses would be devastating."

"That is what we are to talk about now. Time is of the essence, so I shall make this brief. I have changed the plan to something much more fitting to the developments." He laid out a large rolled up map and had two guards hold it up for all to see behind him.

The map was already marked with some details pertaining to his plan. All he needed now was the assurance that all will follow without fear.

He pointed at the Luvic wall. "We have in our disposal enough men for two parts in my plan. As you all know, I lead an adequate number of knights that I have trained myself. With them at the helm, and some units from your garrisons at my disposal, I will be retaking the wall and setting up a defensive point there. I will be taking other lords to come lead with me. I believe that cutting off their source of reinforcements is vital."

"I see a problem with this," said Gino, taking everyone's attention.

"Demons are not stupid," he continued. "There are some instances where they simply don't destroy and pillage whatever they see. If this wall was the bane of their attack, then I think that they would occupy it and set up a strong, well-defended point of interest. It will be impossible to retake it, in fact, it would be suicidal with how we are currently."

"Oh, then what do you propose?" asked Everett, raising an eyebrow at Gino, awaiting a splendid response.

"I think I will be able to answer that question," said an old man sporting a grey beard and a calm expression. He wore a brown cloak with the hood covering his head. He was equipped with a thick, dusty old book hanging by a chain, a satchel hanging by his shoulder, and three daggers from his pouch near his sides. He guided his steps with an oak staff whose branches twisted and intertwined at the top, holding an oddly shaped blue stone at the top.

If one were to look at him plainly, one would think that he was a lost, old man, but in fact, he was someone who transcended the title of an old man.

"Albert? What are you doing here?" asked Everett.

"I have finished my meditation for today. I have taken an interest in your plans, and what the young apprentice says is correct. There is a better way to go with this. Not too tedious, but something simple and straightforward. In fact, it would be a gamble that will give us a grand spoil if we are successful."

"Tell us what you have in your mind," he said, giving the floor to him, retreating off to the sides.

Gino then gestured for Daphne, the look if impatience burned in his eyes.

"This can't wait. Have Everett explain the plan to you afterwards. I think no matter how important you are now, you still need to know about this."

She had a terrible gut feeling as he spoke. She had no idea what it was, or what it could be, but her mind was occupied with things concerning the attack and the future of the kingdom.

Nodding, she excused herself and was led outside to leave the conference area of the town.

Gino brought her to the infirmary where she saw Aster, whose body was wrapped in bandages, and three other people with him. A woman, and two children, who wore bandages over their wounds, that slept comfortably on their beds.

"Aster! What happened to you?" she asked, examining his cuts and wounds closely.

She tried looking around. Despite the state of her companions, her heart began beating of joy. While she tried to hide her smile of expectation, she tried to keep a dignified, and straight laced face for when she sees him again.

She was sure that the first thing he would say would be How are you holding up? If it's too much pressure, then tell me. I'm sure I can help you out when you want me to. After all, we're in this together, right?

But it became odd when Aster flashed a forced smile at her, then looked down again at the floor where a familiar sword sat with its sheathed, covered by blood stains.

"Hey, Daphne. Sorry it took us this long. We meant to get here earlier, but we ran into a bit of trouble and had to go the long way around. Took us a couple of days." Aster averted his eyes from hers, sighing as if lost in thought.

"Where is Zachary?" she asked.

The silence that crept about made her a bit more inquisitive as Aster didn't look her in the eye.

"What's wrong? Do I not understand anything here? What's with the silence? Are we strangers to each other already?"

"No, it's not that," said Aster, struggling to find the words to say. "Zach is... I don't know. I don't know anymore."

"What do you mean by that, Aster? Is there something you know that you're not telling me?"

"I don't know how it happened so quickly, but Zach is... gone."

She could not comprehend it quite clearly as she was sure that her ears played tricks on her, but his words came into her ear and out in the other.

"What are you saying? If this is another joke of yours, then I don't think that it's a necessary one. Now, where is he?" Her voice became quite shaky, half believing it. But her resolve remained firm. Knowing Aster, he liked to play tricks with her just so that he could see her expression and be entertained by it. But he was not laughing at all. She thought that he had trained himself to hold back his laughter, or he was saying the truth.

"I wish this was a joke, but we saw it. He risked his life to make sure that we got free."

It was dreadful, the way his death hit them. The three knew who he truly was, but that alone didn't measure his worth. To them, he was more than a Thalisean, he was someone who walked alongside them like equals. But now, there was no trace of him.

Daphne backed away, staggering and struggling with her words. "Impossible... That's impossible. How could this have happened?" She muttered again and again with her words, trying to find an answer to her questions.

Her knees gave up and she collapsed on the floor trembling, tearing up, agonizing over the possibility that he was gone. However, she didn't truly want to believe in that.

"No, I won't accept it. I just won't. We have to go back there and find him. There's no way that he can be gone." Daphne stood up, rebuilding her resolve. "Erica must not know for now. It'll break her heart knowing that she lost another parent, whether or not we know if it's true or not."

"Where is she anyway?" Aster asked.

"Playing with the other children. It feels so natural seeing her smiling and laughing, acting like an older sister to the little ones." She peered out the window, wiping her tears away. She curled up her hands into fists and took a deep breath in. "I'm going back for him."

She tried to storm out of the room until someone pulled on her arm.

"Gino, don't stop me. I know that this is important, but to me, is the most important person here, putting my own emotions aside. But with those, he is someone I don't want to lose."

"That's not me," he replied. "I was planning to tag along." Daphne turned around and see Aster pulling her wrist.

"I don't want to accept it too. If he knew himself and what his duty was, then him risking his own life for ours.... is too much to take in. Especially for someone like me. I'm going back too. Knowing that my life was saved by someone like him is like taking his responsibility. I'm just not prepared for something like that. He should be the one to do it, right?" He forced a smile despite his injuries.

"Coming from someone that he saved as well, I want to know what you are all talking about. Just who is he truly? The way you talk about him makes him sound like a god. Is there something that you need to tell me?" Julia spoke up, her eyes firmly pointed at the three.

Daphne hugged her arms and thought to herself if she could reveal who he was. This would get out of hand quickly, but he has said that humanity isn't prepared to know yet. But, if they were to know, then they would be motivated to save him even further.

She shook her head. "He is the one who pulled me up from desolation. He is the one I love, and I have much to repay him for."

"Well, if we are to repay him, then we must have the support of everyone. We need motivation. I think this is just the right form of motivation that we need. The promise of a better future, and the life of someone of important on the line."

"What are you talking about, Gino? It sounds like you're simply selling him as a bargaining chip."

"Don't get me wrong. I want to save him, that much is true, but to speak realistically, we need to be united. Our emotions alone can't be enough to save him if he still lives. his identity won't matter if he's gone. It was a terrible idea agreeing to keep amongst us in the first place, but now is the best time to unveil it, for his own good. What do you think, Aster?"

He thought long and hard until he came to the same conclusion as Gino.

"He's... right. It won't matter in the end if we lose him. Humanity might not be ready, but we don't know for sure. I don't care about anything else. I just want him back alive. I'll do anything to repay the favor."

Daphne fought with her own thoughts, trying to decide whether this would bode well for him, or if she should simply believe that Zachary may still be alive and wait until they succeed. That could go on for who knows how long. It was clear the she could not bear to think of what he is suffering through right now, and that thought alone pushed her to the edge.

"Come, let us make an announcement." She said

It was cold, damp, and dark. I could see a faint red glow behind my eyelids, but my face and eyes felt swollen after being beaten senseless for so long, that the numbing pain made it difficult to open my eyes. It was hard enough to breathe in the musky air, but there was an incessant pounding at the back of my head that shattered my focus each time.

How... How am I still alive?

I tried to move my arms to feel that throbbing pain, but my arms wouldn't move as much as I wanted it to. I only heard the sound of metal rattling loudly, and the faint groaning noise from the far distance.

I felt cold, really cold. I don't know whether it was just my imagination or not, but the lack of warmth on my body and the presence of the chilling wind surrounding me, led me to think that I had no clothes to cover my torso. I was fortunate enough to feel the presence of fabric on my legs.

Just where am I anyway?

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But then, another sound began reverberating towards me. The sound of a single person's footsteps, slow, steady, and eerie.

A faint laugh. The steps then came to a stop. I felt the stare of someone on me.

"Did you have a rude awakening? Or did you sleep well?"

Her voice was cheery, playful even, as if what her eyes were seeing amused her.

"I have been waiting for you to wake up, my dear," I felt a warm touch on my numb cheek. The person's fingers traced the outlines of my face thoroughly. "You know, you worried me to no end when you were brought to me in that miserable state. You were near death, slowly reaching out to the reapers' hand. But luckily enough, my affection and yearning for you had kept you alive. You are special to me, don't you know?"

I felt the person's fingers trace my naked torso, making me feel the immense and unbearable pain of the scars I had received. It seethed as her fingers specifically traced the lines of the sword scars and arrow wounds. Her tracing had a purpose to her that I didn't know about, but it felt all too intentional to be false.

"Where... am I?" I asked. My words didn't come off clear enough since it sounded like a simple muffled noise, but she responded hearing it clearly.

"Why, you are where you belong. Inside a special room for my collection. But worry not, I had given you a very large one that every other pales in comparison to. Only those that have turned quite naughty have had the privilege of staying here. And you, my dear, have caused quite the naughty act. Many would want to see you hung, beheaded, or even executed in the arena, but my saving embrace kept you here where you truly belong, in my loving care. Think about it. You kidnapped a noble's son, roused and caused the slum-dwellers to riot and create a massive city-wide fire, one that ravaged a great part of the capital, and killed many of the kingdom's soldiers."

She paced around the room and took in her hand what looks to be a whip rolled up.

She had a smile on her face as my eyes widened on it.

"Now that you're awake, I think it's time to punish you. Those words that you said to me before leaving, they hurt quite a bit. But never had I imagined someone like you to say those to me." She allowed the whip to come loose. She practiced on a wall, making a sharp lashing sound that echoed through the room.

Without delay, she struck me. The first one hit me straight on the chest. It was quick and surprising, enough to make me lose my breath.

I grasped for air, but failed as another barrage came continuously at me.

I couldn't yell. All that came from my mouth from every flog was an exasperated cry for air.

It hurt, terribly enough that it defeated the feeling of a sharp cold steel cutting through your skin. I could feel her anger through it, as my flesh tore from the pressure she exerted. A warm flow of blood came, and then went cold as the chilling wind passed by again.

Every time I winced in pain, I felt her ecstatic smile reached more towards her cheeks in spite of the growing amusement in her haughty laugh.

All I could do was grind my teeth and shout in pain, doing my best to bear it as much as I could. But I swear that I begged for mercy at one point, but all that came from my mouth was a stifled groan of pain and a grunt.

"Beg! Beg for mercy and cry for my name! Come now, I want to hear it! I want to hear you beg for forgiveness after shaming me!" It was clear after minutes of this ordeal that she was an expert in it.

I felt my entire body flare up, but the itching sensation of wanting to scratch my bleeding wounds was prevented by the shackles binding me to the walls. I had no energy to say anything else. I thirsted, I hungered, but I doubted that I was going to get anything that I desired.

"You are much more resilient than most. Some would cry out after the first lash, but you endured the entire time. I'm proud of you. I think you deserve a reward."

I felt her forcefully grab my jaw to look up at her face. She pushed her lips to mine forcefully. But from her mouth came a gush of fresh water that was vigorously expelled down my throat.

I chocked on the flowing water, but she passionately and aggressively twined her tongue with mine to my great astonishment. her eyes were closed as if she enjoyed this moment. I couldn't stop her, not had I the energy to reject this. In fact, this was worth going through the trouble of for something to quench my thirst.

But despite all that, I felt my heart beat loudly. Her so called reward made me feel something that I tried to forget about since it didn't feel right at all. This was all unnatural. And for some reason, her obsession was suffocating.

It went on for moments until she parted with my lips. She touched the bottom of her lip with her finger and traced it, looking at me with a wild longing in her eyes.

"Behave a bit more, and maybe a better reward will come for you. But, as much as how amusing you are, I must refrain from using you too much. I would not want to get too bored with you. Farewell, my dear. I shall free you from your shackles for a while, but do not think of escaping. Otherwise there will be severe consequences."

"Wait!" I cried out weakly. "Where am I?"

"You are in my dungeon. It is where those that become quite naughty rehabilitate themselves until they are fit to return to my side. You and a few others are the only ones left. Now, if you do not do anything bad, then you will live. So, I advise that you act accordingly. You are my new favorite now, after all." She touched the tip of my nose and tilted her head, smiling deviously.

Once she had left the room, I fell to the ground, exhausted. My wrists felt stretched from the shackles. Just how long I had stayed asleep, I do not know. but I hope that Aster and the others got away safely. My state here doesn't matter as long as they made it out safely.

I don't know how many days it has been since I was captured. Sure enough I thought that my time was over, but fortunately I had been kept alive somehow.

But now I know one thing. Where I am right now must be where I can find Aster's sister.

"Two birds with one stone," I said, laughing wryly to myself.

I just have to try and move my body.

It hurts, everything, my arms, legs. I can't even move them without feeling a terrible amount of pain that makes me want to scream out loud. It feels like I'm being torn apart at every turn.

I leaned my body to the wall despite feeling a stinging lash of pain from my scars on my back. I don't have the energy to do anything even. I feel like a puppet without its strings.

I took a glance at my mark and tried to pull some energy from it, which surprisingly enough worked. Its light was dying, but the energy I received was more than enough to get me back on my two feet. But I struggled, sticking to the walls.

She had left the door open, oddly enough, so I went out, seeing two narrow paths diverging to my left and right. The far depths of the paths were lit up by torches, but still there was a thick amount of darkness that made it difficult to see where they lead to.

I decided to walk aimlessly, taking the path to my right. I sensed something towards there, but I was not sure what that is. My mind was blank enough to see where I was going, but my intentions didn't need to make sense. All I needed to do was try and find Aster's sister if she truly is here.

There were sounds of groaning coming from some of the holding cells. Those had thick wooden doors while some had the metal bars.

The ones that took a glance at me would sometimes hurry towards the bars and shake them saying, "Hey, you! How the hell did you get free?! That doesn't matter. Get us out of here! Please, get us out! We've been here for so long that we don't even know what the outside looks like anymore."

But I couldn't tell them anything. I wasn't sure myself if I was going to get out of this. It was a miracle enough that I'm still alive and walking. All I did was glance at them and nod, heading my own way once more.

"Sorry. I don't think I can even do anything for myself right now," I said.

"What do you mean sorry?! I don't need that! Get me out of here already! Hey, I'm talking to you!" Then he broke down in tears as I became further away from him, begging loudly and. The clear agony in his eyes was painful as it kept recurring in my head over and over. He was not the only one. There were others. But he was the most forceful one of them all.

Some even looked too broken to speak as they sat still and silently without paying attention to me. 

I reached a staircase spiraling downwards and descended it. On that floor, I heard the sound of men laughing amongst themselves, at least two of them. They started heading towards my direction, heading upwards the staircase where I came from.

Quickly surveying my surroundings, I hid under an empty space under the staircase that was untouched by the torches' light.

I heard the two men speak with a disgusting amount of confidence in themselves.

"Ahh, that felt really good! I've broken a lot of women in my lifetime of being a guard for that deranged princess in this decrepit shithole, but that feisty one's a problem. Shame that I had to give her a bit of punishment for lashing out at me."

"Yeah, Ha-ha-ha! That was entertaining! The look on both of your faces. What did you expect form a Half-breed? Not only are they disgusting, but they're demons too. But, despite this place being the dump that it is, that sadistic piece of shit royalty brings back some quality women. Too bad most of them are already used up by the others."

"Heh, we'd better be careful. This isn't really something that she knows about. If she knew, then I bet we'd get our heads sliced off clean!"

"Like I care. If we get found out, then we can take care of her real easily, if you know what I mean."

"Right. I'm just itching for the time that the Half-breed would break under torture just so I could have a bit of fun with her."

"Are you sure that you really want to do it with a disgusting Half-breed? How knows what kind of disease you'll get."

"Bugger off. She looks better than the wenches that you see in this damned city. That doesn't mean nobility and that crap are counted. It's a dream enough to have a woman from a higher class than yourself."

Their voices disappeared after a while.

Once I heard the term 'Half-breed', my resolve lit up considerably, and I was able to smile at the possibility of finding her. But the circumstances in which I heard about just earlier made my smile disappear.

I reached another hall where metal-barred cells were lined up. On the farther end was a cell like any other.

Walking as silently as I could manage, I saw the silhouettes of women lying down and sprawled on the floor in different angles. Some were weeping while some groaned, silencing their cries.

I neared the last cell on the left end of the hall when I heard the sound of a beautiful humming sound. The sound echoed through the hall as a pleasant sound. The cries stopped, and the entire room was filled with on the sound of a beautiful humming coming from the cell that I was heading to.

I saw the image of girl leaning on the wall with her eyes closed, humming without a care in the world. She had bruises to cover her face and nearly naked body, scars and wounds everywhere else. It was amazing that she could still do something like hum in her state.

But most of all, she wore a smile. It wasn't convincing that her smile was genuine seeing the stain of dried blood on the floor near her makeshift bed, that consisted of a single blanket where hay was stacked thinly under it.

I drew closer to the cell, unknowingly losing my sense of balance as I fell forward, grabbing onto the metal bars for support. The mark had waned and disappeared, just like my energy.

The humming ceased, and our eyes locked. Hers was of a crystal blue color, something that made it hard to look away from. Though she had bruises and blemishes on her face, she was still someone to be admired.

She was rather pale, sporting a long dark hair that stretched until her waist. But it was bundled up to her front where she smoothed it out with her fingers. Her left arm had markings of a tattoo similar to Aster's

She didn't look as old as me, but there was a hint of maturity about her that I could not understand. She was not that that taller than me. In fact, I was taller by a few inches from what I saw.

Her clothing consisted of a tattered, worn piece of cloth that resembled a wash rag. That alone managed to cover her body barely.

She did not speak but simply stared at me for what seemed like the longest time.

"Are you alright? You seem lost." She spoke, not moving.

"Do you know someone named Aster?"

She blinked once, then twice, confirming something. But it was clear that she woke up with the mention of his name.

"Yes. His name is familiar to me. How do you know of his name? Who are you?"

"His friend. My name is Zachary. I suppose you're his sister, aren't you?"

"His... friend?" she stared at me dead-eyed. A single tear fell from her eye as she produced a heart-warming smile. "How wonderful. He has made a friend," she said, wiping the tear away. "Yes, I am his sister, Cornelia. Is he safe? How has he been?" she asked, crawling towards me, placing her hands on my hands that held the bars. It was warm, a welcome warmth in this cold, desolate labyrinth.

Her eyes were full of genuine concern for him, like her own state didn't matter.

"But how did you get out? Do you have a key? The one they call the princess must be rather complacent to have let you free."

"I don't. I can't understand the way she thinks, but she set me free. I don't think I can even escape in my state."

"Yes, I can see that clearly. But, your body. Under these fresh scars and wounds are more scars etchings of pain. It is quite a miracle that you are still standing and breathing. Are you not exhausted?"

"I am, enough that I could collapse here and be fine with it." I tried to force a smile and found myself rewarded by a smile from her. It seems that she had not lost hope yet.

"But what are you doing here?"

"I'm going to get you out. I promised Aster that I'd find you."

"But that's impossible. I am weakened. If you are Aster's friend, then you must know what he and I are. I cannot use my abilities. A curse has been placed on me, one that restricts my blood and my identity. With this, I am doomed here for all eternity."

She turned around and pulled up her cloth.

"Wait, what are you doing?!" I said, trying to stop her from doing something that will end up embarrassing myself as well. The fact is that, the cloth she wore was a single embodiment of a low-cost dress. If she would pull up her cloth, then her body would be bare.

"It seems that your mind thinks of something else. Malicious thoughts, are they?" she grinned playfully. It was a surprsing thing to see from someone down in this decrepit dungeon. She laughed at the sight of me averting my eyes from her back.

"The impure curse is placed on my back." she said, wrapping her arms around herself in a hidden sign of bashfulness. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her eyes averted from mine, staring down at the floor. It seemed that her teasing was a double-edged sword meant to see some embarassment in me, but unexpectedly in her as well.

"Sorry, I didn't mean it." I tried to remove the malice in my mind.

She again pulled up her cloth. Beneath this thin piece of cloth, that seemed like it could barely stave off the cold, was her bare body. Nothing underneath to even help her fight against the heat. She was bruised beyond belief, and lashes appeared on various parts of her body.

But this time, this was no laughing matter.

On her back, a strange symbol had settled on her back like a tattoo. It was beating like it had a life of its own, similar to a beating heart. But the red passion contained within a beating heart was nowhere to be seen, only a black, vile curse that takes up most of her back, and it seems to grow with every beat.

"It is eating away at my life, and of who I am, my identity as a Half-breed. When it consumes me, then I will be nothing but an empty husk. The only one who can remove this curse is the one who cast it, and that one, is a demon."

"A demon?"

"Yes. The man who this kingdom calls King Georgios is dead. He has been possessed by a strong demon capable of controlling people's hearts, and manipulating the darkness within them. The demon is called Hobris, a lower Ivaas demon. "

"Tell me, is that the same demon that attacked Lavis, a town in Ylithia?"

"Yes," she replied, her back still turned to me. "I and a few others chased him down, to this very city and cornered him in the halls of the throne room. Unfortunately, he had already taken possession of the king's mind at that time, and turned the entire kingdom upon us before we realized. Here in this dungeon I lamented the fact that we were lured, and because of my mistake, I lost the two closest people I can call family besides Aster."

She pulled down her clothes and faced me, noticing something on my face as her hand passed through the metal bar, touching my cheek and curiously glancing at me with her eyes.

"There is something on your mind that is bothering you. What is it?"

"It's... a long story. Won't you mind, Cornelia?"

"Seeing as you're already here, I think this would be a better chance than any to get to know each other, don't you think? And please, call me Lia instead. I think we have come to know each other if only a bit, so it is natural that we can call each other by simpler means."

She smiled, lifting my spirits. There was no way I could have denied this chance of wanting someone to listen to me right now. Though it sounded stupid to do it here, what else could I have done?

"Thank you, Lia. Then you can call me Zach instead."

"There is nothing to thank me for, Zach. We all have something in our hearts that we need to confide to someone with."

I told her my relation with the town of Lavis and the connection I had with Sir Hark, then everything leading up to this very point in time. It felt nostalgic despite it not being too long ago. But it all still seems to unreal to take in. To know that they're gone and won't be coming back. It was hard to accept, but eventually I did, subconsciously.

"So, you have lost someone as well then. You have my most sincere apologies."

"It's alright. There's no overturning the past now. But all I can do is avenge him."

"But you are brave. You are going against a demon. For a mere human, mustering up the strength to even think of facing a demon is.... inspiring. You are quite the individual. Despite going through these hardships, you still face the future no matter what it brings."

"I'm nothing, really. If it weren't for a gift that I have, then I am nothing. I don't even know if I can be called human."

"What gift? Why is that? Are you a Half-breed as well?"

It just occurred to me as I looked at it, remembering what she had told me about the curse on her back being made of impurity. It was just a hunch that I had, but I had a feeling, or a hushed voice rather, inside my head telling me what to do. It spoke like a hallucination, but I paid attention to it like it was normal.

"Could you show me the curse on your back again?"

"Uh, did I misunderstand?" her hand retreated swiftly.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to do anything bad to you. Like I said, I'm here to get you out. I'm not even sure if this will work, but it's worth a shot."

"I've already told you that nothing will work on the curse. It would take someone like the Four Great Magni to lift such a curse full of darkness and cruelty."

"Please, trust me."

"I-I understand. If you have a serious face like that on, then I don't think I can doubt you."

She turned around and slowly lifted up her cloth with a noticeable shiver in her hands.

I inched my right hand past the bars and towards the curse as if it were being guided there by an unseen force. The mark was glowing brightly, maybe as bright as the time that I fought the demon from Caspia.

I heard the voices once more, this time louder. There were countless of them crowding my thoughts, repeating words over and over.

Purge the darkness... the demons... the dreaded ones who disrupt the scales.

You are the child of light; your life is devoted to eradicating the threat until your last breath.

You are not alone. All of us are within you. The flickering light of a waning star, the one who transcends us all. With you our legacy began, and with you our legacy will end.

The demons are monsters, and we must be the judges of these criminals. It does not matter whether we are just to judge them or not. It is our way of life, it is who we are, and who we are to become.

You, O holy one, the last of us possessing the greatest light of all. Cleanse the vile impurity with your light of purgatory. There is nothing that can best the light but a brighter light itself, the darkness will merely dissipate, become nothing, just as it is... nothing....

Before I knew it, my hand was placed flat on her smooth and soft back. The glow behind my hand created a bright light that cleared her room of the darkness.

The curse seethed as it burned from her back, disappeared slowly. Lia arched her body forward, stifling her ecstatic cries with both of her hands.

It was overwhelming. It felt like my hand was being burned through a billowing pit of fire. The mark was burning a hole through my hand with the tremenduous amount of light it was giving off.

It came to a point where it was too much and I had to pull my hand back, still feeling the scalding sensation clearly. Just what is it burning inside me that hurts so much whenever I use the mark? Is it all going to be painful every time I use it?

I breathed hard, looking at Lia whose eyes were wide open in shock. She had recovered from the ordeal I put her up to and was staring at the glowing light on the back of my hand as it slowly dimmed.

"This light... The Heraldic mark, it can't be. But you're all gone. How does one still exist?!"

Damn, she saw the mark. What was I thinking? If anyone were to find out, then it would get out of hand.

I pulled my hand back to hide it, but she moved fast, pulling my hand towards hers, looking down at it with an intense glee, like a child receiving a present. The wonder on her eyes as my light gleamed on her crystal-like blue eyes were captivating.

"Are you really a Thalisean?" she asked, looking into my eyes, the grip of her hand tightened on mine. It was not an aggressive grip, but a gentle, and expectant one. "I can't believe that there is still one in existence! But why are you here? You can't be here. It's dangerous!"

"Shh!" I held a finger up to my mouth to silence her. "No one can know yet."

"But why not?" she responded softly. "Everyone should know this. You're the single greatest being here in this continent, no, maybe the world to combat the demons! Everyone has been waiting for your return, even us."

"I'm... not ready for it yet. I still don't quite understand how this power works. I didn't even know about it until a few months ago. Right now, I'm far from what you can proudly call a Thalisean. But I know that I can't keep complaining like this. Soon enough I'll face my task head on without any second thoughts."

"Does that mean no one knows yet?"

"Other than you, only Aster and a few of my companions know about me."

"I don't understand. Simply your existence being known would give humanity the hope it needs to keep living, more so in these desperate times where the demons are as rampant as ever."

"But in exchange, that will mean that the demons will come for me in great numbers. I'm still unprepared for that."

"Ah, I... understand. Forgive me. I was not thinking clearly. I was just overwhelmed by the fact that here I am, meeting a Thalisean face to face. You aren't quite as I imagined you to be, nor is the meeting place."

"Aster told me about your admiration for them. What did you expect, anyway?"

"A high looking, divine being. Like an elf. Omnipotent, high-born. A presence so grand and overwhelming that all who would look will succumb to a great awe. I imagined you to be wearing a stiff, strict expression that no simple commoner, let alone a Half-breed, would be able to get close to."

"Those are some expectations. I assume that you're disappointed?"

"No, in fact. I'm glad that the first Thalisean I was able to meet was mundane, rather unimpressive at first glance, and down to earth. I never in my wildest dreams thought that you would be the Thalisean."

"Mundane and unimpressive..." I muttered to myself.

"Ah! by no means was that an insult. I'm sure that you have many redeeming qualities in you. Like your steadfast will to keep living. I can see it in you. I might not know the full worth of your character, but something tells me that you are destined for greater things."

"How did you know right away what it was? The Heraldic mark, as you called it."

"I am certain because the moment, I had the urge to kneel before you. The mark felt omnipotent, as if I could not disobey the trance I was under. The only reason that I was able to resist was because you didn't urge the light. To demons, and even us Half-demons, the light can bend its greatest foe to its will if it's strong enough. And besides, you removed the curse. I'm quite knowledgeable about curses, and that one took a great deal of time to cast on me."

"Just how much of the mark do you know?"

"Enough from the books I had read. If we ever get out of here, then I would be more than glad to tell you about what I've learned."

"Then I'll hold you to that. And while I'm at it, I'll try to show you that I'm not as unimpressive as you see."

She laughed. "It's been quite  while since I've known laughter, or even joy ever since I was trapped here. Thank you, Zach."

"Nothing to say thanks to me for. I'm glad to see you smile too. You looked devoid of life and depressed when I first saw you, but it made me feel better to know that you're past that."

"It is a given that happiness would not be found here. There is nothing but pain and suffering to be sought out. I've felt the pain of her lashes many times. She has gone and vented her frustrations on me as well. Yet even during those times I have not lost all hope of tomorrow."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I've already felt that and know how painful it is. But your humming, it was beautiful and uplifting. It didn't feel at all desolate here when I heard it. When I heard it, it almost made me forget what I just went through."

"Is that so? What a compliment to receive from a Thalisean. I'm quite honored. But only you and Aster are the only ones to have heard that. I've hummed to him when he was still small, but not anymore. I think he has already forgotten that."

"I'm sure that he hasn't. After all, you are all that he speaks about. He holds you in high esteem."

She smiled, reminiscing her memories. "That child. He hasn't changed. Even if he looks old enough to be responsible, deep inside he is still someone who dreams of the impossible. It puts a smile on my face when he talks about becoming as strong as me, but I'm not even as strong to begin with. In fact, he has already surpassed me, both physically and mentally. He is bound to grow stronger in the future."

We continued speaking as if it were the most natural thing to do in such a place.

We exchanged smiled and laughs that was disrespectful to those who were suffering here, but I wanted to be selfish for now and just think that it was the two of us here. I learned much about her in these short minutes that passed like hours.

But, as the light disappeared, a dulling sense of weakness spread throughout my body, leaving me without the strength to stand, not to mention the burning pain of having used the mark. The lower part of my body, from my hip to my feet, felt like it was on fire, and the insides of my body felt like it was slowly being torn apart.

"What's wrong? Are you alright?" she asked, frantically reaching out to me. The panic in her eyes was a welcome sight to fall back on.

"I have to get you out of here somehow. If the demons controlling King Georgios finds out that you are here, then who knows what unspeakable evil will fall upon you."

"I'm all for escaping. But how do we do that? Right now, the only way I can move is if I rest, or use the mark."

"I can't help as well. Currently, I am still trying to regain the strength I had lost. It will take a long while before I can do that. But I will do all I can to help you!"

"Thank you, Lia. I appreciate the sentiment. I will be depending on you. But for now, keep this secret between us..."

I paused, hearing the sounds of footsteps descending the lower floor where I am currently.

"I will wait. Don't worry about me. I'll try to hold out for as long as I can, but whatever happens, don't do anything rash to get yourself in danger."

"What do you mean? It almost sounds like you're giving up for some reason."

Just as she finished, I heard the angered voices of the guards that just left a while ago.

"What the hell? How did you get out of your cell? Oy, what the hell are you two standing around for? Get him already!"

The men rushed to me, but I snuck in a few last words before what I feared for happened.

"I'll be leaving my life in your hands," I said smiling with the remaining ounce of my strength.

I felt them seize me by my neck, pitting my back against the metal bars of Lia's cell.

They repeatedly thrashed me, kicking and punching me relentlessly and ruthlessly.

"So you think you can just go and find a wench to have a good ol' time with, huh? Well this is what you're going to get instead!"

They pulled me up, holding me on either side by my arms. The one that ordered the two around jabbed at me, some making a crunching noise.

I felt blood spill from my nose as it became hard to breathe, but the metal gloves that he had on made it worse on my face. as he aimed for that alone.

Then came a strong hook where he wound up, twisting his body all the way. I spun, ending up facing Lia's cell, taking the bars by my two hands as to not fall.

"Please, Don't! Stop this already! Don't you know who that is?" she cried out, rattling the bars and calling the attention of the guards.

I looked at her and placed my index finger before my lip, asking for her silence. It was funny as I still managed to smile and assure her as best as I could.

"I trust you," I whispered.

"Eh? Who do we think this trash is? I don't give a damn who this is. As long as they end up here, they nothing but insignificant pieces of trash, the lot of them, including you, Half-breed scum! bring him back to his cell. That maniac of a princess will be the one to deal with him later."

He spat on me, landing on my cheek. I couldn't move, numbed by the pain. I was dragged back to my cell by my shoulder.

As I left the cell, I saw nothing but the dark. It was either my eyes were closed, or the light of the torches were extinguished. But by the end of it all, I received more lashes from her upon hearing what I had done. It was brutal and painful, but I had to endure, no matter the pain or the ordeal, no matter how long it may be.

The sound of blood dripping to the floor rang in my ears. It was a constant, welcome noise that kept me awake for the most part. If I fell asleep right now when I'm at my very weakest, it feels like I won't be able to wake up anymore.

My body twitched helplessly at the remembrance of the recent method of torture.

She had cast a spell of electricity on me relentlessly until I almost blacked out due to the immense violent current flowing through every inch of my body. I spasmed, convulsed, writhed, and howled in pain as loud as my lungs could reach. By the end of the day, I my lungs were as dry as the soil untouched by moisture. If I had to endure any more, I would have gone insane.

How many days has it been since the time I came to Lia's cell? I can't even remember. My scars and wounds have gotten deeper and deeper, almost as if that mad woman checked on me on  regular besis just so the scars could be renewed with little hope of healing.

It's a miracle that I'm still alive, and the fact that I could still think is anything but baffling.

I heard the sounds of footsteps...

Is it her again? Has she come back for more? I don't think I can hold on anymore. There's just no way. I'm at my wit's end. Father, Mother, help me, please. It's painful, too painful for anyone to bear. Each day is just as agonizing as the last.

I pleaded, which was not the first time I had done it. There were times when I thought that it would be time for me to go. But everytime that would happen, the image of my mother and father would appear, and they would say, "It's not yet your time. Please, bear it a little longer. You're stronger than that. Besides, there are people waiting for you."

It was ridiculous. I'm not even sure that they would even come for me anymore. They would have thought with how the ways things ended with the escape that I'm already dead.

Please, someone, help me...

 "Zachary...?"

I inclined my head up and saw Maris looking at me with horror in her eyes. She covered her mouth with her hands and trembled for a long while.

I didn't speak since I was too tired to do so. But it wasn't needed for some reason.

She rushed towards me and knelt, staining her beautiful beige dress with my dried blood on the ground. Tear immediately fell from her eyes, and she tried to reach out to me, only failing for reasons that I don't know about.

"This is horrible. You're deathly pale, scarred everywhere. Why has this been done to you? Have they no mercy to show?"

She touched one of my scars, forcing a cry of pain out of me as my body contorted like a jolt of electricity sent to wake my every sense.

"Ah! I'm sorry!" she said, retracting her hands almost instanty. "I didn't mean it."

"Did the princess do this to you?"

I nodded my head.

"Then you are the reason as to why she is always going somewhere. I never thought that this was in her interests. Forgive me."

"For what?" I managed a disgruntled reply.

"For not believing you when you spoke to me. I had never known of this, but after seeing the horrors, it is clear that she is not the same person whom has taken care of me. Tell me, how do I repent for this? If it weren't for me agreeing so that you could have an audience with the princess, then this would not have happened."

"Water..." I pleaded.

She stood without hesitation and left the room, returning after a while with a metal pale filled with water.

She gently raised it up to my level and poured it steady. Some dripped down my body, givign off a refreshing, but irritating feeling.

I cleared my throat and spoke.

"Then I need you to help me with something."

"Anything, Zachary. Anything to atone for my lack of faith in you."