(First Part: Grisham/Kieron)

A sunset, a dark orange sky, the vast landscape was blanketed in the faint rays of the sinking and setting sun. Although the star itself was covered behind a massive cluster of clouds, its light still shone magnificent over the land. The environment was quiet, guards sat silently in a stone tower overlooking the dirt road that led out of the kingdom’s gates.

The soldiers were tired, and one of them absentmindedly looked at a carriage wheeled out and rattled on the bumpy road, the hot sun was bearing down on them but had died down as the day progressed. They were fanning themselves and half asleep. A guard unlocked a chain and slowly pulled down the iron gate, and lazily went back to their post. It was a remote area of the kingdom, a part of the town where the traffic was bare, more so at the time of day rapidly approaching dusk, and soon night. The nearby gate and the stone walls were old and unused, with moss growing on its sides.

The single horse carriage was moving on an unpaved road across a grassland, the countryside was filled with animals grazing like deer and rams and the ones that were near the road moved away when the rickety wooden carriage passed. As the sky’s color drifted from orange, to purple, and then towards blue, the carriage passed by few on the road. A few merchants riding on donkeys pulling carts, two-horse drawn carriages rushing to other destinations before nightfall truly set in, moving faster than the other travelers, rattling wildly on the loose stones that lied on their path.

The single-horse carriage halted to a stop near a campsite near the road. As the sky grew darker and the moon and the stars rose to their heights, the carriage’s occupants stepped out and were greeted by those in the camp. Isha waved to Kieron and Rennon as they stepped out. Kieron weakly waved back but Rennon went to the back of the carriage and raised the cloth covering and lifted a wooden box from it and lowered it to the ground. Kieron walked to retrieve the other supplies, and Isha followed, walking to them to inspect the goods.

Kieron pulled out two small cloth sacks tied with drawstring and placed them down as well. As Rennon pried the box’s cover open, Isha walked over and reached in to check if they had adhered to her requests. “Okay… Onions, garlic, cabbages…” She said to herself whilst checking the foods packed in the wooden box. Two other people walked from the large tents and the center of the campfire and waved towards them, one of them remarked loudly: “Please don’t tell us its plants again.” The other one added: “We’re mercenaries, not peasants or farmers, we should be putting all of our gold to good use!” “It’s not like I didn’t have them buy meat too, it’s just that we need a balance to what we eat. With vegetables we get nutrients, and with that we get stronger.” Isha raised her head and exclaimed to them.

Kieron and Rennon were absentmindedly removing and lowering the various sacks and boxes from the carriage. “I don’t think stuffing a dozen things into a pot and then boiling it with water is cooking.” One of the two faraway onlookers remarked. Isha frowned grumpily, pouting at the remark. Rennon turned to them and said: “If either you or Lyden there can even attempt to cook for an entire camp day after day and make it taste good then please volunteer.” More of the other mercenaries in the band heard the conversation and walked from the camp to help with the supplies and to enjoy the newest banter between them. The two retreated as the others laughed in response to Rennon’s remark.

He closed the large wooden box and began to lift it. “I’ll handle the supplies and stock them with the others, go on and report our success to the boss.” He said to Kieron. “He’s still cooped up in that tent of his? I thought he would at least see us arrive.” Kieron asked Isha. “Yeah, he ate breakfast with us, but all day he’s been busy; hard at work planning and memorizing the predictions and projections he’s been getting.” Isha answered. “He’s been getting more and more lately…” Said Rennon, walking off carrying a box. “Used to be somewhat of an event, now its more of a daily occurrence.” He remarked, before walking away. Kieron and Isha frowned, looking at the dark night sky, a cold breeze flowed through the tents, the fields, and the few trees that stood in the valley.

“Hey.” Kieron opened the cloth flap of Grisham’s tent and greeted him. He was sitting cross-legged on the ground, on a mat and poring over various scattered notes and pieces of paper on the floor. Scribblings and text were scrawled on them, some were paragraphs and lines of text describing events to the smallest detail, some had detailed drawings, often multiple illustrations depicting the same event, with slight differentiations, resulting in showing detailed retelling of the projections he had seen.

“Did you buy that blue ink I requested?” He asked her, still looking down at the papers. “Does it have to be blue?” She asked him. “Well, it makes me concentrate better. But its fine, black will do.” He answered. Grisham continued picking papers up, looking at them, and placing them down to organize them. “Don’t you know how it went?” Kieron asked him. He looked up and smiled warmly and stopped what he was doing. “Ah, yes. The newest bounty request. Please inform me of what happened, I assume it was a success. My visions show us; you and the others being pretty successful and continuing to prosper.” He began to look down and sort through his notes again.

“Uh… Yeah, it was quick, we got the reward, bought supplies, and headed home.” She answered. “Good. Anything else?” Grisham asked. Kieron was silent, and as she was about to turn around and leave, Rennon was standing behind her and said: “Isha was just wondering if you would join us tonight.” “Weren’t you-“ Kieron was then cut off by him. “Well, with every one thing that I lifted, she would just come and take it from me. Soon enough we were done unpacking, and she told me to come help you out.” Rennon remarked. Grisham pushed the papers into a pile and into a corner, making way for him to stand up and walk without stepping on them.

“Isha’s soups are certainly interesting… Or are they stews, I’m not so sure if she understands them myself.” Grisham started to stand up from his cross-legged position, but suddenly stumbled and started to fall before he was caught by both Rennon and Kieron, holding his shoulder with one arm each. Grisham grabbed onto their shoulders and then said: “Sorry, must have sat for a little too long. It’s fine.” He let go, and then the other two did as well. He stumbled a half-step as he exited the tent but walked fine as they went back to the rest of camp.

“He’s finally outside!” Rennon announced with a smile, to the cheers of his comrades and the smile of Isha who was preparing food. They had smiles in their faces, and fine drink and questionable food in their stomachs. They were wearing clean clothes, living in clean tents, wearing new and sturdy armor, of chain, iron, or leather, and had shining and clean weapons. “Here.” Isha scooped a few ladlefuls of the substance into a bowl and forcefully handed it to Grisham. He took it and looked around at the other people in the camp, and then sighed. “Somebody’s got to take one for the team.” Said Rennon, patting him on the shoulder and laughing.

The others did as well, including Kieron, who was standing in the corner and laughing quietly along with them. Grisham parted his hair to not let it get into the food and took a swig from the wooden bowl. He stood there for a second with the food in his mouth and with a blank expression, and then gulped. He then looked down at the ground. The others leaned in to see what was happening to him, Rennon frowned and then put his hand on Grisham’s shoulder to check on him. Kieron also worried, but as she began to walk towards them, Grisham looked up and was squinting and almost had tears in his eyes. “Its… Just hot.” He opened his eyes and wiped them off. “Its an… acquired taste.” He remarked. Their frowns and worries turned into laughs and cheers as Grisham grimaced.

Later, the night went on, with Rennon telling the story of their latest bounty and the others laughing and joking in kind. He was recounting the event in which Kieron almost took the head of their target, whom they mistaken the request in which they were to be taken alive. She had ran in sickle first, eager to finish the job before the day progressed further, and was inches away from taking down the poor target before Rennon stopped her. As he told this part of the story, the laughter grew louder and Kieron looked down at the ground, shy and blushing.

Isha gave up and relented, after giving every single one of them a helping of her “soup” she had spit-roasted a large fowl which transformed the crowd of those who were “not hungry anymore” into starving for more food. Grisham smiled contently as he watched the others, he took a sip of drink, and chewed off from a stick of meat. Isha looked disappointedly at the leftovers in the pot, sighed and then walked towards Rennon and the others who seated near the dwindling flame of the campfire.

“Well, hate to interrupt you guys since you’re having so much fun, but since we’re all here there’s some pressing matters we need to discuss.” As she announced, there were “eh’s” and “oh’s” from the crowd but they mostly quieted down and allowed her to speak. “As you guys know, only Rennon and Kieron went out today because it was a small job, and even the reward for those kinds of bounties are low compared to what we usually bring in.” She reached and put a small pouch from her waist and put it atop a nearby wooden barrel. She untied the string from it and then the curious crowd watched well as she opened it, revealing only a handful of gold coins.

“There’s barely any left over from the reward, and even this, is a result of his haggling and bargaining over the reward and the goods that we bought.” She pointed towards Rennon who smiled proudly. “The point is, with the growth of our, and other hunting parties like us, and the increasing vigilance of the kingdom itself, the bandit presence on the countryside is way down, we can barely find requests for them anymore, and its mostly small-time stuff like occasional robberies.” There was silence among them, Grisham listened intently, hand on chin. “Well, that sounds like a pressing matter, do you have a solution to solve it?” He asked.

“As of now, no. I was hoping with your visions you might know of an answer.” Isha worriedly responded. “How about the other jobs, surely there’s more that they’re requesting other tasks of our expertise.” Rennon suggested, trying to recall the other postings. “Um… I think there was a poster that said something about capturing or killing an enemy captain?” Kieron recalled. Rennon snapped his fingers and said: “Aha! That’s what I’ve heard about, the other mercenaries are being contracted to join the recent war effort. Seems like the kingdom’s in desperate supply of forces, their soldiers or hired fighters.” Rennon remarked. “That reminds me!” Grisham hurriedly stood up and ran towards his tent and shuffled through his papers. “Ah!” He pulled a singular piece of paper and ran back towards the others. “Here.”

The people who were sitting parted as Grisham laid the paper out on the floor. “That looks like, the enemy army!” Said Rennon, as the others looked over as well. Kieron was curious, and Isha had a concerned expression on her face. “Is that… the Reshan army?” She asked. “It's… Here.” Kieron noticed the location of Grisham’s drawing. The scenery was of a wide field covered with grass, knights with heavy armor were standing in the center, and a group of warriors on horseback surrounding them, with Grisham serving as the lead rider. There could be no other details gleaned from the drawing. “Isn’t it?” Said Kieron, with slight uncertainty.

“Is that the reason why we’re camped all the way here?” A question from the crowd resounded. “Well, it’s not like they’ll allow us in anyway, they still see us as bandits like the ones we put away.” Rennon reasoned. Voices of excitement, unease, uncertainty, confusion and joy were overpowering the sound of the fire, and the howl of the night wind. Whilst the crowd was clamoring, Grisham was focused intently on the piece of paper, seemingly losing notice of all else surrounding him. But as soon as he spoke, it suddenly quieted. "We simply must follow what it's showing us. I set up the conditions I can, and fate will take care of everything else. As long as we follow this guidance, we won't grow poor, or hungry. Instead, we will follow it to our triumphs." Even though all of them listened, Grisham faced no one when he made the remark.

As he began to walk from the campfire, Kieron asked him: "Where are you going?" "Back there. I need to study... And prepare." All were in a state of surprise as Grisham walked straight back to his tent without another word. Not a word was uttered, and they stood silently, unsure of their next action. But then, Isha ran quickly towards Grisham's tent and entered. "It... Looks like to me, we're going to have to fight in a war, against an army. This, isn't what we agreed upon, we aren't going to fight in someone else's battles." Grisham was now crouching, shuffling amongst his papers, trying to connect ones with similar events to the battle in the fields depiction paper that he was holding.

"They're not bandits, they're soldiers." She remarked. "Bandits, enemy soldiers. They're the same. Burning, killing and pillaging, only now they can use the excuse of conquest to justify their actions." Grisham said, still preoccupied with his papers. “It’s what I feared.” She stepped back as she remarked those words quietly. “That one day, you’ll see something, that’ll make you do things that you won’t want to. Or what “we” won’t want to.” Grisham was still silent, and facing downwards, but his expression became troubled, and his handling of the papers became more frantic. “Grisham.” He turned around.

“Yeah, uh…” He exhaled out of his nose quickly and continued with: “We’ll… Just have to pass judgement then. It’s… It’s going to happen. That’s our advantage, we know what’s going to happen. It’s fate, it’s not something for us to choose or change, we’ll plan around it, we’re free for every action except these ones.” He said as he was looking up at Isha. She held her hand forward and gestured for his, as he raised his left hand, she touched it tenderly, tracing from his palm and up to his wrist. “It used to be just for your palm, now it’s up to your wrist.” He pulled it away. “It’s more than a wound or a scar, it’s growing, like an infection.” She exclaimed.

Grisham raised his hand and inspected it. “I… We… need it.” “It’s just, you don’t tell us about these anymore. We need to see them to make our decisions, this upcoming conflict with the soldiers, it’s the first we know of it, if it’s something that’ll affect us all, you’ll need to tell me, Rennon, or even Kieron.” As she was speaking, everyone else outside of the tent was listening quietly, though each word was not meant to be a loud yell or exclamation, all could hear it as clear as day as they focused on each word said. Grisham looked at her straight in the eye and nodded.

“Well, it's time for me and the others to go to sleep. Need to be early to go straight to town first thing in the morning to take a look at the bounties. We’ll come back as soon as we can to tell you what tasks they’re looking out for someone like us to do.” As she said it, she began to leave, but Grisham talked before she went. “Don’t worry about that, I’ll be going there myself.” He remarked. As she left the tent, she saw everyone looking straight at her direction, and all of them quickly looked elsewhere or try to make themselves look busy with something else. She paused for a moment, and then walked straight to her tent and lied down on a stack of cloths and a thin cushion on the floor.

Grisham peeked outside and saw that most of the people were already going back to their tents to sleep, the few that were still around outside were tiredly watching the stars and sipping the last of their drink, he then slowly walked out to the campfire. Rennon was about to sleep but noticed Grisham walking out of the corner of his eye. He quickly ran up to him, Rennon saw that he was doing something, but the light of the fire slightly obscured his view. “I thought you were already sleeping, what are you still doing out here?” Rennon asked.

Grisham picked up a nearby chopped piece of wood and threw it into the fire. “Just fueling the flame, there’s still a few people out here.” After he said that, he immediately turned around and walked back to his tent. Rennon looked at the campfire and saw the smoldering embers of something that resembled paper. His eyes widened in surprise. In his tent, Grisham looked at his arm, at the various drawings he had on the ground beside him and sighed while he looked at the bright stars and the large moon shining in the night sky.

The next day, Grisham, Rennon and Isha walked into the bounty collection building, the fat crier advertising and shouting at nearby passersby right outside the entrance. “Do we have to go to this ‘hole’ every time we get a job, aren’t there other towns?” Rennon whispered towards Isha who brushed him off. “Ah. Mister Rennon, and Miss Isha. Looking for another bounty today? It doesn’t look like there’s anymore requests for bandit cleanups today.” The man behind the counter remarked. “No, we’re looking for something else today.” Grisham was standing in front of the other two, with his long hair tied, and his left hand in a metal gauntlet while his right hand was bare.

“Grisham, haven’t seen you for a long time. Take a gander, see what suits your fancy.” He pulled a few weathered and slightly torn pieces of paper from under the counter and placed them on the desk. “Let’s see here…” The man said. “This one.” Grisham pointed towards the middle bounty. A high reward was placed on a request of a kill or capture of a Reshan captain. “Too proud to use their own knights in their battles. This reward is cheaper than the cost of their campaign, you know.” The man complained. “Even so, they’re flocking towards it, moths to a flame if you ask me. But still, every mercenary group worth something and even each mook with a sword sees the opportunity. It's not worth it if you ask me.” He continued.

“We’ll take it.” Said Grisham, undaunted. “Are you sure?” The crier asked. Grisham snatched the paper up with his left hand, and then turned around and walked out. “He means yes.” Said Rennon, the two of them followed Grisham, with Isha trying to hold back a chuckle. Back at their camp, Kieron was training at a nearby field, she ran and sliced a weathered wooden post that was serving as a training dummy, she jumped backwards and rushed towards another one, going low and slicing it near its base. She rolled away and then crouched, she threw a dagger at a third post. She stood back up and looked at her own sickle. It had been a long time since she discarded the tool, she used to defend herself long ago, but at her request they procured a new one for her.

After her first battle in the celebration after, many jokingly questioned how she managed to be so proficient at combat at such a short time. She questioned it as well, but Grisham responded with: ‘Maybe it’s genes, or maybe it’s natural talent. Let’s just be glad that she’s one of us now.’ She smiled at that thought, but then she quickly turned around and pointed her weapon when she heard a sound behind her. “Um…” He saw a boy behind her, wearing their garb and their armor although it looked slightly too big for him. “Oh, the new recruit.” Kieron responded. “I didn’t think there would be anyone in the training grounds, I thought you went with Grisham and the others to the city.” The boy mused.

Kieron walked forward to retrieve her dagger from the wooden training post. “That’s a strange weapon you’re using, I don’t see anyone else using it.” He shyly called attention to her sickle. Kieron turned around and inspected her weapon. “I guess I just took to it.” She replied. She noticed him shyly holding a short sword in his hands. “Did you want to train too?” She asked. “Yes. I heard about you being immediately good in fighting, but I didn’t really have a chance to talk to you, and I’ve been trying to train by myself.” “Your name, kid?” Kieron asked. “Ran.” “Uh… Ran, aren’t you a little too young to be part of this?” “Grisham told me you were young too when you first joined.” “Fair point.” She sighed before walking up to him.

He had a shorter stature than her, a light blonde hair in color and had a nervous expression. “Raise your sword.” He raised his sword nervously, his weary eyes and anxious look reminding her of her old self. “Hold it high, wield it with both hands. Steady your posture, part your feet.” ‘I have no idea what I’m saying.’ Kieron was simply imparting information from the little she remembered from Rennon training her as well as what she felt was best when fighting herself.

“Riders, riders! Knight riders, they’re coming here!” Somebody from the camp called out, Kieron and Ran quickly turned around and ran back. “Attention mercenaries!” A rider from the knights of Lodeleth led a large group of horsemen and rode up to front of the camp. A large man in armor was in the front, he called out for their leader. “Yes?” Kieron asked, walking up to the front of the crowd of them. They stood confused and unsure, some of the mercenaries were only beginning to get out of their tents, some of them readied their weapons and armor, and some were crowding in front trying to ascertain their situation.

“We are looking for the leader of this camp, this area is now under the jurisdiction of the kingdom’s knights for it will be an upcoming battleground, all civilians are advised to leave immediately.” The leader said to Kieron. “Our leader isn’t here, he’s away for some important tasks, he’ll be back shortly after.” She answered. “That is troubling, since you are speaking for the camp, it appears that you can be referred to as a representative. Our business is very urgent, and we kindly request you to vacate this region immediately and all useful supplies shall be sequestered by the knights.” Said the mustached man with a smile. “His words are hurting my head.” Ran quietly said to himself.

“So, you’re expecting us to leave our valuables, our possessions, leave here and just give them all to you people?” Kieron answered defiantly. “Gahaha!” The man laughed heartily. “Not afraid of us, eh.” He added. “If there’s going to be an upcoming battle we can fight. We’re experienced in fighting; we’ve even accepted bounties to capture captains in the opposing army.” Said Kieron. “Never seen a young girl like you talk big like that.” One of the horsemen taunted her. “Stand down little miss. These contributions would be a great service to the kingdom, you should be honored.” Said another. Two knights on foot approached and walked forward, Kieron gritted her teeth and drew her sickle in response. The other young mercenaries in the camp suddenly became wary, and few drew their weapons as well.

“Captain, we’ve spotted them, they’re approaching this position!” Called out by a scout running to the small army of men. “Hmph.” Said the knights’ captain. “Looks like you’ll have a chance to prove your claims.” He continued, before riding off with the other knights. “Archers set up at this ridge, prepare to fire at the incoming enemy force.” He ordered to a group of archers who walked to a small ridge overlooking the grassy valley. The riders rode to the top of a slope overlooking the grass fields, and there were a line of them and Siegmund was preparing to lead them to a charge.

“Is the enemy army really going to attack here?” slightly panicked Kieron asked to one of the knights. “We’ve cornered and redirected them here, their dwindling forces are going to be ashes when the fire knights of Lodeleth are done with them.” One of the knights optimistically stated. Kieron grimaced and then looked upon the others. “Prepare to take arms, wield your weapons and armor and we’ll prepare to defend the camp!” She ordered. “Wouldn’t it be better for us to retreat and let the kingdom’s soldiers deal with them?” Asked Ran.

Kieron closed her eyes and despaired at the fact that the most important ones of the group were absent, and then thought deeply about what action they would take. There was a certainty to Grisham’s actions, mostly because he was certain due to his visions. His next course of movement would be moved by an analysis and remembrance of these visions, so guessing what his next action would be without them would be impossible in her shoes. “Wait. The papers.” She said loudly. “Grisham’s papers?” Asked Ran. “Hey, try to see what the other kingdom’s soldiers look like.” Kieron called Lyden.

She then rushed to Grisham’s tent, trying to avoid the others that were clamoring and running around the camp. She quickly raised the flap in its entrance and began shuffling amidst the papers trying to remember the particular scene of the riders and Grisham against the soldiers. She grabbed and scanned illustration after illustration, trying to ignore the unnecessary ones and focus on the one she needed to see. Finally, she saw it, a number of ambiguous riders led by Grisham circling a group of heavily armored warriors wearing colors differing from those in the flame knights. Ran and another went to the same ridge where the archers were positioned and took a look at the soon-to-be battlefield.

On the horizon, a small group of men wearing large and heavy armored plates, covered in brown cloth wrappings. They were few in number, but large in threatening stature. “Is that it, there’s only a few of them left…” Ran remarked, squinting as he gazed at the opposing force. The other “Don’t underestimate them kid, we’ve cornered and driven them towards here, even though there’s just few of them, they’re dangerous.” One of the archers remarked. “Archers, alight!” Siegmund ordered. Their arrows were coated in a special resin, in which in one gentle placement of their hands near the arrowheads were enough to spark them aflame.

Lyden stood tall, his lanky form could see farther and higher than Ran. He stared at the group of enemy soldiers, there was one among them that was not wearing heavy armor. A man in robes or rags was all he could make out. As he tried to look closer, he could feel a sudden piercing glare from that direction, like he was being stared at directly in the eyes from that direction. “Whoa.” He said to himself as he stepped back in caution. “Draw!” Siegmund raised his hand as the archers drew their bows. “Fire!” He waved his hand forward and the archers let their arrows loose, flying across the air towards the small group of men. They raised their heavy long shields and blocked the volley, a few struck their clothes and started sparks of fire, but they quickly grasped it with their gauntlets to put it out.

“Charge!” Siegmund yelled out as he led the horseback riders, they barreled down the hill, most of them wielding spears which had been set aflame and Siegmund raising his axe high, glowing brightly like a beacon of war. A short distance away, in the dirt road leading up to the camp, Grisham’s rickety carriage rattled as it traveled.

“I know we’re scrimping for money, but couldn’t we use a little of our funds to at least make repairs for this thing.” Said Rennon as he looked back at Grisham. He had control of the reins and as he chatted and glanced back, he noticed that Grisham was looking outside and had not been paying attention to anything else for a while, he looked alert and wary. “Is something wrong? You’ve been like that the whole trip back.” Said Isha, concerned. “No, it’s nothing.” Said Grisham, still looking outside. She was still concerned but did not want to press any further. “Guys, do you hear that back there?” Said Rennon, calling out to the other two as he focused towards distant sounds.

As Rennon whipped the reins to the horse, Grisham leaned forward and towards the outside to observe the camp they were ever drawing near. “It looks like the camp’s abuzz. And are those… Riders from the kingdom?” Said Isha. “This old thing will crumble if we go any faster, and it looks like something big is happening.” Rennon said. Grisham paused for a few seconds, and then leapt across to the back of the horse, jumping past Rennon.

“Untether it, now!” Said Grisham, recognizing the situation from a vision. “Uh…” Rennon hesitated for a moment and then let loose of the tethers that tied the horse to the carriage, leaving him and Isha behind while Grisham swiftly rode the horse forward. “The carriage, the goods!” Said Rennon. “Stay here and watch it, I’ll catch up with him and the camp.” Isha responded. With that, she swiftly leapt from the still-moving carriage and ran after Grisham.

The carriage’s wheels were grinding to a halt, and its front struck the road and splintered apart and stopped partially ruined. Grisham’s horse galloped swiftly until he gained sight of the camp. Siegmund and his riders galloped downwards towards the men who had their shields and weapons ready. A man in robes amidst the armored warriors raised his hands, and then a blindingly bright blue glow of light shone between his arms. “Incoming! Disperse!” Siegmund yelled as he noticed the event. Suddenly as the riders spread out and scattered, a blast erupted from the man’s hands, he formed his hands and fingers like a triangle surrounding the light. The blast struck the field, but the ensuing shockwave knocked a handful of knights off their horses.

The riders spread around, and dispersed to avoid clumping together, Siegmund issued another loud order. “Archers! Strike the magician down!” His voice boomed throughout the entire valley. The archers set their arrows aflame and drew their bows, but before they could shoot, the bright blue light glowed once again.

“Get down!” Lyden called out to Kieron and Ran, but only a moment later, a bright blue projectile shot towards them in blinding speed. Kieron froze, and only closed her eyes in anticipation and fear. The blast struck the earth and sent out a shockwave that knocked down the squad of archers. As a cloud of sand dust covered the air, coughing could be heard amongst the smokescreen. “Is… Everyone… Alright?” Asked Lyden, having jumped out of the way of the blast. Kieron slowly opened her eyes, her hands wrapped around herself as fear gripped her, the last thing she saw was the blue glow of energy right before her eyes.

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The sound of the ground burning, being scorched by the blast could be heard behind her. She slowly turned around and asked: “Ran?” The smell of searing flesh. “Kie- ron?” He asked, as Kieron stood frozen in place, a few grains of sand settled at her feet. Below, a ball of flame burst from Siegmund’s hand and he threw it at the group of enemy soldiers. “Hah!” He cried as he struck one of the armored warriors, breaking through their shield.

Grisham rode from the top of the valley swiftly and raised his sword. “Riders! Follow me!” “Who?” The other knights and riders wondered. The robed man readied his attack once more, but was interrupted by a blast to the torso by Grisham, who fired before the other armored warriors could react. “Gahaha! Follow that man!” Siegmund heartily yelled. Siegmund leading, the other riders followed and trailed behind Grisham, who let out another blast of blue energy. “His attack, it’s just like theirs!” A rider said to Siegmund. “Hmm…” He remarked in response.

Grisham’s attack broke through one of the heavy shields that one of them carried, and then he rode up to the group and swiftly landed a strike with his sword, laying one of them low. Siegmund followed, and brandishing his mighty flaming axe, he swung at the disoriented and beaten down soldiers, struck one of them and the rest of his knights followed, going to the side, and striking them down with their spears, or running them down with the trampling of their horses.

Siegmund looked back, he saw that the knights had struck down every one of their foes. Grisham rode back to the remains of the foreign soldiers when he noticed something. The robed old man was muttering something, despite having acquired a fatal injury by a blast to the torso. Curious, Grisham leaned in to hear what he was saying, and the man suddenly grabbed onto him, and whispered: “The will of Fate is done, your fate is sealed.” Startled, Grisham pushed him back and the man fell back to the ground limp and bereft of life.

The other knights gathered around him and started cheering, raising their fists to the air to celebrate, Siegmund rode up to him to congratulate him. “You must be the Grisham that they’ve all been talking about. Without your help young man, our victory might not have been so easy.” “Hmph. You might not even had a victory at all.” He remarked, cockily. “Gahaha! I like your spirit!” Siegmund answered.

Up above from the valley, Kieron knelt and looked down at the knights and riders celebrating. Behind her, a few knights were helping up the slightly injured group of archers, and some of the mercenaries in her camp pulled Ran’s body onto a wooden cot. Lyden shook his head and covered it over with a sheet of cloth, and Isha was just in time to arrive and see what had happened. Kieron then only stared at the ground, dirt, and sand at her feet.

Later, there was a celebration in the camp, mostly Grisham and the knights of Lodeleth. “Thanks to you, not one of our soldiers’ lives were spared!” Siegmund handed a drink to Grisham who gladly accepted. This was in contrast with the ones that were native to the camp, as they glumly watched their leader make merry with the knights. Kieron gritted her teeth and was about to run forward to confront Grisham and the knights, but Isha stopped her. “Don’t.” She said.

As Siegmund stepped away from Grisham, one of his knights approached him. “Are you going to enlist the mercenaries’ help?” He asked. “Yes, as you could see he possessed some of the same powers as the enemy but does not appear to be allied to them.” Siegmund whispered back. “If you suspect him to be in league with the enemy why not capture him?” The knight asked. “It’s better to have control over him as he thinks he is allied with us, there may still be yet abilities he possesses unknown to us.” Siegmund responded.

“Like what?” “There are hearsay and rumors that he possesses a great amount of foresight, and that the foreigners of Resha have the ability to tell accurate fortunes, the reason why they got ahead of us in almost every battle.” Siegmund remarked. “Do you believe them?” The knight asked. “There are many powers that exist in this world. Securing our place is the biggest struggle that our kingdom faces.” Siegmund looked back at Grisham who appeared to be staring right at them for a moment. “Hmph.” Siegmund remarked.

After the festivities and an agreement made with the knights, Grisham walked back to the others who were quietly maintaining the camp’s operations and silently watching him all day towards the night. As the knights all left, Kieron angrily approached Grisham and Isha suddenly cut her off and confronted him herself. “Did you know?” She said with a quiet tone, but full of fury. “Yes.” He responded seriously but in a quiet tone. “You burned one of your papers last night.” Said Rennon. “Did that show today’s events?” He asked. “Yes.” Grisham answered.

“Why?” Isha asked. “It’s fate. Everything I saw of today, in the streets, and the people, they all acted accordingly, even I did so unwittingly.” Grisham responded. “Ran died because of it.” Said Rennon, even though it was not showing on his face, he clenched his fists tightly. All the others watched on wordlessly. “The knights would have arrived, the foreign soldiers would have come, it is fate, and nothing changes.” Grisham responded serious, still holding steadfast to his notions. “If you were here, this wouldn’t have happened. If you haven’t left us alone, it wouldn’t have happened.” Said Kieron.

“Nothing can go against the moving wheel of fate. I saved time by going and getting the contract and bounty for the foreign soldiers, now we aren’t at risk anymore because of the funds we’ve gotten, if I was here I would have simply wasted time. One of us dying? A risk all of you knew, an inevitability accepted for some, if you aren’t prepared to pay the price, leave.” He responded. Grisham then turned around and calmly walked back to his tent. “You!” Isha yelled and took a step forward but held herself back.

“I knew you wouldn’t be able to-“ As Grisham turned around to comment on Isha’s refusal of anger, his face met Kieron’s fist who was overwhelmed with rage. Rennon stepped in instinctively, holding a sword to her throat. Rennon then gasped in surprise and put his weapon down, staring at it concerned and in disbelief. Grisham stared straight back at them unmoved, and then spat out a tooth. He turned around and continued until he reached his tent. As he disappeared back into his tent and into his visions, a single teardrop struck and lightly soaked the cloth mat below him.

(Second Part: Felkin)

Felkin sat in a chair near a sort of event occurring in a city, with his sword sheathed and attached to his waist, and the moon sickle at his hip, his clothes were patched up with wraps of white cloth which were indistinguishable to the bandages wrapped around him. He was still wearing the clothes given to him by the desert-dwellers but he had on a leather cuirass he had gotten after his arrival out of the desert world.

This was a much nicer part of Lodeleth, cleaner surroundings and richer folk could be seen, although those in poor fortune were still aplenty. A minstrel was playing a wooden guitar on a platform near tables were people sat and watched, some of whom ate food there as well. A woman walked to Felkin's table and placed a plate of food, a piece of cooked fowl along with pieces of greenery. He gave her a few silver coins, and she bowed, and he bowed and smiled in kind.

Felkin knew he would be only staying there momentarily, nevertheless he enjoyed the gleeful shouts of the crowd, breathed the clean city air, and enjoyed the peaceful view. These recent days, it was a cycle of mystery, combat, and hardship, he was aching for a moment of comfort. He dwelled on Nox and Solis' purpose, to have preserved life amongst those dwindling conditions, like watering a single wilting flower in a cold and barren snowfield. He remembered when he cut down the tiny sapling, he felt how it's life ebbed in his fingertips. He was thinking of if it was what they had felt. He felt a calmness and contentment as he watched the preoccupied passers-by and breathed comfortably as he looked upon a tall tree, its luscious green leaves waving in the wind.

He knew that he would be distraught if it all burned away, and if the streets were empty and full of death, but could not ascertain the reason as to why. He used a knife and fork provided to tear open the flesh of his meal and ate a piece be sliced off from it. This too, was a being whose life was cut short, but as he ate, he recognized it as a means of sustaining another's survival. He sighed at the fact that some lives would indeed be sacrificed for another, but his chest tightened at the application of this idea for the deaths of many in the escape from the desert world. A few looked at him when he sighed, he looked like a hired arm, or a mercenary.

Few passed by in this region of the kingdom, though the hot sun and the preoccupation to their own pressing business was enough to not attract too much attention to himself. "So, why the holdup here? Didn't you say you had friends to save, to 'unshackle'?" A voice from behind suddenly interrupted his peace, but as he swiftly turned around, he found no one standing behind him. His temple and his eyes began to tingle, as he felt a small hand tenderly place itself on his shoulder. He was motionless, maybe due to fear or a power he could not overcome.

"I was having a short rest." He answered back, having travelled from the forest town towards the capital without having much rest. "What is it you mean; you have no need of my strength any longer? How else would you have travelled here as quickly as you did, and braved these last encounters?" He felt the voice of the girl in bandages, like a cold chill. Although she was unseen, he could easily visualize her appearance. Short white dress, arms and legs covered in bandage, even her eyes were covered, although her hair and mouth were not, he could see a sinister smile forming. He unsheathed his sword and looked down at it. "I had this." He felt as if it was a part of him, losing it was akin to losing a limb or an organ.

"A fine tool. But it won't be enough, you need the strength of darkness to overcome the odds." "I don't need it. If I'm going to used it... I'll just be shackled by the hands of some god." He responded. "But the gods are the masters of creation, existence is of their whims, why shouldn't they interfere or take control of what it is they created?" She posed. He could not think of an ample reason. "You should be thanking me, for granting you strength, and a second life." She added. He agreed with her on the statement of the boons granted by her and the power of the abyss, but to him it felt like a snare, like tight manacles clasping onto him. "I'll find a way." He replied. "Hmm." She answered gleefully, before her presence disappeared and he breathed normally again, it was as if something was previously crushing his chest.

Felkin exhaled deeply and looked back at his food. He gently picked up the meaty fowl leg, tore off and chewed meat and skin off the bone. It felt more natural to him. He picked up the vegetables and shoved them into his mouth one by one. He tried to remember as far back as he could but could only recall his time in the ruins in the grove of trees. And the nightmares of his past, with the dark creatures, and the bandaged girl. He clenched his fist and stood up to leave, with his sword sheathed back on his hip.

The attendant walked and saw that he was gone, an empty plate left on the table. She retrieved it but found a handful of silver beneath it, she looked around for Felkin but he had disappeared. He jogged on the busy streets, although the crowds of people on the streets were moving at a slow pace and were blocking the roads. The midday hour led to the greatest influx of travelers and pedestrians flocking the streets. As he ran he stopped just short behind a large cart filled with goods not to bump into it as it rolled across the road, he ran to the side of it and halted behind a group of women who were chatting about.

Every direction he shifted and walked to, he could not get much distance in due to the people filling the streets and going multiple paths and directions. He covered his eyes due to the shining noon sun, he retreated into the shadow of an alleyway. It was only half a day’s time after he had switched worlds into the barren desert land. He was surprised by the time’s passage slowing in between worlds so much, and only hours had passed in this one. As he leaned against the partially clean wall of the city’s alley, he looked upon a tiny beetle scurrying on the floor beneath him. He vaguely remembered hearing somewhere that insects lived a much shorter life than humans did, and any that he saw was well its way into life.

A fleeting moment for one might be a significant amount for a creature such as that, and he remembered that he had gone through so much and lives were lost in the short time that these people lived in. He was interrupted in his immersion in his own thoughts by a dirty child in rags with his hand out. “Sir, do you have any… money?” He looked down at the boy. ‘So… It’s like this everywhere.’ He retrieved a small pouch from his pocket and picked a few coins out and handed it over to the boy’s open palm. He put it back into his back pocket and then the boy bowed politely and swiftly ran off. He sensed something quickly behind him, and as he turned around and saw another smaller child run off into the crowd carrying his pouch of coins.

Felkin quickly followed him into the alleyway across the road and as he grew nearer, he hid and crouched down next to a wall. He saw the child who begged from him as well as the one who stole from him gathered with a few other kids, opening the pouch, and happily counting each coin. Then he saw a larger, older child take it for himself, and hand only one coin to each of them. He stood up and almost walked in to intervene when he took notice of the various sounds in the environment. Conversations, arguments, joy, conflicts, and all sorts of business, it was now apparent that this was a daily occurrence.

He looked over the horizon and focused his eyes, his irises turned crimson for a brief moment, and the landscape grew vague and dark in his vision, and countless small dots of lights stretching from this city to far into the capital. He focused harder and saw a dark red residue far in the distance, he recognized it as being similar to the dark corruption that he felt within himself although he was unsure if it was Metas. He was trying to focus further, the girl’s voice interrupted him once again. “Without using your power, you can’t even determine where you’re going to go.” “Hmph. Go away.” Felkin responded.

As he was trying to sense and focus on the distant presence, he sensed two strong presences nearby him. He quickly turned around and saw two crimson flares, he closed and rubbed his eyes and rushed forward further into the alley. “What are those things?” “Monsters?” “No!” Felkin saw that there were two large werewolves emerging from the shadows in the alley. He sent out his sword and swiped, slashing apart one of them by the throat and cutting it straight through. “Urk!” He clutched his head, his sudden physical exertion combined with his recent usage of his eyes left him with recoil in the form of a headache.

‘She must’ve!’ Before he could form words more coherently, the other one lunged at him, its jaws opened wide and clamped down swiftly, trying to chomp down on his head. He used his sword to block the wolf’s bite, wedging it between the creature’s teeth as it bit down. “Go!” He yelled out to the children.

They stood afraid and unsure, frozen in fear and not budging from their spots even as Felkin yelled towards them. The beast then swiped at Felkin with both of its claws, he caught one of them with his left hand, but with his right holding the sword, he could not dodge or block the werewolf’s slash. His eyes flashed with red light for a split second, stunning the creature for just a moment so that he could shove his sword upwards, stabbing it from the roof of its mouth and piercing through above its head. Its left claw moved even as it died, swiping towards Felkin. He pulled his sword backwards, and intercepted the attack, cutting off the beast’s claw.

He looked back at the group of street children, stunned, and bewildered at the fantastical sight they just witnessed. “Don’t tell anyone about what you’ve seen here.” He gnashed his teeth and had a fierce, crazed look. “Understand?” He asked. The children nodded nervously and stumbled over themselves running away. He breathed and panted tiredly, trying to support himself on his sword. “What good is my strength, if I’m dying over it, and I’ll grow so much weaker if I continue to use it.” He said to himself. “Better to have great strength when you need it and be weak if you don’t, rather to be in a state where you cannot access such strength at all.” The girl whispered in his ear once again.

“Hmph!” He swiftly moved his left hand and grasped onto hers. “So, you are here after all, not just in my head.” Felkin turned his head towards behind him, and saw the girl standing behind him, surrounded or emerging from a fog of darkness. “Stop sending those things after me.” She was undaunted, she had a wide grin as she struggled with Felkin’s grasping her arm. “Those things are the fuel for the abyss that has taken root inside of you.” “The thing that’s killing me and making me weaker? No thanks.” He said angrily. “You are growing weaker as you deny your own body and your fate. If you accept it fully and let it grow, you will know nothing but strength.” He glared at her fiercely. “Fine. I won’t do it anymore, more’s the pity.” She said joyfully.

Felkin then let go of her arm and then she continued with: “I wanted to let you know that I sent out a third one to ambush you.” He quickly turned around but could not see her behind him anymore, then he heard the shuffling and snarling of the beast. He ran around the corner to confront the creature and readied his sword. He whipped the blade upwards, slashing the werewolf on its chest and driving it backwards. After it was struck back, it began to fall backwards but steadied itself with its hind legs. It lunged towards Felkin again despite its wound. He huffed and puffed before charging forward once more, but he heard another movement, one coming from the rooftops behind him, like something was running speedily towards their location.

A swift shard of rock flew through the air and struck the beast in the head, knocking it down. Felkin ran forward and brought down his sword onto the creature’s torso, and dragged it forward up through its throat and cutting through the werewolf’s head. The figure jumped down behind him, and he tiredly turned around and instinctively flashed his eyes crimson red at them but subsequently covered both of his eyes with his hands. “Are you injured? It appears that you have dispatched of the threat so if you have any wounds, we should take you to a healer or a doctor.” She walked forward to him and tried to touch his hands which were covering his face. “Were you slashed in the face?” “Get back!” He exclaimed, waving her away with one of his hands and exposing his right eye, still glowing red.

“I… Did not mean to offend!” She remarked, surprised. He covered it back up with his hand and looked downwards. Then he removed his hands from his face and sighed drained. “Finally, its gone.” He rubbed his eyes as he looked back at her. “Wait, you weren’t affected by it?” “By what exactly? Your eye appeared to be red in color, it could be a wound or a ocular disease.” Felkin jumped backwards, cautious. He felt a strange presence from her, an unusual demeanor. He looked at her cautiously. Now that his vision cleared, he could see her more clearly. She was wearing clothing in maroon color, a blouse, and pants, with a long sleeved white inner shirt.

“What are you?” He asked as he readied himself and raised his sword. He then put his left hand to his temple in pain and blinked rapidly. He could see the sparks of light of the people in the city although faintly. It appears that his abilities have grown since he killed and absorbed the abyss from the two beasts. ‘So, this is what she meant, huh. Anyway…’ He focused amidst the pain, but he could see not an inkling of that same light inside of her. “Please put your weapon away, you are clearly in some sort of distress.” She raised her palm towards him, and slowly stepped forward. She was wearing brown leather gloves and tall boots.

Felkin studied her face and her expressions carefully, she had smooth, pale skin and had a concerned expression. He lowered his sword and sheathed it. “If you’re not an enemy, then help me with these things.” He pointed down towards the carcasses of the beasts, slightly exuding black smoke. “What are these creatures? I’ve never encountered fauna like these before.” She stated, as Felkin used his sword to slice open the ”skin” of the werewolf. He pulled and gathered the loose skin to attached to the beast’s fur. She walked towards another one and dragged to where Felkin was standing. She quickly and forcefully tore of its hide with one single motion, surprising him. “Strange, they have no blood, nor any nerves or muscles.” “Like... it's not even alive.” Felkin finished her sentence.

He dragged the next one in and stabbed his sword into it, and ripped off its hide, rolled it up and slung it on his shoulder. “How will we dispose of these creatures?” She asked. “They dissolve after you leave them for a while.” He answered. “Very strange…” She was intrigued and confused of the properties of the beasts. As Felkin glanced at her, he saw a feature of hers that contributed to his wariness of her. She had medium length straight hair, with bangs covering her forehead, it was of a muted maroon color but below it was her eyes, bright yellow irises that slightly unnerved Felkin.

“Any reason why we need the hides of these creatures particularly?” “It’s for later if we meet someone that can use them. And I guess, it’s for old times sake.” He answered as he slung the twisted-up pieces of hide onto his shoulder. “I’m going now. Best not to tell anyone about these things, they’re nobody’s problem when they fizzle out.” Said Felkin, dusting himself off before walking further into the alleyways. “Where are you going?” She asked. Felkin simply pointed upwards and forwards, towards the castle of the kingdom’s capital.

As he proceeded, she walked up behind him and tied the wraps of the wolf’s hide around his arm. “It’s easier to carry like this.” She said. He shrugged her off and began to continue forward, he tied the hides himself, using his teeth to tighten the knot. “I can do it myself.” She followed him still, a smile on her face. “Still following me?” He asked. “Going to the same place. I’ve been followed by strange circumstances my whole life, now with this occurrence it seems like the right path to take.” She continued.

Felkin glanced at her briefly, and then continued to walk forward. Some moss was growing on the light painted walls of the alleyway, it was still cleaner than the normal streets of the rundown village where Yuria was from, the hot sun cast rays on the busy people in the streets, but the in-between of the walls had shadows that made the heat tolerable. Those without homes thought so as well, as some sat in the shade, drank and gambled on small wooden tables along the path. Felkin noticed their different styles of clothing, some wore hats, different types of shirts, they appeared to be hailing from different cities or lands but ended up there all the same.

“Your question earlier, about what am I… You appeared to perceive something different.” “I’m sorry, I was just threatened and confused earlier, I didn’t mean it.” He paused but continued speaking. “Do you… have an answer to the question?” He asked, shyly. “Well now… I could ask the same question to you, and about what happened earlier.” She answered. ‘What… am I.’ “I’m cursed. Being steered in directions by unseen things. But… Maybe, we all are, most of us just don’t know it. All these powers and beasts I’ve encountered seem like they aren’t the usual for everyone else. I… haven’t experienced long what their usual was.” Felkin then went silent, he didn’t glance back to see her expression, but only continued to march forward.

The girl touched her face and frowned. 'He must've noticed right away.' "Usual, normal. I too, am a stranger to it." She remarked. "Hmph. I suppose we're just strangers, walking the same path, mouthing off to each other." Said Felkin, walking briskly, forward gaze towards the capital beyond. She followed his speed and they swiftly walked forward through both the populous and isolate regions of the alleyways. "Iris." She said. "Hmm?" Felkin's single minded sojourn was briefly interrupted. "My name. So we aren't strangers anymore." She said. Felkin turned towards her, and then back forward and continued walking. "Felkin." He said, it was one of the only things he could remember before embarking on his present journey. "We're not strangers anymore." She said slightly cheerily.

They continued on silently until they reached a crossroads in the paths. Looking confused, Felkin picked a direction but wound up back at the main road. "Hmm..." He remarked to himself. He looked at the thick crowd of people, then worriedly glanced at the afternoon orange sun. "Trying to catch something at the capital?" "Well, I'd like to get there as soon as possible." He responded to Iris' inquiry. "Maybe there's a faster way. Out of the alleys and the roads." She said. Felkin turned towards her. "If, you're okay with being a little wet." Iris remarked. Felkin had a curious expression on his face.

She led him across the busy road and behind the buildings, to a wooden fence, overlooking a shallow river down below. "I noticed it earlier, before I heard the sounds of the beasts that attacked you." She held a portion of the fence, and then pulled it off effortlessly. Felkin briefly glanced behind them, but the sounds of the town masked the brief action. She slipped through the gap, and Felkin followed, they slid down a small incline until they were at the bank of the river. Felkin was looking at her in silent awe. "I bet you're wondering how I did that." She cheekily remarked. "I have my fair share of strengths." Felkin answered as he unsheathed his sword, lengthened it upwards and retracted it back. She looked at it slightly amazed, but then noticed something. She walked to him briskly and gestured towards it.

Felkin handed it to her freely, at ease. "This symbol, I didn't notice it earlier, but it's familiar." She pointed towards an engraving in the blade's hilt. Two dragons formed and intertwined into a lemniscate shape, they twisted around each other, their heads are near both of the shape’s edges, the symbol was complete and closed by them biting each other’s tails. "Huh." She remarked. "It's different." She crouched down, the gentle tide of the river lapping against her boots. She used her right hand to pull down the clothes on her back just enough to expose her right shoulder. Felkin saw a small symbol seemingly engraved onto her pale skin. A miniscule black metallic symbol, of a humanoid figure with wings clutching and crouching over an orb. He then walked closer to inspect it, his hand was inches away from her as he tried to trace his finger on it. “Stop. Don’t touch me.” She said sternly,

Felkin’s hand lowered as she stood back up and let go of her shirt. They then both looked upwards, past the long and winding river and the woods beside them, and towards the imposing stone castle of the capital. “So… Do you know what this is?” He asked as he held his sword with his hand. “It’s a relic.” She responded. “Relic?” He felt as though he had heard that term from somewhere before. “It’s a powerful enchanted item, but different from any normal magical item because of the properties of the material itself.” “You mean… The metal is magic?” Felkin asked. “I believe so. There’s a special seal that marks the relics themselves.” He looked down on the mark on the hilt.

“So that means…” He continued but stopped himself. “Well… we better get going, it’s a straight path to the capital following this river.” She said as she started walking forward beside the river. “Yeah… Hmph.” He started walking but held one hand to his temple. “Your illness?” She asked. “It’s a curse, an energy building up inside of me, trying to take hold. Don’t know how to remove it.” He responded. “Expelling energy, I may have some idea on how.” Iris responded and stopped walking. ‘Oh?’ The girl from the abyss remarked, watching from a far distance away.

Iris took off one of her gloves, revealing a doll-like jointed inhuman hand, appeared to be made from solid material but painted to appear like pale skin. “!” Felkin was surprised briefly and forgot his headache, but it strangely was commonplace among the strange occurrences he had experienced. She held her hand up and tapped her fingers against her thumb creating a clacking noise. Faint orange light and small flames began to emanate from between and within her fingertips. “Fire magic? Like the ones the knights use?” Felkin asked. “The humans use a method that involves conjuring fire up, producing flames in the air. The flames I create are from myself, from my core, it can be dangerous if I don’t expel them.” A stream of fire erupted from her hand, she pointed it away from them and it sputtered out as it traveled a few feet away.

“I don’t think we work the exact same way… And it’s more like an infection…” He held out his left hand like she did, nonetheless. “So… Feel the energy, where it originates, for me its my core. Feel it moving from wherever it originates, throughout your body, moving to your hand.” She instructed. Felkin closed his eyes, he could feel a sensation, a writhing from his head, crawling and moving from behind his eyes, wincing as it passed down his neck, moving through his shoulder and then onto his arm. He felt it moving underneath his skin, he feared that it would cut him and burst out violently. He focused and felt it surge into his hand and heard a loud crash in the water after exerting himself.

He opened his eyes to see what had occurred, and saw something moving underneath the river’s surface, the pigmentation of the liquid had been changed to a dark reddish color. He quickly drew his sword and ran forward to the water’s surface and pointed it at the thing beneath the surface. Something shot out from the river, he quickly swung in retaliation and sliced at the thing, sending it backwards onto the other side of the small shallow river. He moved closer to it, and saw that he had slashed a black centipede, he was taken aback as to how it was inside of him.

For a few seconds it was motionless and seemed to be dead, he looked to see if it was still living. He extended his sword to poke the creature, but as it was inches from touching it, it leapt up rapidly towards Felkin. His sword was still to the ground as the centipede travelled upwards to his face, but it was interrupted by a stream of flame. The creature fell to the ground aflame, it writhed and turned into cinders in seconds. “Are you alright?” Iris asked, as Felkin lowered his sword. “It worked.” He said plainly. “Now…” He turned to the capital and sheathed his sword, bent his knees, and stretched, preparing to follow the river to the capital. “I’m sure that was only a fraction of the curse that you expelled, aren’t you going to release more?” She asked.

“Firstly, I’ll just transfer the corruption of the abyss if I expel it.” He glanced at the water, a single fish floating belly up to the surface, he squinted in disdain. “Secondly, I still... I still need strength. This strength.” He sprinted and gained a good distance in seconds but stopped in his tracks to turn around. “Can you keep up?” He called out. She put her glove back on, and smirked, she then swiftly ran, avoiding rocks near the river and splashing on the puddles of water on the riverbank.

As Iris observed, it was a straight path from the river to a town near the capital’s castle, they ran like swift gusts of wind and covered ground quickly. The orange sun cast its reflection onto the river water, setting the nearby surroundings in the same color. Animals were startled and moved aside as they ran near the forest, their speed made detection or suspicion from the nearby city difficult, though hiding from a few who hunted or lived in the woods was necessary. After a while, Felkin stopped running and sat under a tree beside the river. He glanced up at the bright sun as he backed away into the shade. He sighed as he cupped a palmful of water from the river and drank.

“Headache?” She asked. “A little tired. It’s hot.” He responded. She sat down beside him near the tree’s roots. “I was wondering… You’re quick to trust a stranger.” Said Iris. “Well, its not like you did anything to be an adversary to me. You helped me, and happen to be following the same course, it would be helpful if I helped you in turn.” He responded. He observed leaves as they flowed through the air after a breeze. Felkin leaned back against the tree’s large trunk. “I’ll fight people who attack me or conflict with me, and you are not of either.” He took out his sword and slowly traced his fingers on it. ‘It’s blunt now…’ Felkin thought.

“Well, if someone were to gain your trust and trick you…” She asked. “This is what this is for.” He raised his sword. “Things aren’t so easy, and sometimes people oppose each other for different reasons, sometimes they want things for you that they think is beneficial and you don’t.” She answered. “Hmm…” Felkin took a deep breath. “Well, you went with me as well, an unknown.” He answered. “Earlier, you sprung to save those children, even with your curse. My purpose was to protect others, I’ve seen many who were given the chance to do so but did not. I might be a hypocrite in calling you naïve, as I can describe myself like that as well.” She stated.

Felkin stood up and gazed at the horizon. “Let’s go, it’s getting late.” He could not say that he was only cleaning up his own mess when he saved them. “Why are you going to the capital?” She asked. “To see someone.” Said Felkin. “Family?” “No.” “A friend then?” “…” He was silent for a moment. “Maybe.” The hold of the abyss, Metas, Ellyn and Yuria. Links he was determined to follow, and some that he only had. “You?” He asked in return.

“Looking for my origin, and there might be a new purpose bestowed upon me.” “Hmm?” “I was quite surprised when a strange horseman appeared from thin air. In a flash of flame, he appeared wearing armor resembling a dragon’s likeness, in my studies I have not witnessed armors of such kinds, maybe it belonged to a kingdom I have not yet seen? And then he announced that I am an heir of flame, a strange term but I believe it entailed great importance to him.” Felkin slowly turned his head to look at her, as she spoke amusedly. Iris covered her mouth with her hands. “Oh. Did I say too much again?” She exclaimed with wide eyes.