Veritas:

Hours slipped by unnoticed, the beautiful sunset painting the horizon in vibrant hues, yet Veritas remained unable to appreciate the scene.

He felt an intense feeling of not knowing what lay ahead, lost in a flood of uncertainties.

Where would he even go?

What options did he have?

Could he manage on his own?

These questions looped persistently in his thoughts, yet answers remained out of reach. Driven by an urgent need for company, Veritas surrendered his feet, leading him back to the rundown farm, hoping against hope that his father was still holding on. However, beyond that, he didn't know what else he could do.

Alaric:

The prince hastened toward the blacksmith on the outskirts of town. As he knocked on the maple door, its resounding echo startled him, nearly causing him to retreat. However, before he could react, the door swung open. A gruff voice beckoned him inside. Stepping into the room, his eyes scanned the surroundings. Arrayed before him were an array of spears, maces, swords, bows, and daggers, each meticulously displayed on maple-painted wooden holders adorned with golden inscriptions. The blacksmith’s pride in his collection remained undiminished since Alaric’s last visit.

“What brought you here, My Highness?”

Alaric closed the door that he entered from, feeling a cold gust of wind on his back.

“Clayton, assassins…” he began, but his words were promptly interrupted.

"It's been two years. Of course, I heard about the attack. Why don’t I get you some food? You can settle down. I’m sure you’ve been running from them for a while, and then we can have a chat.”

Without waiting for a response, the dark, towering man left the room. Alone once again, Alaric paced within the cramped yet dangerous space, his gaze shifting between the weapons adorning the walls. He mulled over his next move, the skepticism ingrained from his upbringing in politics gnawing at him. Goldacre could only have one master blacksmith, and they had to excel in profit-making. Trusting Clayton wasn’t an option yet.

The door swung open after a few minutes of restless pacing, forcefully pushed by the hulking figure. Clayton placed a simple bowl of porridge on the dining table near the kitchen. Alaric wasted no time, hungrily devouring the food while Clayton observed silently, his gaze steady and inscrutable.

Once finished, Alaric wiped his mouth as Clayton began speaking in a low voice, “Prince, working in the Acres isn't safe for you. But there's a way to survive. If you join the swordsmanship academy, you won't draw attention. Plus, you'll have access to a vast library and you won't be sent to the mines.”

"Mines?"

Clayton put a hand to his forehead. "Aye. It's a mess. His majesty has begun to use the Riders to forcefully recruit people to the mines. You are better staying safe in the prospective army."

Alaric listened, the doubts gnawing at him. Clayton continued, “It's best to avoid Goldacre Academy. The safer option is Shimmeracre Academy. It's not in the heart of the capital, but it offers safety to earn before you move on. Thank Lutra you survived so far, Alaric. You're a wanted criminal now and there's a bounty on your head.”

"Criminal? Bounty?!" Alaric's voice was a mix of shock and disbelief.

Clayton looked at him with a hint of exasperation. Alaric nodded, feeling uneasy. “Then, I should go now. Thanks for the food and hospitality. I don't want to risk putting you in danger.”

Clayton's face lit up with sudden laughter, and the man pounded his large fist on the table. Alaric, puzzled, asked what he was doing.

The blacksmith responded, “My job tonight was to provide you food, protect you tonight, and see you off. It's best if you stay. Otherwise, I can tip off the guards of your visit.”

Alaric jumped in alarm at the threat. “I’m not being put into jail again, Clay. I’m leaving either with or without your permission.”

The blacksmith narrowed his eyes. “Carefully think about your next words, prince.”

Alaric threw up his arms in exasperation. “I can't imagine my father brewing corruption. I couldn't imagine you trying to betray me either. But that's all over now. I’m leaving before anything else happens. Thank you again for the information.”

Alaric turned around and started briskly walking out the door to the smithy. Before he could get his other foot out of the door, however, he heard the deep voice once again. “I was paid more to give you food than the bounty’s worth. I have already left clothes and some flimsy swords and daggers outside. The ones you like. Take them. Go to the sword school here in Goldacre. No one will expect you to be right under their noses, and you look unrecognizable anyway.” He whispered something under his breath. "And I'll tell the guards that I wasn't able to keep the best dueler of our times in my unwelcoming smithy."

Alaric’s confusion deepened. Who had paid for his release? But before he could turn back to ask more questions, the tall man stood up and closed the door in his face. The cold wind streaked across Alaric’s face, and he found himself outside again, at least now fed and well-dressed. He had progressed, albeit a little, and now he knew where to go next.

However, his distrust of Clayton lingered, and he resolved to head to the Shimmeracre Academy instead. He would never be expected to stay there. First, though, he would leave quick and lie low for a while.

Katherine:

With a battle cry on her lips, Katherine lunged forward, her polearm slicing through the air. The monsters charged at her with recklessness and she danced through their onslaught, parrying their attacks with every single time with skill.

But as the fight wore on for a few hours, she noticed something unsettling. Each time she struck down a monster and it dissolved into mist, it seemed to only to reappear moments later, stronger and more ferocious than before. It seemed like there was no end to the attacks, and she would never get out of the chamber alive. However, the princess pushed away her fears and moved on.

The monsters continued to grow in strength and number, but she refused to falter.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. She had been scarred countless times, but her spirit remained unyielding. The princess fought with a fire in her eyes, a relentless determination to conquer the seemingly insurmountable challenge before her.

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As the monsters reached their peak of power, their assaults became too much for her to bear. Her movements slowed, her strikes grew weaker, and her breath came in ragged gasps. Yet, she fought on, refusing to give in to the overwhelming odds.

Finally, after enduring countless hours of agony and nearing the brink of surrender, Katherine relinquished her last defenses. The relentless blows of the monstrous adversary rained down upon her, bones cracking and breaking under the unyielding assault. Drained of all energy, she collapsed to the floor, blood seeping from her wounds. Death claimed her.

The world plunged into darkness, yet her consciousness remained intact. The pain of the attacks swiftly faded, leaving behind a disconcerting numbness. Ethereal, she witnessed the world unravel before her once again, finding herself encapsulated within a star-like sphere.

The air shimmered, restoring her connection to her emotions. The bitter sting of defeat flooded her senses, reinvigorating her spirit. With renewed determination, Katherine swore loudly, realizing that she had to press on— the platform beneath her feet felt dangerous.

Venturing deeper into this ethereal realm, the scenery shifted and transformed, unveiling a resplendent celestial palace. Towering spires reached skyward, adorned with swirling constellations and sparkling nebulae. The grand entrance beckoned her forward, its doors parting silently to reveal a vast chamber.

Awestruck, Katherine scanned her surroundings multiple times. She reminded herself that nothing was as it seemed; the pain experienced in the cavern had been a mere illusion. The revelation horrified her, all of the pain she had faced was just an illusion.

Summoning her courage, Katherine pushed open the ornate white doors suspended in the skies.

To her surprise, the chamber was empty. She glanced behind her, half-expecting to find a welcoming presence she had missed.

“There must be someone who lives here, right?” Katherine muttered aloud.

When she turned her gaze back once more, a figure was forming, its enormous eyes and pouting face revealing its existence. Katherine watched in awe as the rest of the child’s body appeared into the surreal dimension from the starry ground upon which she sat, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Katherine quickly closed her agape mouth, aware of her gawking. The child possessed skin that gleamed like the stars, its eyes resembling galaxies that turned and sparkled with the depth of the universe.

Glancing behind it, Katherine noticed a child-sized cape adorned with stars and depictions of light, just like the fairy tales that the maids had told her as a child. But even if the figure was seemingly harmless, the energy emanating from the child suggested otherwise, screaming at Katherine to remember the fact that this innocent being had the power to smite her into oblivion. She held her tongue in check, cautious of her words.

Approaching her, the child spoke. “You interrupted my heroic entrance! You’re no fun.”

After a few moments of silence, Katherine found herself laughing at the absurdity of the situation. With newfound confidence, she asked,

“Did I fail?”

The child glanced upward with its oversized eyes. “No, you dumbo,” it chimed, laughter resonating beautifully from its throat. “You passed. You passed!”

As Katherine looked at the little girl’s face once more, she furrowed her brow, assuming a serious expression, prepared to confront the truth.

“If I passed by dying in that cavern without completing the trial, then this is all a joke,” she asserted.

The child shivered, a smile playing upon her lips. “You could have never won against those deadly monsters.”

Katherine remained unconvinced by the child’s act, sensing that it radiated more power and brilliance than the beasts from before.

The child seemingly responded to her thoughts, “Don’t worry about it." And then it playfully adopted a spooky tone. "We have more work to do here. We must go to the orb of truth.”

"Huh?!"

"Yes!” the child chirped, “We need to visit the seer, Vatis. He’s trapped.” Giggling, she urged Katherine to follow.

Inside another one of the surreal rooms, a ball sat on the ground, its surface dull and unassuming. As soon as the child stepped into the room, the ball flashed a vivid red and began to fly erratically in every direction. The child's eyes suddenly mirrored the ball's color, glowing a fierce crimson. With a swift, almost imperceptible motion, she grabbed it in a single movement. Katherine watched in awe, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and fascination as the ball trembled violently in the child's grasp, almost as if it were alive and pleading for help.

"Is this Vatis?" Katherine asked, her voice tinged with trepidation.

The child giggled, her eyes still glowing red, and tossed the ball lightly into the air, catching it effortlessly. "Yes, this is Vatis," she confirmed, her tone playful yet eerie. Something wasn't adding up.

Katherine trailed behind the bouncing girl, navigating through the seemingly infinite expanse of the palace. Each time she thought she was nearing the end of a room or the entire span of the palace, more rooms materialized around her. The child periodically assured her they were almost there, but there seemed to be no end in sight. Finally, they arrived at a different room.

It boasted green grass and a normal daytime sky. Positioned on a stone pedestal, a glowing amulet was in the center of the expanse. Katherine had to walk a considerable distance to reach it, while the child nearby was throwing the trembling ball onto the ground over and over. As Katherine approached, the child’s expression turned serious and the ball, or orb, fell to the ground, still twitching in various assortments of colors.

The girl gestured for Katherine to place her hand on the amulet as quickly as possible.

As she was reaching for it, out of thin air, a beautiful woman materialized in front of them. The child's eyes rolled in exasperation as she muttered under her breath, but the woman ignored her, her eyes fixed on Katherine.

"You are the hero!" the woman proclaimed, her voice filled with urgency and excitement. "Place your hand on the amulet, and your magical abilities will be revealed. You'll be able to defeat the demons, just like in the movies!" Her eyes sparkled with the fervor of someone who believed in grand tales.

Katherine blinked, her confusion evident. "Mo...vies?" she repeated, the unfamiliar word sounding strange on her tongue.

The child let out a long-suffering sigh. "Ignore her ramblings and just touch the amulet," she insisted, her tone tinged with impatience.

The woman pouted, and Katherine slowly placed her palm on the artifact.

Upon contact, Katherine experienced an intense ringing in her head, a force prodding at her insides, and a surge of the peculiar energy she had sensed within herself before. The sensation was overwhelming, causing her to feel nauseous and immobile. Locked within her mind, she struggled to breathe, gasping for air. The amulet glowed with a bright navy blue light.

The child, too, touched the amulet, and after a while, a frown creased her face. The stars on her cape flickered a demonic red. Suddenly, a feeling of rot coursed itself through Katherine's body, making her senses feel more dull.

As expected, the girl turned to her with a sorrowful smile etched on her face. But Katherine couldn't hear her words for a single moment as a strong voice boomed in her mind.

“My name is the First Seer, Vatis. Do not trust Raven. Seek the Void Spear to find your arcane energy again, or Lutra will collapse.”

The message was clear yet left her bewildered, planting a seed of doubt in her mind. Who was Raven? Wasn't Vatis the ball from before?

The child frowned at her as she returned back to reality. "Hello?"

Katherine apologized, saying she zoned out, her eyes flickering about.

The girl insisted, “You need to hear this,” frown deepening unnaturally. “You don’t have a discipline. You have a Null Psyche.”

Katherine stood there, stunned, her heart skipping a beat. "No... magic?"

Alaric:

Each step sent jolts of pain shooting through Alaric’s foot as thorns pricked into his bare skin. He grimaced, having forgotten to ask Clayton for a pair of shoes before leaving. However, he tolerated the discomfort, knowing that this simple life he had been living for the past few days was his choice.

As a prince, he was one to settle down, but after facing the near-death encounter with the assassins, his perspective shifted drastically.

He no longer wished to stay in succession, following the duties of the crown. He wanted revenge.

Alaric couldn’t remain idle while those monsters continued to torture those like him. To even do so however, there were still matters that he needed to discuss with his father.

Navigating through a few more thorns, Alaric gathered some berries and salvaged his now-semi-torn clothes before departing the quiet forests.

Returning to the familiar road, he gathered his courage and started inquiring the locals about odd jobs, making sure to hide his face under the long hair that had grown during his imprisonment.

Aware that the Lutrian Moon festival, a significant event in Lutra, would commence soon, he also anticipated that the locals would be in higher spirits, providing him with greater earnings.

Most people were surprisingly on edge, something he would have to investigate later.

Alaric leisurely strolled, going from house to house. He only needed to secure one job for the night to ensure his survival. Finally, he arrived at a house on the outskirts of Shimmeracre and knocked on the worn-down door.