The moon is out, shining warmly as small little diamonds freckled the night sky along with it. The wind is blowing softly making the leaves create a crackling sound. The foliage is rustling, and nocturnal birds make screeching noises. The song of the forest echoed around the place.

Breathing heavily, two kids, a boy and a girl, are facing each other while dust particles in the air surrounded them.

Suddenly, the boy balled up his fists as he aimed at the other kid's face with a lurching step.

The girl flexibly moved to the side, evading the boy's attack. Her knuckles found its way towards the boy's stomach, twice.

The boy coughed up a bit, then he tried to punch her again.

Alas, his attack only met with air once again. The girl ran to his back, and he was immediately chopped down to the ground. He curled his body, then the blood on his mouth splattered on the earth, as he continued coughing.

The girl's fingers crawled into his chin, lifting his head a bit. Her hands got stained with his dripping blood.

"Admit defeat." She said, staring at him with a scary deep black eyes.

The boy gritted his teeth, feeling adamant of losing, again. His eyes are bulging red with anger. He is ashamed to be repeatedly pummeled by someone younger than him.

*Clap* *Clap*

A man sitting on a nearby rock suddenly clapped his hands.

"That's enough. You both did good. Olly boy, you still have to get used in fighting so it's okay to lose now against Luci." Torin encouraged him.

"Yes uncle." He said dejectedly. Then he stood up, with difficulty.

The two children has been training for a week now. Tonight, they sparred for three rounds. Although Oleander is five years older than Luciana, he couldn't defeat her. Not even once.

At first, Torin kept on praising Luciana for her good battle instincts and skills. But later, she won again and again. He no longer bothered about complimenting her, the girl is just too anomalous. While Oleander on the other hand kept on losing and he had to motivate him more, so he wouldn't lose his will in fighting.

"Put some ice on your face later when you get home." Torin instructed Oleander.

"Kay.." Oleander frowned while touching his bruised face.

"Let's meet here again tomorrow. We'll do another kind of training." Torin said.

Luciana as always, just kept her silence. Truthfully, she's finding it hard to spar with another kid. Half of her mind keeps on telling her to kill him. The other half says that she no longer have to do that. Her memories kept on reminding her about the past, when she's still inside the cage. She is struggling hard to control herself, and forcibly reins in the bloodlust. Who knows how hard it was for her to keep her hands from dealing a killing blow.

"Luci, buhbye!" Oleander smiled at her while waving his hand. Although he didn't like losing to her, he still wants to become like a good older brother to her. Torin explained to him about Luciana's past, and he now understand her introverted personality. Now, he no longer care even if most of the time, she ignored him. Torin also said, if he showed her kindness and stayed with her longer, they could be good friends in the future.

"Mm." Luciana nodded.

"Brat, let's leave too." Torin said to her.

They walked for an hour before reaching their home. Torin ordered Luciana to take a bath before sleeping. Luciana reluctantly went inside the bathroom while dragging her lazy body.

Soon, the house went silent as the two slept soundly.

The next morning, Torin stood up early then woke up Luciana.

"Girl, wake up." He said as he shakes her shoulder.

Luciana groaned, then rubbed her eyes. She looked at the man whose brows are currently furrowed, blankly.

"Hey brat, rise up. We're going somewhere." He said, then walked out from the room.

She yawned, then wiped the corners of her mouth, before finally leaving the comfortable bed.

"Go wash up." Torin's voice was heard from outside the room.

She pursed her lips, then yawned once again before washing her face.

They once again walked the path towards the town. After a while, Torin led her to a small store.

The store didn't look good, but didn't look bad either. There's no store signage that could be seen. The wooden walls of it were in red. Metallic odor spreads in the air, and there's even a bit of a rusty smell.

"This store is owned by an unusual old man. Be careful not to irk him." Torin warned her.

Luciana bobbed her cute, small head. Wondering why Torin would bring her here.

When they entered, the chimes on the door made a tinkling sound. The sight of different weapons greeted them, and somehow, by just looking at them you'd feel your blood boil.

There's no shopkeeper that entertained them. Instead, an old man wearing grey robes could be seen, sitting on a rocking chair while reading a book.

"Old man, we're here to look for a good weapon." Torin said to him.

"Humm, just look around." The old man said with a gruffy voice, without even removing his eyes on the book.

Torin uttered a sound of assent.

"Go take a look, choose anything you like." Torin said.

Luciana was shocked, her eyes were twinkling in excitement. She looked at Torin carefully as if wanting to hear what he said once more.

"Brat. I told you to choose, so just choose!" Torin said, appearing irritated, but actually wanted to laugh at the girl's current expression. 'Finally saw a childish reaction from her.' he said inwardly.

Luciana heavily nodded her head, then looked around every weapon she saw.

She touched a dagger, there were scale like engravings on it, making it look grand. She weighed it on her hands, not feeling satisfied with it, she returned it on the shelf.

She took every weapon she find interesting. There was a green colored bow coiled with something that looks like a stem, and once you touched it, you'd feel a bone-deep coldness. There was also a red sword with a silver handle, that looks and feels bloodthirsty. She also found a spear that gives off an arrogant, and overbearing aura.

She is really finding it difficult to choose one. While Torin on the side just watched her moving around with his hands crossed in the chest.

She arrived at the most corner part of the store. There, she saw a black knife. It was really black, that no light reflected in it. There were strange symbols written on its edges, that Luciana find surprisingly familiar, though she couldn't understand its meaning. She didn't notice it at first glance, but once she saw it clearly, it actually is giving off a majestic vibe.

She held it in her left hand, then passed it on the other.

'It feels really good!' she praised as she felt it resonate to her. She was about to say she wants it to Torin, when the old man spoke once again.

"Not selling." He said, then put the book down and walked towards her.

He was about to take the knife away from Luciana, when he was amazed by the sudden silver light coming from its engravings.

He stopped himself immediately, then said in an excited voice, "Who are you?"