Knighthood lies above eternity;

it doesn’t live off fame,

but rather deeds.

- Excerpt of a poem by [Master Poet] Dejan Stojanović,

[ ]

Eres Continent

Ereshian Empire

Silan Dukedom

Silan City

.

Eres continent is one of the smallest continents in the world of Euchent. Eres continent is ruled by Ereshian Empire. The one and only Empire to rule this continent. The Empire has stood for milleniums. The Empire is peaceful and Eres continent was said to be where all things begin. It was once said milleniums ago, a master of all crafts appeared in this continent. This master is so talented that he was sought by the Royal Family. He refused. Yet, the Great War begins and to protect the one place he called home, he created [Legendary] Arms. These arms kept the kingdom safe and strong. At the present, the kingdom grew to become the sole Empire to rule the continent.

Ereshian Empire is supported by Royal Family and the nobles. Silan Dukedom belong to one of the Founding Houses of Ereshian Empire, House of Silan. Viscount Leon Silan, told a story how he came upon a youth that is magnificently talented in crafts and magic. He supported and protects this youth up to the Great War. Where due to his supports, the kingdom survived and became the sole Empire. For this great contribution, Viscount Silan was promoted to a Duke.

Duke Evant Silan, descendants of Duke Cedric Aborgast Silan, now rules the dukedom from the capital city of Silan. Located just few kilometres from the highest mountain in the continent, Ereshia Mountain where a tier-4 [Mountain] Dungeon is also located. There is a lush and dense forest where herbs and beasts prosper located between the dungeon and the city. In the south is a bustling harbour that exports and imports various goods from across the continent and others.

Silan City is an oval-shaped city, with the longest diameter of 10km and the shortest is 5km. The city is surrounded by 30 meters tall wall with towers located every 50 meters. Silan City is by all means an average capital city. However, what most people came for is to see and study one of the few [Legendary] Arm of the Empire located in the duke-run smithy. The Arm was supposed to be forged to fight the beasts horde that overrun the dungeon and the mountain.

Or so the legends said…

Yet it may come true soon.

[ ]

Year 4999

Post-War Era

xth Month,

xxth Day

Ereshia Mountain

Unknown location

.

An unknown figure is seen speeding through the hill of Ereshia Mountain. The speed is very inhuman-like. The unknown figure can be seen zigzagging through the trees and jumps over one cliff to another. Even when a loud hissing sound is heard from nearby.

“HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!”, a 50-meter long beast appeared from the side, with a dark maw displaying two 1-meter fang, ready to crush the unknown figure.

The unknown figure suddenly disappeared with a flash of red and appeared just a few meters passed the beast. The beast continues to plummet in the direction it is going. A loud crash is heard and then silence. The unknown figure continues to speed forwards with occasional turns and twists while leaping over cliffs, rivers and any obstacles that comes in its way.

After few hours have gone past, the unknown figure arrives in front of a cave. Without hesitation, the unknown figure walks towards the inside the cave. It was dark inside and damp, with mosses growing everywhere and the stale air. The unknown figure walks further inside and stops, doing something of what seems like raising its limb. A bright-red flame appeared from nowhere, hovering above its limb which is a hand covered with dark-red gauntlet. The flame illuminates the whole cave and if someone see this scene, it should be clear that the figure is actually a humanoid, more precisely, a pantherkin. From the flowing black hair, the oval face and the curves shaped by the dark-red armour, it is clear upon a glance that it is a woman.

She has a tanned skin, probably from training and fighting under the sun from too long. Yet, it only adds to the exoticness of her beauty. Under the black hair, a panther-like ear can be seen slips into view when she moves. She continues walking further inside with one hand hovering below the flame and the other hand holding a 2-meter black spear. If someone looks more closely, there is a red flash that flows in the spear. It glows, throbbed, flows and disappears inside a vein-like pattern on the spear.

After few more hours walking inside the cave, with all its twist and turns.

“ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!”.

A loud roar suddenly shakes the whole cave. The woman pantherkin come upon a very gruesome sight, rotting carcasses of what it seems like deer-like and boar-like creatures spread over a ten-or-more meter diameter cavern.

“ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRR!!”,

Even louder roar is heard from a huge furry mass inside the cavern.

The woman, without hesitation, throws the fire hovering her palm toward the mass. An instant later, the fire hit, not the mass but just a few cm off its side. It doesn’t matter because the burning caused by the fire attract the beast’ attention.

The beast stood on its hindleg and as it senses something, it turns its 5-meter tall body towards the woman. The pantherkin forms another flame only this time it is blacker than red. The beast seems to sense something dangerous about the flame that it flinches for an instant but what comes next is another loud roar.

“ROOOOOOOOOOARRRRR!”.

Then the beast comes pouncing towards the woman. Just in a few seconds, the beast appeared in front of the woman and swipe a log-like limb with claws that glints with sharpness. The woman extinguishes the flame that she holds and meet the claw with her bare hand. The beast seems to realize that the claw is gripped with enormous strength that it can’t overpowers. It launches another claw swipe but before its claw managed to move more than a cm, The woman turns around and does a shoulder throw which throws the beast overhead and slams its body into the ground which creates a small tremor inside the cave. While still holding the beast’s limb, she pulls her other hand, makes a fist and slams it into the beast’ head. It causes the head to explode, white and gray matter splattered on the floor of the cavern. The body of the bear convulses and an instant later, it lays still on the ground.

She releases the beast’ limb and take a look around the cave. She closes her eyes and an instant later, opens her eyes while muttering, “If this weak beast is here, there is no way that he is here.”. She sighs and a second later can be seen speeding towards the same path where she arrived from. If one checked the cave again, the might be surprised from the gore and blood near the cavern passageways yet not corpse or body that can hold that much blood.

.

In the gate of Silan City, a young tier-1 [City Guard] that man the gates sees something on the horizon, a cloud of dust is seen approaching, seemingly caused by a huge figure speeding towards the gate.

“OH NO! SOUND THE ALARM! APPROXIMATION of TIER-3 OR ABOVE BEAST! TIER-4 [City Protector] OR [Knight] IS REQUIRED!”, a look of horror appears on the young man. Yet, an older man beside him, knocks the young man in the head.

“OUCH! WHAT WAS THAT FOR! THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO PLAY AROUND! CAN’T YOU SEE!”, the young man protests aloud.

“AMATEUR! Don’t they teach you anything? Beast that high-ranking will never come alone. You see a cloud of dust and you ask to sound the alarm??”, the older man scolds the young man.

“What is that then? If it is not a beast then what is it?”, the young man replies stubbornly.

The older man sighs and says, “You will see soon enough. What’s coming is certainly not as dangerous as you think.” The old man added a beat later, ”to us that is.”.

What The older man said ring true. A moment later, a smaller figure can be seen underneath the huge mass. It is none other than the woman pantherkin that brought her trophy from the cavern, a tier-4 [Lycan Bear], prized from its steel-like claws, nutritious meat, and a gallbladder that is vital ingredients for tier-3 [Antidote].

The woman is speeding through and stops before the gate.

“A-a-a-a-wa-wa-wa.”, The young man looks shocked with jaw opening and closing upon seeing who stops at the gate. Yet before he can mutter something, the older man speaks first.

“Lady Ziva! I could see the hunt is successful. Did you manage to find what you were looking for?”, the older man salutes.

“Unfortunately no. But still, I managed to hunt the beast that I think been snatching the preys of the city’s [Hunter]. Could you manage this please?”, Lady Ziva replies.

“Yes Ma’am. I also been notified that the duke is looking for you. I could send a note using the [Orb] to notify him. The courier also said that you can rest before coming to meet the duke.”, the older man speaks respectfully.

“I will be fine. Could you let the barracks know that there is a dead tier-4 [Striking Serpent] in the forest maybe 10-20 km from here towards the northeast? I think the city can use more fresh meat and I am sure the city’s armory can make use of the fang and the skin.”, Lady Ziva said while leaping the 30 m wall to enter the city.

“WHA-“, the older man is shocked and before he can continue, the pantherkin, Lady Ziva, disappear into the city wall.

After a second, the older man snaps back to reality and slaps the younger man’s shoulder and said it sternly, “Snap out of it will ya!”

“Who is she?” The younger man asks.

“She is Lady Ziva Excandesc. A [Viscount] under the service of Duke Silan and one of the few 7th Tier master of this continent or even the whole realm! There was a gossip that she is been serving Silan Dukedom for at least few decades! Unbelievable right?”, the older man replies passionately.

“WOOOOOAH~”, the younger man speaks with awe, but he is snapped by the older man.

“Oy! Now get to that barracks and convey what Lady Ziva wants. The city is going to have a party today!”, the older man commands the younger man.

The younger man grumbles but before the older man knocks his head, the young man can be seen running towards the gate side entrance and to the city.

[ ]

[Ziva’s POV]

“5 milleniums has passed since the Great War. No trace of him was ever found since then. Where is he?”, I thought. I still remember that day when I first met him just as fresh as the morning dew.

.

Darkness around me.

I walk and walk. Rest when I am tired and continue to walk.

Never hunger.

Never thirsty.

Neverending walk.

Yet a voice called me from the darkness.

“What is your name?”,

“None”, I whispered.

I have no recollection of anything that I could call mine. Been that way as long as I remember.

There is chuckle from the shadow.

No. A pair of eye glimmer from the shadows.

Yet I am not afraid.

Somehow.

Another chuckle, “Bloodfire flows in your vein. Hmm… Interesting…. A-ha. Scorchling ”.

Long silence. And the voice yet spoke once again.

“Atavism? Accident or a purpose in altering her genetics? I would need to check her phylogenetics though to be sure.”

Another long silence. Another chuckle.

“It is not my field anymore anyway. I am a smith in this world and I will make greatest weapon ever!”, the voice ring in my ear.

Yet it sounds gentle.

More voices. More questions.

“To do that I will need you.”

“Are you willing?”

“I invoke [Call of the Broken], I call you Ziva so you may be bright as fire flows in your vein. Burn the injustice and fuel the flame of righteousness with your wrath. Spare the pure, save the merciful. No longer are you broken. You are Ziva Excandesc.”

.

Warm light covered me and when I am conscious of myself. I was in a room. Simple room, in a simple bed yet I felt warm somehow.

“You are awake! GOOD!”.

I turned to the source of that sound and I see a man, might be in his thirties, black hair, black pupil, wearing black tunic, pants, robe, even the swordsheath is black. All those seems suspicious but I saw a glint of relief? Joy? I think. Somehow I am no longer in darkness.

“It’s been a few days since I found you. Apologies that I brought you here without permission. You seems in need of help and I offer it to you. What is your name?”

“I..”, My throat hurts. Not in a bad way but it seems unfamiliar.

“OH! Apologies! Here is a soup and water! Should have done that first. Aahahah”, the man seems nervous but I took the soup and water gladly.

I drank the soup and water in just under a minute. The man seems unfazed with my attitude.

“I am sorry.” I said nervously, “My name is Ziva Excandesc, it means to be bright, and to burn, not for wrath but with wrath.” Somehow I am sure of those meaning.

I feels my cheek as if it is on fire. I turn to him and just an instant but I thought I saw a glimpse of amusement. My heart thumped for a moment. I put my head down to think. It seems familiar somehow but I can’t put my finger on it why. His next question brings my mind back.

“Where are you going?”, I turn to him and there it is again.

I am not mistaken. That glint passed by again. The same amusement.

“I am not sure.”, I said.

“How about coming with me? I might need some company. You might find your purpose in a journey.”

It took me a while to reply but I replied, unsure, “Yes. I would like to come with you.” But I added with conviction, “I WILL find my purpose”.

“Good!” The man get up and walked. Just before he got out of the room. He turned and said, “Apologies. The name is Silva. I am but a fledgling smith. Yet well versed in all kind of metal, magic and science.”

He gestured on a small desk beside me which I see now: Folded black and red cloth of some design.

“I put clean clothes in the desk beside you. Just come out whenever you are ready.”

It took a while for me to realise what he meant. I look down and under the bedsheet, I am naked!

An involuntary scream of shame come out of me. “AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!”, I might imagined this but I thought I heard a chuckle, the same chuckle that my dream had. I am not e certain now f that was a dream

[ ]

I smiled at that thought. His prowess in handling all manner of weapon AND creating them drew the attention of unwanted nobles. Viscount Shilan may be one of the few, that instead of capturing and imprisoning us, thought to give us as much space as possible. At the end, Viscount Shilan took us in and I served as [Knight]. His [Knight] much to his surprise.

To honor that help, I vowed my protection, as miniscule as I can to the house that my Master think highly. I broke that vow once. To serve as my Master’s shield and spear. And I returned here once more.

Yet I might break that vow once again.

I can feel it. I have no idea where or how but he is near. I can feel it.

“Lady Ziva? Duke Shilan is waiting for you.”

A voice broke through my thoughts. A middle aged man, stood before a massive gate, wearing, well.. perfect everything.

“George. Either very good news OR a very bad ones that the head butler… NO, a tier-5 [Majordomo], the one of the few unique hidden job of tier-4 [Staff Master I], to greet a mere [Viscount].” I said.

The butler, [Majordomo] George Kingsman bowed in a perfect angle and said, “Not at all, Madam. The main staff knew your real noble rank and it is more than just mere [Viscount].”

“It is about your Master." George turns serious, "Duke Shilan found a trace–“

I never let him finished because in my excitement, I invoke [Lesser Teleport] to get to Duke Shilan’s parlor.

.

“FOR THE SAKE OF–“.

My skill brought me exactly in front of a desk, a majestic desk but the beauty of such wood was covered by stacks and stacks of paper. And the shocked voice is, as I suspected, comes from…

“Duke Shilan, my apologies in coming so abruptly and looking from the state of your tea, apologies in surprising you immensely.”

Duke Shilan, a middle-aged man but in reality is in his 70s, with a spilled tea on his desk, sighed and sits down.

He pulled out a transparent ball with runes and circuit inside and out the ball and spoke “Eva, do send one of your best maid with a skill [Clean Stain], as high as we have as well as a fresh pot of tea.. ” he glanced at me and spoke to the orb, ”medium-rare steak of Diamond Armadillo with sides of roasted Flame Turkey legs and those exploding drinks, colala–“,

A voice cuts out and spoke out sternly from the Orb, “It is called Coca-cola, Duke. It is from Varim continent, although the origin might be concerning an individual that shook the world millenniums ago. In fact–“

This time the Duke cuts off, “Yes yes, my goodness Eva, *sigh* as usual, you are very critical. I will remember the name. Next time. Could you prepare and send them up as fast as you can please? Thank you.”

Eva spoke again, unashamed, “Very well. I heard Lady Viscount Ziva is here and is in your parlour if George guess correctly. Diamond Armadillo steak, double stacked, with seasonal vegetables–“,

I frowned at that but Eva, as Tier-5 [Imperial Headmaster] another hidden job-holder might be thinking to balance my unhealthy eating habit consisting of only meat.

“–as sides, with Coca-cola as refreshment and as Lady Ziva habit, chocolate cake as reward from eradicating Tier-4 Lycan Bear and Striking Serpent in the Forest. I would think that to suffice unless Your Lordship would like to add anything more?”

“WAIT WHAT? EVA! EVA! WHAT DID YOU SAY?”, yet only silence replied back.

Duke Shilan sighed again and put the Communication Orb back to his pocket.

I opened my mouth since I cannot contain my excitement, “Apologies duke, but I heard you have news about my Master??”

[ ]

Duke Evant Shilan’s POV

“– double stacked–”, I groaned inwardly to heard that. How could I not think about that!

“–Tier-4 Lycan Bear and Striking Serpent–“, and another fact hit me in the head.

Flustered I asked, “WAIT WHAT? EVA! EVA! WHAT DID YOU SAY?”, and as expected, I could say, only silence was on the other line.

I sighed again while thinking, I have the best talent due to Origin Skill from my Ancestors [Call for Talents] yet somehow I always think if I am worthy of it–.

An excited voice snapped my focus back.

“Apologies duke, but I heard you have news about my Master??”,

In front of me, the cause of my spilled tea, is Lady Viscount Ziva Excandesc and as Eva suspected by her emphasis, is not mere [Viscount] but [Grand Duke], a title held by select and classified few. The reason? She went to the Great War with the only [Supreme Smith] in history, the only Tier-7 [Grand Spearmaster] in this Empire, saving the Empire during the Great War which is done only because of their association with my ancestors, Leon Shilan, a mere Viscount at the time. Pick one of those feats. Not including the many beasts and dangers they solved.

There might be more that even the Empire is not aware of but that we are happy enough not to pry, [Grand Duke] and [Grand Spearmaster] is enough to deter any forces. Even if ANY forces tried to, I heard there were quite unfortunate or I should say fortunate incidents happening. And it just stopped. Mysterious indeed but I for one, will not pry further. My ancestors trust them and so will I.

“Well well, Lady Ziva, excuse my ill-manner, do sit down. Please.”

I lead Lady Ziva into the table where I hold my daily meeting. Into the central chair.

Before she protests, I said, “It is just seems right to give a [Grand Duke] the central chair. Please sit. The refreshment is coming–“

As expected of Eva, I heard a knock.

”Your Lordship, as commanded by Head Maid, I believe refreshment and cleaning is needed?”.

“Yes, Lillian, please come in.”, I said

“Yes Sir.”

I see a maid entering the parlour with a double stacked steak, turkey legs and Colal–, umm, Coca-cola. Have I mentioned those three dishes will fill half of my meeting table that usually hosts close to twenty people?

The maid arranges the dishes deftly and swiftly. She glides over to my desk, clean up the tea that stained, hopefully no more, my papework. Bows to me and disappear as fast as she appears. I still wondering if each of my staff possess a maid-specific Origin Skill [Walk Without Sound and Disappear as Required] or something.

When I saw Lillian exits the parlour, I turn to Lady Ziva and not surprising, she is halfway through the steak AND the legs.

“Yes Lady Ziva, after scouring the forest and villages, there were some news that an earthquake was heard in the vicinity of Ereshian Mountain. A small one but it was so unheard of that some of the villages remembered it. Unfortunately, Tier-5 beasts are lurking, and I am afraid that we simply do not have the power to scour the peak.

“IfwillfcheckfoncfeIfamfdone– “

“Excuse me Lady Ziva, but I speak for my personal concern and the concern of the Empire a whole, do take your time and finish the refreshment at your leisure before you are choked by the very thing you hunted yesterday”.

Lady Ziva, even through the dark skin, I could see her blush, a small win for today.

Not a minute later, Lady Ziva finished everything and turn to me.

“Apologies Duke for my ill-manner, both from the teleport and my excitement.”

“I could say, it goes without saying that even though my manor has been enhanced with various magic runes, nothing can stop someone at your caliber. No harm done, as you can see, even my paperwork was free of stain”

Another small blush, another win.

“Now correct me if I am wrong, are you thinking of going to the peak?”

A glint of excitement again flashed through Lady Ziva’s eyes.

“Yes. I find my purpose in him and I shall find him once more”.

“If that is the case, you might need this.”, I looked at my Spatial Ring, an artifact from my father, passed down from his father and his father before him. A ring exactly built to prevent theft and tier-9 [Spell Break] spell but in expense of storage capacity.

None of this matter since it was only used to hold two artifact, [Ancient] level spear and shield. That by themselves can prevent theft and withstand even tier-10 [Weapon Break] spell.

Just a thought and the artifact appear on the table, replacing the plates and goblets of refreshments.

On the table, there it is, a spear and a shield, the simplest weapon that seems so usual, even tier-0 [Recruit] may not want to use it.

Yet, make no mistake. I saw how the spear and shield withstood launch and withstand barrage and barrage of attacks. No scratch was found ever, to tarnish the spear blade nor the shield.

Lady Ziva looked at it with nostalgia.

I am sure aware of the stories passed down to me from millenniums ago.

.

5 heroes of old

The Raging Healer, holding in his hands, staff and sword.

Enemies will be broken and ally will be restored.

The Fortress, holding in her hands, spear and shield.

Bear loyalty and the weapon will never yield

.

I am sure that last part might be a bit of exaggeration. Surely no weapon can be enhanced by loyalty–

I saw Lady Ziva picked the artifact up and I swore by my Ancestors, it gleams and flashed a sheen. The kind of sheen that I only saw in the purest mithril. Not that I have seen pure pure mithril…

“Still as perfect as when I first held it millennia ago.”.

She stands up, went around the table and in the middle of the parlour, does an ancient salute, the kind that a retainer does before he or she head to battle where they knew they might die.

Lady Ziva hold the spear in her left and shield on her right. She kneeled, with her left leg upright and right knee touches the floor. She clasped her hands, with her shield in front and spear upright. And she spoke the ancient rite,

“Here I serve and

There, death I deserve.

To break my vow,

And to death I bow.

May this House never fall,

May my sacrifice stands tall.”

I stood up in response and continue as if my ancestors stood here instead of me,

“Your sacrifice resolute

Your deed shall be the Root.

For a seed must die

To pierce the sky.

Death you may deserve

but a Hero shall you emerge.”

I finished the rite and something snapped.

“Lady Ziva, if I am not wrong, my ancestors did this rite with you. And I shall quote him on this occasion as well.”

" "

Lady Ziva smiled, “Duke Shilan, it has been a pleasure serving you but higher calling awaits me.”

I nodded, “I understand Lady Ziva, from now on, you are no longer in servitude of my House nor shall you position will be replaced. As a [Duke], I will hold your position open. I believe you will come back. After all, this is your home as well as theirs.”

Lady Ziva smiled and I saw her eyes moisten if any and before I offer anything else–

“[Lesser Teleport]”

And there she went. There are big changes happening and I can feel it.

But in the meantime, I have more pressing matter.

I pulled out my Comm-Orb as my staff like to call it. Except Eva of course.

“Eva, ask Lillian over please, my ring is full of dishes and goblets that needs not dirty my storage space”. I speak over the Orb.

Silence. I open my mouth “Ev–“, and before I finish, Eva stern voice come over.

“Your Lordship, did I hear that correctly? Tier-9 [Mythical] [Aether Ring] is used to house DISHES and GOBLETS?”, and suddenly her voice thundered over. “I will be there at once!”

I smiled, another small win today, another pressing matter done.

I moved over to my working desk, where many other not-less-important matters still needs to be done.

A freezing atmosphere suddenly flooded the room. I felt the chill but before she said anything.

“Yes Eva, do come in.”

I could imagine her shock and smiled upon that thought. Another small win. Or should I say big win?

“YOUR LORDSHIP–“,

“Yes Eva, please do calm down. It is unbecoming of a [Duke]’s Head Maid yes? Tea?”, I offered with a smile.

[ ]

Ziva’s POV

I teleported into the vicinity of of Ereshian Forest and started running toward the other side of the forest.

I ran

I ran

I ran

Beasts attacked from all sides.

Tier-5 Lycan Bear Lord

Tier-6 Serpent Queen

Tier-5 Doom Tiger

Tier-5 Blood Treant

And I keep slashing and slashing.

I lost count after I slew dozens of beast.

Might be bad for the ecology but I only have one goal.

Ereshian Mountain top.

.

Finally, I am here.

Day turned to night and I saw a glimmer.

I ran and in the mountain crater, I saw fire.

Not unlike fire that I saw before, it was small, unimpressive in any case.

Yet, once a while, I saw a flash. So strong that my eyes with my resistance, felt its brightness.

And I saw him.

I jumped.

[ ]

A man seemingly blended into the dark of the night, only visible due to the occasional flare of the small fire in front of him.

“Ah…..”, he spoke,

“I see that the Fire has matured… magnificently”, he spoke and what it seems like petting the fire.

The fire grew in brightness, no longer giving occasional flare of brightness but constantly shining, albeit less intense.

“Ah, my dear.” The man chuckled, “Yes, you too have grown magnificently.”

The flame flickers

The man seems to understood what is going one for he spoke, “Now now. Be calm please. Yes yes, I am aware. I understand. My apologies for leaving you. But now, now is time don’t you think?”.

The man proceeds to grab the flame and whispers, “[Call of the Broken]”.

The flame grew exponentially larger yet it offers no light nor brightness, in contrast to the previous display of light.

Yet at this moment, a voice cuts off

“You are not Master Silva“. A voice spoke haltingly.

“You were that shadow. The eye that glimmers in the darkness.”

A silhouette of a lithe woman comes forward. “

After all this time? Why? How?”.

The flame somehow understood and give out the warmest display of light to the newcomer.

Lady Ziva Excandesc.

The highest levelled [Grand Spearmaster] of the continent, maybe the world. The only Noble in history that did vow-breaking rite and bring honor in exchange of death. Currently standing face to face with someone she dreamt long ago.

The man, seems not surprised, turns to face the Lady.

“Ahhh…. Ziva Excandesc. So we meet once again.”. The man chuckled.

The man was wearing robe that seems to enable him to blend to the night. His cowl, in addition the fire in his hands, weirdly enough, offer no illumination to his face.

“Show your face please.”, Lady Ziva, the strongest Fortress seemingly so weak. As if to return to that time where she was alone.

“Ah. Apologies! I never thought that I will meet you today, after all this time, at this circumstance”.

The flame, understanding his intention somehow, bring out light to the darkness. Seemingly impossible, not one crack or crevices is hidden enough from the light.

The light shines towards the man’s face.

Lady Ziva in her surprise, spoke aloud, “YOU–“

The flame in the man’s hand glimmer in excitement.

Yet the man only smiled in response.