A legend known in the Wispy Meadows tells: with heaving chests and panting breaths,

Pouring sweat, while noses flare,

a head would be slain, to see another dawn of day.

The figures of Pavlos, Bellona and Aiden were rested underneath a tree, with sticks in their hands poking the burning pile of woods which was stacked at the center of where they were.

The look of worry laced with sadness and pain was the expression which they held on each of their faces.

Aiden dropped the stick in his hands, leaning back on the tree to sharpen the sword which he held with a filing stone.

They all watched the fire burn with keen eyes, listening to the crackling sound it made as if that was all there is to life.

The silence was soon broken by Pavlos.

"What happened today is just a view of what's yet to come. This is a warning that we need to be prepared for whatever battle comes our way, pray heavens we live to tell the tale" Pavlos spoke in a low voice, shifting his eyes from Bellona, back to Aiden.

"We're running low on food, Pavlos. Not to forget how sick people are becoming" Bellona uttered.

"If we do not act fast, a famine will cross the lands, and we'll be struck hard" Aiden joined in.

Pavlos was silent for a moment, watching the cold ground with his eyes, as he filled his head with different thoughts.

"We could sneak into Grirendra and get some food" He finally spoke up.

"Has insanity finally claimed you?!" Bellona exclaimed.

"You're very much aware of what happened today. If we go anywhere near Cedric's kingdom, we'd be walking directly into our deaths" She added.

"We've got no choice left. It's either we starve, or we take our chances." Pavlos responded.

"I'd reckon we go for the latter" Aiden muttered while stroking his chin with his thumb.

Their voices were immediately drowned by a noise coming from one of the trees.

Aiden and Pavlos both sprung to their feet, picking their swords up in defence, while Bellona stood right behind them.

"Who's there?" Aiden called out.

Bellona's heart was already beating rapidly as she thought it was another intrusion of Cedric's army.

Her mouth was slightly agape, while she drew closer to Pavlos with fear in her eyes.

Tension filled the air as the trio stood under the tree, looking around for fear of what could come their way, only thing to be heard was the crackling fire.

Their fear was soon replaced with relief as they watched Elpida step out from behind the tree, walking towards them quietly.

Bellona soon let out a sigh as soon as she realized it was just Elpida.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Bellona asked Elpida as she came up to them, sitting beside Pavlos, with her head bent low.

"I don't know if I'm fine" The girl let out a low sigh

"My own parents believe I'm cursed. Everyone in the village now sees me as a monster" She uttered in between tears.

"You're not a monster, Elpida. You're still the girl I've known since we were kids. The same sweet person I grew up with, and nothing can change that" Bellona said to her immediately.

She understood the pains Elpida felt, and she wanted them gone.

Sure, she had known Elpida all her life, right from their toddling days till present.

While growing up, they indulged in different activities together.

They sewed dresses together, pretending they lived in a castle, plucked fruits together, and even almost got caught one time stealing dolls from the market.

One could tell how far they've come. Both grown into fine maidens, well-cultured with good etiquette.

"What if Cedric comes to take me?" Elpida asked.

"We won't let that happen" Sincerity rested in Aiden's eyes as he spoke.

Bringing her mild, tender fingers to her face, Elpida wiped her tears away, while turning to look at Pavlos.

"Why is Cedric this way?" She asked in a low voice.

"Who made him this way?"

Her lips quivered lightly as she awaited a response.

Pavlos hesitated for just a moment but then began speaking.

"Cedric was adopted by King Edgar, the dearest king Grirendra ever knew.

He was found abandoned in the mouth of the woods, left all alone in the wild on a cold stormy night. The king picked him up, and took him home to meet the Queen and the kids.

As Cedric grew older, he became friends with a few people. One of them being, Lander, a young village boy.

According to people who were around at that time, Lander poisoned the heart of Cedric by telling him that the King and Queen never loved him, and were only using him.

Cedric of course, snapped at the boy countless times, telling him never to say a thing like that, but as years passed by, he began losing his morals. He saw how the king's son would always talk about being the best king the kingdom would know, and how he would ensure happiness around the lands, being free to do whatever he wanted and having any girl as his bride.

Cedric eventually became jealous, realising he would never sit on the throne, and he would forever remain an adopted son of the king.

His desires to achieve greatness and acquire the throne made him journey out to the southlands in search for the most powerful sorcerer of the time, Costa.

He informed Costa of his plans to get rid of the entire royal family, not to forget acquiring the throne of Grirendra.

Costa, sure enough, was quick to agree, seeing as to how the king, killed his lover, who was a sorceress in battle.

When Costa killed the king, Queen and the kids, Cedric tried killing Costa, just to cover up the secret. But the sorcerer who was smart enough, fled and never returned.

Till this day, no one knows where he is.

Cedric then returned back to the kingdom to take the throne.

The power he had on his side made people fear him more, even sorcerers respected him greatly. And that rounds up the story of the man we've come to fear as a Tyrant"

"Who are the real parents of Cedric?" Bellona asked.

"We were told that his mother was a young girl who got pregnant for a knight. A knight who had a family already.

She ran away with the baby after the knight threatened to kill her, right after asking him to step out and claim the baby, else she would expose him to the whole kingdom, telling them, that he'd been having an affair outside his marital home, a disgrace to nobility and knighthood.

No one knows if she was killed by the knight, all that we were told was that, Cedric was found in the woods, with a tiny book laid by his side. A book of magic and sorcery, so we were told. And found inside the book was a letter from his mom.

It said: 'do all you must to survive, even if it means cutting the warm arms wrapped around you. For there is no good left in this cold world'

The king disposed the book immediately, and raised him in the best possible way he could, but it just wasn't enough for the greed of Cedric.

"What became of Costa?" The sorcerer who helped in killing the royal family" Aiden questioned.

"He surprisingly left the face of the earth after what happened. No one knows his whereabouts"

A tiny vein appeared on Pavlos' forehead as he spoke, but it immediately disappeared.

"In all of the lands, only one man has dared to challenge Cedric, and that's Lucas Brennan, the king of Brilthor"

"It takes a strong man to stand his grounds against Cedric" Aiden spoke in a low voice.

"Not just the king, his son Orion, is not to be left out. With the guts of a lion and the prowess of a hunting tiger, known to defy all, in getting what he wants"

Bellona's eyes twitched, while her heartbeat fastened at the mention of Orion's name. It sounded so familiar yet, she couldn't tell where she heard the name from.

The name seemed like it was registered in her head, like she ought to have the name in her mind, but she couldn't tell why.

"Let me get this straight. If King Lucas doesn't like Cedric, why does his other son Kyle, work with the one person his father despises?" A look of confusion crossed Aiden's face as he asked Pavlos.

"Enough is never enough, people say"

"He denounced himself as son of Lucas Brennan, once he began working with Cedric in his evil ways. For years he hasn't been to Brilthor to see his father, King Lucas, or even his brother, Orion"

"Perhaps the reason why Lucas hates Cedric, his because he, Cedric, turned his own son, Kyle against him"

"It is well known of how much of a skilled warrior Orion is. One of the best in the lands, greatly respected, but bears a heart as cold as stone, with no remorse whatsoever"

"How did you know all of this?" Elpida asked Pavlos, her eyes never leaving him.

"It's a known story. Now back to what we were discussing earlier on. Tomorrow morning, we all set off in search of food"

"You'll have to stay back in the village, Elpida. It's too dangerous for you" Pavlos reminded

Elpida nodded in agreement, while listening to him.

He listed out all they had to do and the paths to take in their search of food.

After fully comprehending all that was said and going back to it over and over again, they resumed poking the woods and drawing figures with sticks, while the bright moonlight glowed on them.