When the Stars of Fate collide,

supreme judgement befalls upon all.

His name sounded so awfully familiar. It was as if I knew him, yet nobody had ever uttered his name. Nor had I ever seen it in any literature. It was a blank space in my memory, yet it held meaning. But 'Lord Theos', Father and Mother never mentioned any high-ranking official on the island carrying such title. Vhersio and Adelaide were the only two individuals close to receiving a title of renown. Even though Father had already offered Vhersio a private estate to the east, downstream of The Mirror, near the cliffs watching over Drowner's Sorrow.

And while Adelaide oft stayed at the Captain's estate, she herself had been gifted a place to call home near the north-west. Right of the Cold Beach, just not yet reaching the borders of the river-sundered valley; Undinae's Waltz. Prior to her moving in, it was a seaside cavern but she had moulded it into a palace with a perfect view on the faraway volcanic island. And at some point, I was baffled at how she had managed to carve out all the space. But I had my suspicions now.

My thoughts strayed off the correct path. This wasn't the bloody time to think of some trivial housing situations. Goodness, no. Adelaide lied there on the ground; absolutely motionless.

Repeating himself, "Lord Theos." Captain Vhersio had - with the necessary, and noticeable, struggles - regained his calm demeanour. He looked dead-frightened, for a reason I could not pinpoint. Vhersio's eyes darted away, locking onto mine for a split-second, then averted back to Theos'. Briefly, he scanned the old man's attire. Still the stained, ragged mantle, worn-out clothes and muddy sandals. His choice of clothing mocked Father's lordship down to the core. "I- I had not expected you would join us in battle, my Lord. It's an honour to fight beside-"

The old man shook his head. "Silly child," he laughed calmly, "Finishing this invasion, siege, whatever Lord Adams calls it, is not my prime objective. I'm not here to ensure these puny pirates pay for their miserable crimes in blood. I've arrived to ensure fair judgement perseveres."The two men shared a moment. Clearly, the whole conversation carried a sense of gravity for both persons. It seemed as though they were the same wavelength- one I differed from.

The air went cold.

The lanterns hanging from the street's buildings lost their fiery glow. A frozen kiss's icy touch left its pattern across all glass surfaces. The very oxygen I breathed felt suffocatingly chilled. It was as though a sudden power had surged through the area; forcing all colours and warmth out.

Theos' voice was deep, but there was a warmth of sorts radiating off the edges of his words. "Vhersio, open their eyes to mercy over destruction. The balance of faith is tipped into darkness's favour. I trust you to salvage the lives of those you can manage to. It is the duty you have chosen to abide." He paused for a second, nearing the corner, "Worry not, I will not have any further harm befall upon her."

I, Vhersio and his escort remained frozen in place; only watching.

Theos approached Adelaide's captors. He sunk past the edge of the building. I swiftly moved. I wanted to doubly make sure Adelaide'd be all right. I followed Theos's suit. This was the moment I could repay Adelaide for saving me earlier when she entered that brutally lethal fiasco.

He signalled me to stand back, "I told you, this is a battle out of your league, child."

The very resonance of his words alerted the pirates.

One of them had coarsely pulled Adelaide onto her feet. Her knees were scraped. Dashes of red ran across her abdomen, though, they were small. Nevertheless, they peppered her skin like wildfire. In comparison, however, they paled to the diagonal cut running from her left shoulder, slightly sideways, to the front of her chest. She looked a mess- A blood-covered, mutilated mess.

Some filthy outlaw motioned his subordinates to attack. "Slice 'em up, boys." A group of five, perhaps six pillagers casually wandered up to Theos and me, blades at the ready. But I paid no mind, even while the situation carried a significant resemblance to the ordeal with Adelaide. But truth be told, this time there was back-up; Captain Vhersio and his men turned around the corner and charged right at the pirates.

They ensued in a three-on-six clash.

"Disarm and capture them," Vhersio's roaring voice was reduced to no more than a soft whisper. Within the span of mere seconds, the three knights had locked blades with their targets; hitting blow after blow. Captain Vhersio parried each incoming strike seamlessly. While most islanders considered him a master with a blade, I easily considered him the master of swordsmanship.

Theos walked by.

He was not bothered by the slightest. One of the remaining hostiles, that one pirate wielding this massive weapon. Still not entirely sure how he'd even manage to hold that titanic weapon, let alone strike.

With an abrupt movement, the blade swooped down. Theos was quicker on his feet than the blade could manoeuvre through the air. Far too swift. He taunted, "Put that toothpick down before you cut your pinky off."

The warrior failed to heed Theos' . . . order-like request. And got seriously punished. Theos did not bat an eye. He had thrown but a singular punch. A well-placed one, at that. The towering figure of a pirate plummeted to the ground. His face smacked against the bricks with a bone-crushing thud.

Three more pirates were left. One, by the general appearance of her equipment, an officer, held onto Adelaide, flintlock pistol to her head. Captain Vhersio and his men neared, they had apprehended her lackeys.

"Get the killin' hell back! I will blow the bitch's brains out!" The pirate lady shouted, cocking her gun.

"You need not give in to the urges of violence, child." Theos strolled up to her, hands open in the air; most probably to give off an air of- decency, and care for her welfare. Or so it seemed. "This is not the way of the old testimonies. Has nobody ever taught you basic courtesies and manners?"

He continued pacing forward, shortening the gap in between him, her, and Adelaide.

"Seize him," ordered the lass, dragging Adelaide further down the port towards one of the many docked rowboats.

Theos faltered not one bit.

I approached, prepared to lock blades with either one of her last remaining goons. A thin, tall man raised his shortsword. Ready to strike. But even afore the edges of our sabres collided into a stalemate, Lord Theos had knocked him deep down into submission.

Again, it only took a single strike.

The other assaulting hostile stepped back; breaking off his on-going attack. Theos only glared daggers at him. The pirate bent down on his knees, hands in the air. He had fully realised his position in this . . . unorthodox scenario. And thusly, he surrendered.

It was peculiar, honestly. It was though Theos' aura was plenty enough to overwhelm the pirate. I stepped closer to him- closer to Adelaide. In the corner of my eye, I could not help but notice the surrendered invader shaking.

Adelaide's eyes opened, she regained a sense of consciousness. Thank the heavenly Lord. As Theos proceeded to sparse the already-meagre distance, Adelaide tried uncuffing her shackles. Her struggling efforts were answered not by success, in their stead, failure stood at the door to greet her like an old friend.

But Adelaide had never been one to settle for second place. At her heart, from what I had seen - and endured back at the Academy - she was a fighter. She would not give up, not even when her every bone was brittle and broken. Adelaide had this gift of always, somehow, managing to overcome any obstacle on her course, no matter the circumstances.

Her poor position in the ordeal must have begun to dawn on her.

I was well aware. I knew what was to come; she was far from a damsel in distress.

For a moment, I did not feel as though I wished to see the scene unfold. And at the very same time, some sadistic sensation was gnawing on my consciousness. I simply could not look away.

I smirked.

Theos had stopped dead in his tracks. The already-awkward silence had grown thicker amidst the fog of piracy. The sole sounds lingering were those of fallen pirates' grunts, the waves crashing into the brick docks, and the wind slamming doors and windows open, shut and rinse and repeat.

Then Adelaide ducked. She knocked her elbow against her captor's arm; effectively, albeit for a second or two, nullifying the potential threat of a bullet to the head. She followed up- a quick headbutt left the female pirate dazed, startled thoroughly. While only a moment, it was precisely the slim window of opportunity Adelaide knew well to exploit. I had many memories of stinging black eyes as tokens to proof to that claim.

I had lost my focus on the event playing out before my eyes; Adelaide had definitively gotten the upper hand. She had unarmed her former captive, had somehow gotten behind her, and somehow, also managed to trap the pirate in her cuffs' chains.

Letting out a sigh, Theos went over to the two women.

"Lady Cynthia," One of the guardsmen called out. I glanced away from Adelaide, fully turning towards the young fighter.

"Yes?" I replied hastily.

He grimaced. "I'm saddened to carry this news, but Lord Adams has requested your presence at the keep." The man paused for a moment, ducking his head. His brows had been furrowed. "It's about your mother."

I could sense the poisonous sorrow radiating off his words. A part of me, even while searching tirelessly, could not find the words to answer. "I'll return as soon as someone checks on Adelaide's wounds." I could not forgive myself if she would end up with some permanent damage because I pushed her. She had ventured out alone, and while the responsibility should be hers; I felt guilty as could be. Had I not demanded answers right then and there, after she destroyed those men, none of this might have happened.

Out of the blue, a snapping sound behind me caught my attention. My concentration strayed back to Theos and Adelaide. They were mumbling nearly inaudibly. I realised the chains had been doffed; merely the faint echo of their collision with the ground still ringing.

I took a few steps towards them; temporarily banishing the reminder of Father requiring my presence to the back of my mind. I watched and listened carefully.

"Let go of her, Adelaide. You need not wreak pain," said Theos, hands folded behind his back, watching closely as Adelaide kept her strangling hold on the pirate.

She gritted her teeth. Adelaide looked a mess, especially now that I was able to take a closer look. Her black tendrils were woven tangled. Dried, bloody stains were everywhere on her face, though most prominently her chin and- her fists. She must have tried fending those bastards off unarmed at some point. "They ought to pay the price for tainting the island red. I should just snap-" Small, barely noticeable tears poured down her cheeks. Adelaide looked traumatised, and I was the sole reason she had endured whatever tormenting cruelty she endured.

Goodness, it was not self-pity. A looming sensation of guilt instead.

Shaking his head for the millionth time in disagreement, Theos, threateningly, ordered Adelaide to let go. "Loosen your grasp now. You will need me if you wish to survive until the break of dawn."

Reluctantly, Adelaide obliged. I could hear the bones in her arms creak as she let go. For the gods' love, what had they done to her? Even still, she stood her ground. It was admirable.

Theos laid a hand on the pirate's shoulder. "Return to that coward of a captain of yours," he paused momentarily, "I will grant you one final merciful boon: leave the island and its waters within the span of an hour. If you fail to oblige," He tilted his head slightly, shadows casting over his facial features. In the darkness, his eyes only seemed to glisten ominously. "You shall suffer a fate far worse than death.

He paced towards the water's edge, gazing over the harbour.

Theos threw his left hand in the air, aimed at one of the docked ships. Its black sails detailed with a red moon- engulfed by flaming waves- wavered in the silent winds. "Consider this a warning." Theos added. I could only look up in distress and utter shock. Magick runes, similar to those on Adelaide's body earlier, spread across Theos' arm, taking shape in five individual, floating disks. A piercing light appeared in each ring's centre. Before I could even adjust to the brightness, five colossal beams of light simultaneously burned their way through the midnight's sky, searing the very ground beneath Theos, splitting the tidal waves apart and sundering the caravel's hull into driftwood.

My jaw dropped to- no, smashed through- the floor. I blinked a few times consecutively. I was baffled, as were the guards. All except Captain Vhersio and Adelaide. The two of them just stood there, minding their own business.

Taking a closer look, each individual ray had ripped its way through the ship. A cleanly chiselled shot, really. They all met at the apex of their power; the collision point with their prime target, the lower deck's hull in between cannon gaps.

Theos flicked a finger, turning his head away from the sinking ship. Instantaneously, the sails and crow's nest lit ablaze. The main crest on the largest sails slowly withered into ashes as the fire spread. For the first time this night, screams did not originate from islanders. Oh no. Those ruthless outlaws were paying for the bloodshed with the blood of their own. Robes and supports binding the sails in place began smouldering. It was hard to see but the ever-emerging smoke had finally switched sides and became an ally of ours; accentuating the events on the pirate ship.

"What the hell did you do?!" The two conscious pirates shrieked together, overpowering each other's voice consistently. The male one rushed towards the rowboats, but it was too late. The whole ship had gone quiet.

"Consider it, in a distorted way, payment. For the loss you have called upon the island's residents, a similar, sudden destiny binds itself to your people."

The high-ranking female was about to speak but Captain Vhersio hopped in. "Silence." I knew he was pissed. For the past minutes, I had been hearing snippets of his conversation with his fellow guards; he was furious over the loss of dear colleagues' lives. "Be grateful he allows you vermin to walk freely," he roared, "Had it been my call, I'd personally throw you all off the cliffs at Drowner's Sorrow."

Adelaide limped over to her fiancé, him acting as a physical pillar of support rather than mental, for a change.

"Very well," the young lady squeezed her eyes shut, turning her head towards Theos. The change in stature revealed three nasty gashes beside each other. It looked like some over-dramatic demonic claw had scratched her neck. Only then, I remembered a valuable lesson Adelaide once taught me; nails are, when veiled accordingly, great enhancers for hand-to-hand combat.

The pirates were about to scurry away before Theos intervened. "Hold up." He calmly exclaimed. "I desire a form of insurance. To both safeguard the welfare of these innocent islanders, as your own physical and mental health. This turmoil ought to remain a vile, stinging memory. And no more."

I neared Adelaide and Vhersio, still overhearing the conversation with utmost clarity.

"A fee of what sort?"

"Bring me whatever artefact allowed you to bypass her careful eye. I will be waiting, and do not think you can leave with it," Theos called out, taking a small step to the side as to let them fetch whatever he was after.

The pirates locked eyes, "We cannot offer the Noxabrae Staff. But we can abandon all pillaged goods." She remarked, attempting to strike a bargain.

"That will not do. No riches, regardless of quantity, are of equal value to the safety of men, women and children. Surrender the item and I will ensure safe passing. You will not be able to leave with both the Staff and your collective lives, take my word for it, child, she is boiling with rage." Theos did not display any feelings. He came off as formal and objective as he possibly could, or at least, tried.

"Adelaide, are you-", I paused my whispering, glancing back at the departing raiders. "Are you okay?" I resumed, albeit more of a restart.

She stared sheepishly into my eyes, "Cynthia," started Adelaide, a chuckle mingled with blood, "Do I look anywhere as good as I did this morning?" In typical-Adelaide fashion, she was joking around. It was a relief, but from this close of an angle, her wounds looked more severe than they did prior.

"Lady Adelaide," Theos mumbled her name, crossing his arms in front of himself."We have a court case to attend, and she does not like to wait. Especially under these, well, dire circumstances."

The Captain raised his hand, not complying with Theos' will. "My Lord, can we, please, at least, hold off the trial until my darling Ada's wounds are fully recovered?" His face looked worried-ridden. It wasn't all that often I had seen his face change emotions. It was such a rare event, some considered his cool unnatural.

"No. This conflict must be settled right away. It is of great importance to my child. Besides, her mending powers are far more capable of rapid regeneration than good ol' night of rest." Theos must not have been bothered whether I became acquainted with this sudden surge of knowledge. He gave them the sign to leave. "Head to the Lunaire Shrine, I will follow shortly."

Captain Vhersio ordered the remaining guardsmen to assist him in carrying Adelaide. Her limping had worsened, albeit barely noticeable.

"Child," Theos signalled me over. "I know not whether you displayed great bravery this night- or sheer foolishness. Truly, while remarkably risky, this calls for a minor celebration, if you ask me." He said, reaching down the deep sleeves of his ragged clothes.

The sachet.

Theos was holding onto a similarly embellished grey-washed, leather sachet. Even the strap knitting the whole part together at the top was the same in every detail. Although, there was a minor change. It was more sizeable, broader as in content. "My apologies, I actually wanted to gift you this without anyone witnessing its presence."

I failed to respond properly to his query. I was more focused on gaining an answer of my own. "Whose trial?" I questioned right away.

"That is of little concern to you, Lady Cynthia. But if you so desire knowledge's enlightenment: 'tis Lady Adelaide's."

Without a second of consideration, a reply spurted its way out my mouth. "Then I ought to be there!" A rush of determination spiked within me. While I lacked more context than I'd like, I just had to be there. Adelaide deserved as much as my support.

The man's voice became soft with a gentle touch. "I think not, young one. You defended your home valiantly, now, you deserve some proper rest." Theos leaned closer to my ear, "Viárh Incäntàe," whispered Theos.