For the past few months, the everyday life in the palace has changed dramatically. Many soldiers have tried to file reports on the new instructor, who according to them has chosen more drastic methods of teaching. All of those complaints were met with just a refusal.
On yet another bright day, the soldiers who were supposed to be trained that day have been standing in the garden for about ten minutes before Siren approached them.
"Lady Siren?" said one of them as the woman in white dress appeared.
"It would appear that Victor has been summoned by Her Highness. He asked me to tell you that you are to hone your skill for the day."
The sigh of relieve swept through the ranks of those young recruits. Victor smiled as he looked at them through the balcony, next to his master.
"Tell me Victor, what can you tell me about your brother?" asked Luna as she looked at him with sharp eyes.
"My brother is…different, to say the least. He has tendency to be merciless and quick, yet to be honest, he is a tactical genius." Victor replied without hesitation.
"Interesting…" she went silent for a moment.
"Did you know that he is…how did he describe it…god of death?" asked Luna straight away.
Victor went silent for a moment. Thinking about it. "I'm afraid so, yes. Due to…a certain event, all three of us have been blessed, or cursed with certain abilities."
Luna looked at him, remembered how he single-handedly defeated the former best swordsman of Radia and Supesu, someone so immensely powerful that her own powers had to be locked away for the betterment of mortal kind.
"I see…it is a tale then."
"It is also the reason, why I'm here, my master. Without that fateful day, I wouldn't have left Laxoria, I wouldn't have made that bargain and I wouldn't have been here, on this balcony, serving you."
Luna smiled at the mention of that bargain. She still didn't receive an answer as to why did he choose her, but she is starting to get the general idea.
"Would you someday, tell me that tale?" asked Luna in a much familiar tone, like speaking to an old friend rather than servant.
Victor smiled: "If that is what you wish, my lady. It is a longer tale though, one that doesn't end happily."
"Tales are what defines history. Whether they end poorly or not, they always remind us of the past. All we can do with it, is to learn from it." She said loudly. Almost as if she was quoting someone.
"Couldn't have said it better." Victor lowered his gaze.
As the wind blew through her hair, Victor found himself looking at her, not much as expecting something, but rather admiring. His master, the one he swore his loyalty to, is certainly something else. He tried reaching his hand to her, but then, a black feather landed in the palm. Victor looked at it with confusion. He looked up, and there he saw Raven, sitting on the frame and gazing directly into his eyes. He had this…certain air around him. Victor didn't notice his presence up until now. He heard footsteps as Siren was nearing the balcony.
Siren and Victor developed a certain respect for one another. Both of them are servants of Luna, yet they do not compete for her favor. They instead co-operated to fulfill all orders they receive to perfection. The same can't be said for Raven and Siren however. Victor's brother appears to be quite fond of her, yet she doesn't seem to reciprocate these feelings. That doesn't stop him though.
Luna turned around and almost as if she was expecting Raven, she nodded towards him. "I see you both arrived as I requested."
"Of course, my lady." Siren said as she bowed her head.
"An easy request such as this isn't the only reason you have summoned us, right~" said Raven as he jumped down and went next to Siren.
"You have asked me, to tell you if there appeared any unique black fissure near our kingdom."
Raven knew what she was trying to say, but he listened nonetheless.
"If you would be so kind and investigate the town of Revise, the kingdom would really appreciate that."
"I'm certain that can be done. I will take my leave then~" said Raven as looked at Siren in the corner of his eyes.
"Siren will be accompanying you on this task, to ensure no collateral damage is made."
Siren looked quite surprised, Raven on the other hand, quite pleased. "It would appear we will be going together, my darling~"
"If those are your orders, my lady."
Victor smiled a bit. "If I may, my master."
"What is it, Victor?"
"You said that they must only investigate? Isn't that a bit…insufficient?"
Luna looked at him, she somehow knew where he went with this. "You are right. The orders read as this, then: Search and destroy. Find any traces of that substance and eliminate it at it source. The less knowledge leaks into the public, the better."
Siren looked at Victor with a gaze he hasn't seen before, it seemed like she thanked him…yet still found his attitude to be…unrequired.
Raven, on the other hand, smiled and nodded: "I see why my brother chose you now. You certainly are something to behold, that is for sure~" said the god of death with a silky voice and looked at his companion-to-be.
"Shall we then?"
"Focus on the task, and it will go faster for the both of us…"
"Hehe, don't act like you won't enjoy this~"
They both unveiled their wings and with one swing, and no sound at all, they flew northward, towards the city of Revise.
Luna and Victor looked at them, as they flew over the horizon.
"Now then, will you tell me that story then?"
Victor kneeled and as he lowered his body, his hair slowly fell on his back, he started it tying it back in a ponytail of sorts, yet he still had a lot of strands that refused to obey anything he tried to do with them, Raven had similar problem, yet he had few strands over his face.
"Certainly, my master…"