Kingdom of Zuland, Blaika Keep, Present day.
Sara shuffled through a sea of books as made her way through the keep's library.
Dozens of shelves were toppled over one another. The disarray and death here had been done by the same Loradel soldiers that had murdered her men in Hansel.
"Gods take them!" yelled Sara, her voiced bounced off the empty walls. She kicked a pile of books into the air, causing the wound at her side to throb. She had trekked miles and for almost two weeks to reach the border in search of the Lionslayer only to be told it chased after the Loradian. They couldn't have been far, the men of the keep believed he died in the Undergrove, the marsh just northeast of them, said to be filled with demons end-to-end. It was a surprise to hear that the Loridian was just a boy, and yet, he killed another three good men. The thought of that murderer being ripped apart by monsters brought a wave of satisfaction. Satisfaction that quickly diminished as she remembered how she was unable to protect her people at Sember, had to survive yet another attempt at her life, and was once more met with empty hands. She sighed as she sat crossed-legged on the nest of multicolored books.
Sunlight poured through small windows at the top of the room. There was a loud groan as the entry door to the library creaked open.
Svarga came through, closing the door behind him. "I should tell you; you won't learn anything by sitting on the books." He gave a wry smile.
Sara scoffed. "I hope you brought more ill-cooked jests. Some good news, perhaps?"
"Something better," he answered.
Sara sighed; the room seem to get warmer by the minute as she waited for another of Svarga's canards.
"We haven't spoken about—"
"About Blaika?" she finished, as she flipped through the pages of an unknown book. "What is there to speak about?" she grumbled.
"About how I was surprised of your bravery, and your skill." He spoke slowly though there was a hint of adoration behind his words. "I also wanted to ask if you're well? You took a life for the first time; the guilt can harm some if they're not prepared for it."
"Guilt?" Sara chuckled. "Now there's the first amusing thing you've said." She kept her eyes locked on the open book.
Svarga took a seat beside her in the bed of knowledge.
She licked her lips. "Why would I feel guilt for someone who tried taking my life?"
"You shouldn't, you did well, you didn't hesitate and emerged the victor. The reward was your life, and the experience of battle. If you're truly not effected, then I applaud you, for many warriors wish for a will like yours. Feeling guilty after taking a life is not about compassion. Death is a plague, being so close to it or being the deliverer of it…it can hurt your mind."
Sara thought back to her battle in Blaika. She could almost feel the glass sparrow in her grasp. Images of Fallaj reawakened, the moment his eyes widened in fear, how his chest heaved slowly as he took his last breath.
Svarga rubbed at his chin, waiting for a response.
Sara smiled as she felt the same warm of achievement in her chest as did then. There was nothing, no second thoughts, no fear of witnessing death, only content. "I don't." She raised her head and looked her companion in eye-to-eye for the first time. "I've only grown stronger. I carry the blood of my father, the blood of the fearless. It's as you said, I have the will of a warrior. I'm done with being unsure and confused. I've proven now that I am capable of doing what has to be done, and I will do what must be done to secure the prosperity of my family's legacy."
"Then it seems you have another opportunity to take the role as a leader."
Sara tossed the book aside. "Why's that?"
"The King of Loradel, King Ered, has been informed of the attack in Hansel and has called for a meeting between all leaders of the nations. I received a hawk from your father stating that he would like you to take his place in that meeting."
Sara nearly hopped out of place with glee. "Really? Father said that? I knew it, coming out here and enduring this responsibility alone has opened his eyes. Where will this meeting be?"
"A fortress on the east coast, it's within the Kingdom of Hallos. Also, your father wants to know if you've obtained the Lionslayer."
She smiled. "Write father for me, tell him that the Lionslayer is back in our hands and that I'll gratefully take the role of our kingdom at the meeting."
Svarga frowned. "You want me to lie to the king?"
"You wouldn't be lying, General. By the time we reach Beswind, it'll be the truth. Besides, I have a plan that doesn't require the Lionslayer."
"Plan, huh? Mind sharing it?"
"I will, in time, it'll be difficult but I'll find the solution we've been looking for. If everything works as I want it to, these coming events will be written in my chronicle for the marvel of future generations."
~0~
Sara adjusted her hair as she thought of the collection of events that had transpired within the passing month. With a sigh she looked into the large mirror. "You can do this; this is nothing more than a stone on the path." The room was beyond lacking when it came to clean furniture.
"May I ask what that stone is?" said a voice.
In the reflection of the mirror a man stood behind her. She took a took a sharpened comb from the cabinet and spun around to find the man gone. "Where are you?" she demanded as her heart raced.
"I'm not here with ill intent," said the voice, it carried a tint of familiarity.
An unnatural gust of wind swept the flames of the torches and candles, allowing darkness to consume the room.
Two red eyes looked back at her from the opposite end of the room.
Her tongue went numb. "What are you?"
"Possibly an ally, for now." There was a snap of a finger as the candles reignited with violet flames, revealing the newcomers face as he stepped into the light.
"You're the one from Sember," she said, lowering the comb.
He wore a hood and a mask over his mouth that resembled honed fangs. The etchings were a bright orange, reminiscent of flames. The red of his eyes dissipated as they returned to same shade of yellow as that night. "I am."
"What do you want?"
"Same as you. The head of Loradel's king."
"What makes you think I'll ally myself with someone who butchered my people?" She spit on the floor.
"I never took the lives of your subjects. That was Evana."
"Another of your allies?" she retorted.
"I won't apologize for blood that on another's hands. My goal is to end the life of Loradel's king, what comes after doesn't interest me."
"Why? What is your goal?" The weight of anxiousness lightened from her shoulders with every word. "Assassins? Is that what you are? Spilling blood in exchange for wealth? Pfft."
"Is that how you hide your fear? Behind a mask of false confidence?" He took a step closer. "Not a good quality for a soon-to-be queen."
Sara swallowed hard as she raised the comb, liquefying it into a sphere of silver. "Step back."
"If I wanted to kill you, it would have been done by now."
"Yet you need my help to kill King Ered?"
"Want—not need. Ered's death would benefit both of us. I know what you want. It's written all over you like an open book."
Sara gritted her teeth as she formed a blade in her hand. She swung for the man's neck. "Don't act as if you know me!"
Seconds before the steel reached his neck he vanished, a cloud of ash in his place.
Sara's breath shuttered. "How…"
"You'll need to control your emotions better if you're to kill Ered." The man's voice was now behind her.
She turned and was met with his unamused face. He's toying with me. "If you want my help, then I want answers."
"Ask."
"Why the attempt on my life?"
"There was none, if you're referring to Evana's actions in Sember. That was her way of enjoying herself." He leaned on the wall as the violet light flickered in his eyes.
"Murdering hundreds is enjoyment?" She stomped closer to him.
"For some it is, the same way killing Fallaj brought you content. And before you wet your lips with another accusation—we weren't behind either of the attempts on your life."
"I was defending myself." She rose her voice as she pointed the blade at him. "Those people were innocent!"
"'Innocent' is a word used in children's tales. Wickedness is harbored in everyone. No one can be spared as 'innocent'. Any more questions?"
"Yes, are you the ones responsible for the dead coming back?" She bit her lip as she readied herself for the answer.
"Yes. It's the consequence for using necromancy aura, it's like an unseen poison that infects only the dead."
Necromancy!? "Now look who's pulling words from children's tales."
"Necromancy is far from a tale. I'm living proof of that."
"Bosh," she exclaimed.
"Is it?" He stood upright as walked towards her, willingly walking into her blade.
She felt his muscles squelch as the tip dug through his cloak. She looked into his eyes as he towered over her.
He took hold of her hand and blade, burying the silver deep into his heart.
Sara let go as she stumbled back. "H-how—that's not possible." She blinked rapidly, making sure her eyes weren't fooling her.
"I need Ered dead. Don't see it as making allies with Evana, see it as an agreement between you and I. An agreement that will benefit both of us." He pulled the blade out of his chest and placed it in her quivering hand. "I'll be watching." He put his back to her as he walked away.
Sara looked down at the still clean blade, not a single drop of blood tainted its shined surface. "Wait." She looked up at him though he didn't turn around. "What's your name?"
"Roxas. Roxas Alcazar," he said, before vanishing in a cloud of ash.
The room grew brighter as the torchlights returned to their lively orange, almost as if nothing had happened.