Standing on the edge of a cliff, a woman with hair as white as snow gazes upon the vast lands, once filled with life and joy. A sigh escapes her lips as she hears hurried footsteps rushing her way.
"Master Rose!" a small voice pants out.
"What is it child?" Rose inquiries not turning around. Her gaze narrowing on a cloud of dust forming far at the horizon.
"Lieutenant Guy has requested your presence," Nolani huffs, wiping the sweat of her forehead in attempt to conceal her fatigue.
"Ugh. What does he want?" the woman breaks her calm composure.
"He said that he wants to hear your suggestions on the new training program," Nolani has straightened up, her breath returning to normal. "That is why men shouldn't be left in charge of anything I once led…" Rose mutters to herself. "Lan, come here child"
The girl walks to stand beside her master, "what is causing the cloud over there, Lan?" Rose questions, testing the progress Nolani achieved regarding her powers.
"A horde of speedster minions," Nolani claims then gazes upward at Rose, "can you tell why they're here master?"
"My only guess is that something has driven out of their natural habitat,"
"Like bad guys?" the girl questions, referring to a book she once read.
"No child… like dragons," Rose's pupils swirl then go back to their normal shape. "Let's go see what Lieutenant Guy has to say".
Rose leads and Nolani follows… It stayed this way until the latter turned 13. On that night, Rose Vermillion vanished from Nolani's life.
Rose roamed the lands in search for the supreme mage. That woman is the only one with the capability to protect Nolani from inevitable fate. Year after year passed and the search finally came to the desired conclusion.
There stood the supreme mage, glaring down at the trespasser Rose Vermillion.
"Please, supreme mage. I need-"
"No… I shan't grant a defect like you Rose Vermillion any favors… my job is to protect this nation from unnatural dangers and NOT protect just one girl whose fate has been set in stone".
That is the last thing Rose remembers from her encounter with the supreme mage. The next thing she knows, is waking up in an inn called Harbor Inn. But something was remarkably off. She found herself staring at a crime scene unraveling itself in slow motion. Then the scenery changes to a throne room where the king- whom Rose disses continuously- is cut in half and left bleeding. The next scenery shakes Rose to her very core, "NOLANIIIII" she screams out extending her hand toward her student whom she always treated as her daughter. Nolani's head had been cut off by Charles whose eyes were bloody red.
"What is this?" Rose mutters as the scene fades and the woman finds herself floating in a clear white space.
"You see now… the fate of the person you so dearly wish to protect…" a gentle voice says and a hand is placed on Rose's head. "I'm sorry Rose. If only you would have found me earlier, we could have probably changed that fate".
"Osiris… Sister is that you?" Rose doesn't turn her head but recognizes the voice speaking.
"It's been so long since someone called me by my birth name," the tone is somewhat cheery. "Been a while big sis…"
"Osiris, I will change the fate of Nolani. You just watch," Rose grips her cloak until her knuckles white.
"I am sure you will sister. And if you need any assistance, just call out for me," Osiris' voice fades in sync with the white scenery. Rose falls unconscious.
"HUH?!" she wakes up, sweat dripping and breath short.
"BOSS!" Sho stumbles towards the old woman and kneels beside her. Afraid to touch her, the latter keeps his hands to himself. "How are you feeling?" he asks as his eyes scan her form.
"Where are we?" she questions looking around.
"Charles captured us… just as you warned me he would," Levianth takes off his torn jacket and places it on Rose's shoulders.
"WHA-" Sho blinks twice and looks between the two.
"That means that harbor inn has been attacked and the king has been assassinated," Rose mumbles, loud enough for the duo to hear.
Sho is stunned with silence as Levianth narrates the events that have occurred so far.
"Looks like Osiris' prophecy is spot on, unfortunately…" Rose frowns and grips the jacket that was gently placed on her shoulders. "Do we know if Nolani's been assassinated yet?"
"Apparently that hasn't happened yet," the prince answers wryly. Rose and his highness look at Sho. They stifle a laugh, the man's soul abandoned his body completely.
Elsewhere, a heated argument is being exchanged between Nolani and Charles.
"I told you I don't know who you're talking about," Nolani repeats the same answer for the millionth time.
"QUIT LYING! WHERE IS OSIRIS?" Charles raging voice echoes in the vast room.
"I'm not lying Charles," Nolani looks at him from behind her eyelashes.
"You've always been a liar Nolani," he spits in front of her cell.
"Takes one to know one," she retorts back smirking. A bang shakes her small dome as Charles smacks the bars with his fists.
"Shut up!"
"Why should i? You can't kill me now can you?" she figured him out. "Her plans will fail because there's an unexpected wrench that was thrown in them," Nolani smirks as if she had won; though she is still far from victory.
Charles glares at her, "what do you mean?"
"You can kill, you have the abilities and power to do that. But you don't want to. It's written all over your face, dear little Charlsy"
Charles stiffens at the nickname… "No… that can't be!"
Nolani's figure shifts and transforms into Charles' mother. The woman shakes her restraints off effortlessly.
"Mother?" he steps back and grips at the sword strapped around his waist.
In the throne room, "Can we go now?" Lynn asks her partner- Matt- impatiently.
"I suggest we wait a little longer," Matt exclaims as he sees a silhouette moving in the periphery of his eyesight. He slowly nods and steps away from Lynn.
"Sorry to do that… but gotta return the favor" a male voice whispers from behind Lynn and the sound of air being sliced is heard. Lynn leaps forward in the nick of time.
"WHY YOU! YOU SHOULD BE DEAD!" she points at Tsuyosa.
"That I should… but thanks to my beloved wife, I was able to avoid such" he cocks his head to the side and shudders, "such fate".
"BUT HOW?! MATT!" Lynn widens her eyes then frowns, clear rage radiating off her.
"You've always been easy to fool, Lynn" he responds bluntly.
"Now," Tsuyosa points the tip of his sword at Lynn, "answer this traitor".
"huh?" Lynn cocks her head and frowns deeper.
"Where are Lady Ashley and her entourage?" the king questions and charges in. His sword swings with the intent of slashing Lynn's chest open.