After the incident that occurred that night of passion, the Tiblis city authorities issued search warrants for those responsible for the murder of the guards. Despite the fact that the residents saw that those responsible were the mederi and her lover, they remained silent in the face of the investigations carried out by the soldiers of the kingdom. Driven by the feeling of guilt and cowardice, they avoided helping him despite being people who provided support to the population, unlike the vicious guards.
As the days passed and given the imminent outbreaks of revolt in the border cities of the kingdom, the city guard increased the intensity of the investigations, given the rumors that that attack was due to a group of infiltrated spies from the kingdom of Antioca.
- "Aurora, are you ready?" – Tying his luggage on the back of a tame camulus, Maximilian wiped the sweat from his forehead from the intense heat that came from the dry season. The city that until a few months ago had served as his refuge, with the threatening drums of war on the horizon, that place became a powder keg that would explode with just a spark.
- "Yes, Max. I have already packed all the tent materials. It only remains to pack what we have left in the house and we can leave "
- "Remember that we must go with light weight, we must not stand out with the city guard on our heels" - Approaching with a wanted poster with the face of one of the suspects, Aurora put it next to Maximiliano at the same time who smiled clearing the bangs from his forehead.
- "I don't think they'll catch us, at least not with these drawings. You are more handsome"- Returning his wife's smile, Maximiliano lifted her by the waist in a hug, while placing her on the saddle.
- "Lately you are too funny. At times I miss the grumpy Aurora."
- "You, my gentleman, are responsible. So take charge or you can say goodbye to this" – Taking Max's neck, Aurora kissed him before the mocking gaze of the children playing in the street. Causing that man to feel so ashamed, that he ended up driving the children away, while the young woman laughed from the mount of the steed.
Waiting for the arrival of night, they prepared to leave the city under the cover of the darkness that prevailed over the desert and looking back, the couple said goodbye to that place with a mixture of bittersweet memories.
Riding on the sands of the desert, Maximiliano evoked that nostalgic feeling for that night when they escaped from the clutches of death at the hands of Romulos and Berenice. Remembering the face of his sister and his father, gritting his teeth in an attempt to hold back the angry tears that flowed from the depths of his being.
- "You don't have to carry everything on your own. Remember that I am here too" – Surrounding him with her arms while resting her face on Maximiliano's back, as if their souls were connected, Aurora tried to comfort the man she loved. Who responded to that feeling by taking one of her hands to place a gentle kiss on her skin. With the sand flying after the impetus of the gallop of the camulus.
- "My lady, all the men are in position. Give us the order and we will follow it even to the underworld" – With a devotion that bordered on the senseless, a knight in blood-red dyed mithril armor, prostrated himself on the sand while throwing the hem of his cloak to one side.
In front of him, a lady wearing similar armor adjusted the straps of her bracelet while looking in the direction of the city of Tiblis.
With the fall of Baron Eusebio, the legion under his command was left in the control of his daughter Berenice. Who after the night of the purge, along with her new husband, rose to the title of Duchess of Rivera.
Receiving that title under oath before King Romulos I, the young Lichen conferred her power for the service of the crown. Being named battalion marshal for the first incursions on the territories of the kingdom of Sidelia.
- "Honey, are you ready?" – An emerald snake climbed up the girl's leg until it was at the level of her face, caressing her while sticking out her tongue near her lips. Right in the rearguard position where the strategists and commanders were, in the light of a lamp that rested on the table inside a tent, the new Duke of Rivera looked on a map at the positions marked to attack.
- "I'm always ready to play with my dolls, I just hope that this time they don't break and let me get bored" - With that mischievous smile that distinguished her and her eyes that shone with a spark of lust for blood, Duchess Berenice extended his arms on the soldiers who soon abandoned their nature to become macabre emotionless puppets.
- "Come on my pretty dolls! Go ahead and bring me new toys for my collection" – With that order, the foot soldiers began their march on the sand holding their swords and spears. Behind them, archers and elemental wizards spread their wings soaring across the sky, casting their grim shadows on the ground. And with them, Berenice waved her hands as if wriggling invisible strings that controlled her limbs.
- "Jasim, come quickly to dinner. It's already late at night and your father hasn't come back yet."
- "I'm coming mom" - Holding a leather ball, Jasim, one of the children that Maximiliano trained with the sword, saw in the distance a cloud of dust that advanced with the sound of a roar like that of a storm.
Closing his eyelids a little to better see that shadow on the horizon, the boy took a few steps forward, receiving squarely an arrow that pierced his skull.
To the horrified screams of his mother, the villagers rushed out of their houses and raised the alarm to the regiment of Tiblis guards, who seized their weapons as they sent a messenger bound for the camp of Sidelia's soldiers. .
- "Go ahead, don't leave a single head uncut. Kill, drink their blood, bathe the sands with that beautiful nectar of life" – With her face changed into that of a sinister creature, Berenice descended on the sand brandishing her sword against anyone who got in the way.
Trying to buy time for the women and children to escape, the men of the town took their wolf form and charged against the invading army. Digging in their claws and fangs, they splintered the wooden bodies of the puppets, who stood their ground against the overwhelming force of their adversaries.
The flames of the fires caused by the magicians of the kingdom of Antioca began to spread between the buildings, destroying belongings and farmyard animals, leaving a stench of charred meat in the air.
- "Stupid brainless beasts! My prized dolls cannot be beaten by the romps of mere poodles." – Laughing out loud as she pulled the strings, Berenice continued her march through the streets of the town sowing terror and destruction in her path.
The Lupus who proudly resisted the onslaught of their rival, persevered for more than an hour while their strength and spirit began to falter. Falling one by one, leaving only the women and children standing, entrenched inside a shelter that had been provisioned by the city guard.
Behind the walls of the building that would protect them from the invading army, the survivors listened helplessly to the furious cries of the brave men of the town of Tiblis. Like a symphony of the sound of metal colliding with claws, the shadows cast by the flames on the windows of the building danced a macabre waltz where one by one, the silhouettes mixed until they became one.
When suddenly the sounds of the combatants ceased, a deathly silence fell within the shelter, leaving only the slow hustle and bustle of those within.
Moved by curiosity, one of the women of the village approached the corner of the boards of the door to observe what was happening outside. Seeing with horror the mutilated corpses of the brave men who had stood up against the invading army.
As she was about to withdraw her face from the door, that woman stopped feeling the strength in her fingers, experiencing a tingling sensation that ran from her fingertips to the nape of her neck.
- "Breast! Are you okay?" – One of the village children approached the woman who remained motionless, pulling her dress looking for an answer.
- "Mommy?" – Without giving him time to react, the woman turned around with her arm transformed into a claw, throwing the poor creature into the crowd. With his chest shattered while spitting blood unable to breathe.
Seeing what had happened, the rest of the women took their bestial form and threw themselves against the woman who did not have the slightest expression of regret on her face.
Managing to fatally injure several of them, the woman was subdued to the ground while the others kept protecting the infants behind their backs.
- "How boring! A toy that can no longer move is of no use to me" – Giving a yank with her index finger, Berenice pulled the thread of mana that was anchored to the woman's heart, tearing it open. Leaving a lifeless puppet that little by little was acquiring its flesh and blood again.
- "Who the hell are you?" – One of the women who was subduing her partner, raised her voice defiantly against the person who was on the other side of the shelter door. Receiving a brief silence, to later be surprised by a presence behind her back that exuded a sinister energy that was suffocating to her.
- "I am your executioner" - Whispering those words in the ear of her victim, Berenice transformed one by one of the children inside the shelter into puppets. Forcing them to attack their mothers, who barely resisted the attack of their seed.
Unable to hurt the little ones they carried in their wombs, the women wept in pain as they watched as their children tore at their skin and extracted their entrails. While the duchess contemplated that gruesome spectacle, sitting at one end of the room. Smiling gleefully resting her chin against her hands.
- "So this is the way a mother plays dolls with her children? It's touching, look at them my dear Demetrio. Doesn't this make you think about wanting to have a child? – The snake that was on the duchess's shoulder kept its eyes fixed on the scene, while the Duke of Rivera kept a serious expression at the meeting table with the brigade commanders.
- "It seems that the duchess is a very eloquent woman, if I may say so, Duke Demetrius" - Serving him a cup of tea, Lucretius could not hide his smile when he saw the expression of disgust that his friend was hiding, who was struggling to keep his composure before the presence of the commanders. Those who felt their heads would roll as soon as they said what they really thought of the way Captain Eusebio's daughter behaved.
- "Well gentlemen, then we will proceed with the plan as planned. In one year the barbarian territory of Sidelia must be in the hands of the glorious lineage of the Astarothe family. You can withdraw" – Taking the copies of the documents detailing the invasion plan, the commanders rose from their seats and withdrew from the tent with mixed feelings for the execution of the plan.
- "Lucretius, what do you think of these pathetic Lichen?" – Sipping his cup of tea, Demetrio looked at his childhood friend who touched his chin with a serious expression.
- "Do you want me to say exactly what I think?"
- "Yes, tell me" - Leaving the jug of tea on the table to sit on Demetrio's legs, Lucrecio put his arms around his friend's neck and putting his lips to his ear, whispered a few words while biting his earlobe ear.
- "I think we should kill them all and not leave a single Lupus or Lichen in this world. Except for Miss Duchess, since I find her as amusing as you are" – Pushing him hard to knock him to the ground, Demetrius drew his sword and placed the point on Lucrecio's neck. Who smiled with disheveled hair, revealing her lips in a sinuously seductive way.
- "Are you going to nail it to me? Tell me that you are going to plunge your glorious sword into my being my beloved Demetrius" - Laughing out loud like someone who did not fear death, under the collar of the shirt the baron had a scar that ran all over his throat, revealing that his Adam's apple had been removed with a sharp cut.
During the turf war fought a decade ago, Lucretius and Demetrius served on the front lines under the king's direct orders. Fighting with honor for the glory of the Barbosa house, that pair of young men bathed in the blood of their enemies, covering each other's backs.
Always together, just as they had since childhood, Demetrio kept in his heart a deep appreciation for the one he considered a brother. While, for his part, Lucretius harbored in his heart a different feeling, bordering on obsession.
One day when they were given the mission to infiltrate enemy territory for reconnaissance work, the two knights disguised themselves as civilians to enter the besieged cities. While the eldest son of the Barbosa house dressed in the clothes of a day laborer, Lucrecio, trying to play a joke on him, dressed as a maiden, taking advantage of the delicate features of her face and long hair.
- "What do you think you're doing, idiot?"
- "Because? Do you like me? Did the noble son of the Barbosa dynasty get a boner from seeing his childhood friend so beautiful? – Making fun of his friend's angry face, Lucrecio couldn't stop laughing while Demetrius ordered him to change his clothes to no avail.
With no other choice, the two soldiers left their camp and infiltrated enemy territory traveling incognito in a wagon. Hiding his Aspirthen features by means of illusion magic.
Splitting up to cover ground and gather as much information as possible, the two young men agreed to meet at a point outside the city. But after hours until night came, Demetrio waited for his friend without hearing from him.
The next morning without hearing from him, contrary to the instructions they received from their superiors, Demetrio returned to the city looking for the trail of his companion. Checking every corner without having any results.
Thinking that he could find it if he returned to the meeting point, the young knight tried to leave the city once more, only to find that the guards of the kingdom of Antioca had increased their patrols due to the news of infiltrated spies.
Making the decision to escape through the drains, Demetrio plunged into the pestilential waters of the city and walked in the dark relying only on touch with mere instinct.
When he saw the light at the end of the tunnel, his eyes were taking a while to get used to the light when he could see him a few steps away. Floating on the nauseating waters, with his dress torn and sword marks on his body, Lucretius lay trembling in agony, staring into space.
- "Lucretius!" – Running up to him to take him in his arms, the young man from the Santorino family barely had a pulse and his skin was pale from blood loss.
- "Demetrio? Demetrius, is that you? – Bringing his cold hand over the gentleman's face, Lucretio ran his fingertips smiling weakly as he recognized his friend.
- "It's me! Relax, I came to save you. I will take you to the camp and the healers will attend to you. You'll be fine, I swear" – With the exhaustion of the sleepless night and the cold of the sewage, Demetrio carried his friend through the steep terrain fleeing from the enemy soldiers who were looking for them.
By the time Demetrius arrived at the camp, the curators urgently took Lucrecio, taking him to the tent. Realizing the ordeal through which the body of the young soldier had passed.
With his genitals cut off and his neck slit, Lucrecio showed unmistakable signs of sexual abuse. When the soldiers of the kingdom of Antioca captured him, they thought it was a woman, but when they saw him naked, they turned their fury against the unfortunate young man. Who was left for dead after being disposed of in the city drains.
That event marked Demetrio forever, who swore that he would not rest until he finished with the last Lichen on the face of the planet.
- "I know what our objective is, Lucrecio, you don't have to remind me" - Putting his sword in the scabbard, Demetrio helped his friend to get up from the ground. While he rested his hands on the duke's thick shoulders.
– "You have that body that I can never have. I envy you, but I envy her even more, because she will be able to have the child that I will never be able to give you" – With an expression of sadness in his eyes, Lucrecio looked down, turning his face away. While Demetrio took him by the chin, kissing him on the lips in response.
Behind the door of the tent, an officer listened in amazement to the conversation, trying not to make a sound as he withdrew. But the moment he turned around, a snake similar to an anaconda swallowed him in one bite, struggling uselessly while the animal's jaws crushed the bones, crushing the soldier's armor.
- "Does it seem like someone was listening? But I already took care of him" - With a mischievous smile, Lucrecio went to the door of the tent, leaving the strategy room leaving Demetrio thoughtful about the words he said.
Across the sands, a few miles away, Maximilian rode holding the reins of the camelus, his eyes set on the port city of Theseus.
- "Max"?
- "Everything is fine Aurora, sleep. We still need to get to Theseus. If all goes well, we can take a fishing boat on the Eufico river. I have some acquaintances there that will help us to get out of Sidelia" – Tied to her back to prevent her from falling into the sands, Aurora went back to sleep lulled by the steed's wiggle.
While the knight turned his face in the direction of Tiblis, seeing how the night sky shone in the direction of that city. Knowing perfectly well that this was a sign that the city had been captured by the army of the kingdom of Antioca.
- "Damn" - Turning his face gritting his teeth, Maximilian pulled harder on the reins accelerating the pace of his steed. Trying not to think about the fate to which those poor souls were condemned that night.