A young servant runs through the corridors of the palace towards Felix Saladon's room in the morning, he was carrying a message that seemed to be important. He asks the guards to let him enter because the message was of utmost importance; And knowing that servant already, the guards saw no problem in letting the young man enter Felix's room. The servant knocked on the door a few times, but got no answer, however the message was too important to be ignored so without thinking the servant opened the door to Saladon's room.
Inside the room, Felix Saladon was lying with two women who in the servant's eyes could not be more than thirteen years old each, it was a repulsive scene and even for a servant who had served Saladon for many years it was too disgusting to bear. The servant, somewhat hesitant and disgusted, approached cautiously, wiping the sweat from his forehead with a trembling hand.
"Lord Saladon, forgive the interruption, but we received an urgent message from Alexandria, the regent queen of Volkaron," said the servant, extending a sealed scroll.
Felix looked up, his serious expression softening slightly when he saw the urgency on the young man's face. He took the scroll, breaking the seal and unrolling the paper with a calculated calm. As he read, his eyebrows began to furrow progressively, and a mischievous smile appeared on his lips, a sign that the content was what he was expecting.
"What does it say?" asked the servant, unable to contain his curiosity.
Felix placed the scroll on the table, rising nude to walk to the window. He looked outside, contemplating the palace gardens before answering. "It says my reward will not be long in coming!"
The servant swallowed hard. "Then what should I do, master?"
Saladon turned back, a cunning smile on his lips. "Go to the general and tell him they will leave in a month. Tell him to prepare to send our 'special visitors.' It is time to test the new skills of our enhanced soldiers."
Nodding, the servant withdrew quickly, feeling the weight of that task. While Saladon returned to his repugnant act, planning each move, and with a malicious smile on his face, the fate of many hung by a delicate thread, molded by his calculating decisions.
The servant immediately ran to carry Saladon's orders to his general as quickly as possible, passing through the palace corridors in a hurry. The servant ran to the armory where the soldiers geared up, but he was not there. He then ran to the soldiers' dining hall and he was not there either, until running down the corridor he saw the soldiers gathered in the training arena, a large man was standing before these soldiers putting on their equipment.
The servant approached "Do you know where the general is?" asked the young man. "He will arrive soon, Zack challenged him to a duel!" said the soldier. The servant looked at Zack who was finishing putting on his equipment and was shocked by the warrior's size, he was a big man with large muscles and equipped with a large battle axe.
He was impressed by the man's size "Do you think the general will be able to defeat that brute over there?" asked the servant again to the soldier, the man just smiled and said "You don't know the general, do you?". And looking at the arena entrance he saw a skinny man, with pale white skin, reddish eyes and long silver hair like snow; He was a man of androgynous beauty and frail body. He came walking radiating an unrivaled tranquility and positioned himself in front of his rival. "Aren't you going to equip yourself, general?" asked Zack, fully equipped "No, it's fine, this will be over quickly anyway," replied the man.
When a soldier who would be the judge started the duel, Zack fixed his eyes on the general and fiercely advanced against him, the general only used cunning and swiftness to take just one step to the right and while Zack passed by him, with his right hand he pulled Zack's leg and he fell face first on the floor breaking all his teeth. The soldiers watching were once again perplexed, as they could not clearly see the general's movements and they all shouted repeatedly 'NISERA' which in the ancient language means white glow, praising the general.
The general, known among the soldiers for his supernatural ability in combat, rose without a drop of sweat, slightly adjusting his light mantle, which more resembled a veil than armor. The soldiers' eyes followed him with a mixture of admiration and fear, whispering among themselves about the living legend that was their leader.
The servant, still holding the important message, approached the general as he calmly inspected his hands, as if checking if they were still clean. "General, I bring an urgent message from Lord Saladon," said the young man, extending the sealed envelope.
The general, whose eyes never lost their strangely red glow, took the message with a nod of his head and broke the seal with an agility that seemed as natural as breathing. He read it quickly, his eyes scanning the lines with a speed that defied comprehension.
"Prepare the men, we leave in a month. Saladon has plans that require our...immediate intervention." His voice, although soft, carried a weight that made the air around seem thicker.
The soldiers around, upon hearing the command, immediately began moving with an almost robotic efficiency. The general passed them by, his presence even gentle, was imposing, making even the most novice of soldiers feel compelled to surpass their limits.
Zack, still on the ground, spit out the blood and fragments of his teeth, looking with respect and a hint of resentment at the general who had defeated him so easily. He knew that, despite the deceptively frail physique, the general was a force to be recognized, a master in the art of war as well as the mastery over his own soldiers.
As the general moved away, the servant watched, realizing for the first time the true magnitude of the leadership and power that emanated from that enigmatic and feared figure. He knew he was serving under the command of someone whose story would be told for generations, if mortal commonality even applied to someone like him.
After the impressive victory in the arena, General walked out of the combat area, accompanied by a group of soldiers who could not hide their admiration. Murmurs of respect and reverence following him like a shadow. The general's aura, although serene, emanated a strength that drew all around him.
As they walked down the corridors leading to the general's quarters, a group of new female soldier trainees, who had watched the duel, hurried to meet him. Excited and a little shy, they approached with admiring looks. One of them, gaining courage, approached closer and with a mix of respect and curiosity, asked the general:
"Lord, what is your name?"
With a slight smile that lit up his pale face even more, he responded gently:
"I am Set!"
The name resounded down the corridor, further increasing the fascination he already inspired, solidifying his charismatic and mysterious presence among his subordinates and the trainees who now looked at him with even more admiration.
Back at Hadon's home, some days after the event concerning Kal and Adonis, Yorin patrolled the boundaries of Hadon's estate, he noticed strange movement among the trees, figures slipping silently, more agile than mere passersby. He knew Hadon's orders well: any sign of danger required immediate action. Without hesitation, he ran back to the house, alerting everyone about the intruders.
Quickly, like a well-oiled mechanism, everyone in Hadon's home followed the emergency protocol that had been meticulously rehearsed. Doors were locked, windows covered and each member of the house knew exactly where to hide. In no time, the large house seemed uninhabited, a tense silence hanging in the air.
While hiding in a secret compartment built for such emergencies, Arphaxad, uncomfortable with the situation, whispered a question to Yorin. "Why are we hiding like this? What is happening outside?"
Yorin, keeping his voice low, responded seriously, "These are Hadon's direct orders. In this country, slavery is not just legal, it is a lucrative business. There are hunters and looters that constantly prowl these forests in search of slaves to sell, and nothing is more valuable than people with distinct features like golden eyes or silver hair. If they discover us here, it will not just be a robbery, we could end up in chains."
The gravity of the situation weighed on everyone in the hideout, reinforcing the real danger they faced simply for existing. Arphaxad, understanding the danger better, nodded silently, grateful for the precaution, as Yorin continued to monitor any sounds that could indicate the intruders were approaching.
In a moment of tension, while everyone in Hadon's house was hidden, Arphaxad expressed his concern. "How are we going to get rid of looters and bandits without exposing ourselves?" he asked, looking at Yorin, who seemed to be considering an answer. Then Sahara intervened, assuming a resolute and confident expression.
"Leave it to me. Now you will see who I really am," said Sahara, concentrating. With a clear voice, she announced her action: "Legendary Unique Ability: Divine Mists." The instant she spoke, an ethereal mist began to form around the house. Outside, the fine, almost supernatural mist distorted perception, causing the approaching looters to simply veer off course, unable to perceive the house's presence.
The visitors, especially Arphaxad, observed with amazement and admiration the display of power. "Do all of you have incredible powers like this?" asked Arphaxad, still trying to understand the extent of his hosts' abilities.
Yorin, with an enigmatic smile, responded, further piquing everyone's curiosity: "Well, that's something you'll have to discover for yourselves. And something tells me it won't be long before that happens. Especially since you've brought someone here with powers as special as theirs" finished Yorin looking at Kal. The conversation left in the air the promise of more revelations about the mysterious and powerful inhabitants of Hadon's house.
After activating her legendary ability, creating a divine fog that camouflaged the house and diverted the looters, Sahara cast a glance at Kal, seeking some sign of admiration or surprise. However, the young man, as usual, remained expressionless, giving no indication that he was impressed by Sahara's phenomenal abilities. This left Sahara a little disappointed, as she had at least expected a nod of approval.
As soon as the looters disappeared, life at Hadon's house returned to its normal course. During a meeting with everyone, Adonis announced that he would need to go to the city in two days to do some selling and purchasing of supplies. Arphaxad, seeing an opportunity, asked if he could accompany him. Adonis agreed, observing that, as Arphaxad did not have the distinctive features of the king's seeds, he could easily pass as a tourist in the capital.
Ninea, the quiet girl who had silently observed the manifestation of Kal's powers, seemed to have developed a peculiar fascination with the young man. Since then, she had discreetly followed him whenever he went out for his meditations. Although she still had not spoken a word, her connection to Kal seemed to have visibly intensified after witnessing the events in the room, showing a curious emerging bond between the two.
As Kal concentrated on his meditation, Aura approached him gently, observing his cut arm. With a kind tone of voice and offering an encouraging smile, she suggested, "I can try to build a metal prosthesis for you, if you want." Kal, surprised but visibly grateful, simply nodded in agreement, murmuring a "that would be great" before returning to his contemplation.
On the other hand, in another part of the house, Markel and Sahara were doing chores together. Markel couldn't hide his irritation with the current situation. "Everyone here does something to help, except Kal," he complained, pushing a heavy bucket across the floor. Sahara, feeling a mixture of defense and affection for Kal, responded softly, "He went through a horrible trauma, Markel. It's best to let him recover in his own time." Markel noticed the defensive tone in Sahara's voice and felt a pang of jealousy, realizing that his own feelings for her might be a little more complicated.
In a more tranquil corner, Eron and Yorin were absorbed in a game of chess. Between calculated moves, Eron casually asked a question: "Do you intend to stay here much longer, Yorin?" Yorin sighed, looking at the board with a pensive expression. "I both love and hate this place," he confessed, "I've always dreamed of being a minstrel, playing in taverns, cheering people up, being with the most beautiful people from all corners... But the blood of the Arkon is a curse." Yorin paused, capturing one of Eron's pieces with a theatrical touch. "I've thought about running away, traveling the world and fulfilling my dream. But how can I leave my brothers and sisters here? They need me." Eron nodded, understanding Yorin's inner conflict, while planning his next move in the game.
That night, while everyone was having dinner, the sound of knocking at the door echoed through the dining room. Arphaxad jumped from his chair, ready to face any threat, but saw that the house's inhabitants reacted with joy, not fear. "Since we're all inside having dinner, no one is watching the surroundings, so it could be looters again," warned Arphaxad, tense.
Yorin, laughing, reassured him: "When we're all together, Nia takes care of the surroundings for us." He continued, "When someone arrives and Nia doesn't bark or attack, it can only mean one thing - either we're receiving Master Hadon." Yorin was interrupted by Adonis, who went to open the door.
Upon opening it, the man they knew well was revealed - the same man who was Felix Saladon's general, with his characteristic tranquil, gentle smile. As he took a step forward, they all ran to hug him, and Yorin concluded: "Or our brother Set!"
Joy filled the room as Set was warmly received by the family. Arphaxad observed the scene, feeling relieved and still amazed by the complexity of the relationships and loyalties in that house.