Cristina Karzak, heir to the noble house of Valenwood
Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 4, Day 10
City of Valenwood, north of the Imperial Territory
The situation is very bad. Damn it, I hate that imperial bastard to the bone. Just feeling his gaze makes my skin crawl with disgust. I never liked the way he looked at me whenever he had the chance. During parties, he always tried to touch me, but I always interrupted him. The day he sent a letter for a political engagement was cursed; I had a strong urge to kill him myself that day. There's no benefit in the power of my house; it's useless to him. All he wants is my body.
Until the day I got sick. My beautiful body rotting in a bed. He came to see me, but the moment he saw me with a look of disgust and revulsion, he ran out of the room. I was happy to be in this state, but also sad; my feelings were contradictory at that moment.
Until the day I saw him. I heard the door open, and my father had a vial in his hands. That vial brought me back to life. I sat up and saw him, a boy with black hair and black eyes, taller than me. His gaze was different from everyone else's. It was calm, like two beautiful crystals. There was no lust or desire like a filthy pig; he looked at me as a person, a woman. At 15 years old here, I was already considered a woman. His gaze was so beautiful.
In all these days, I never felt a disgusting look from him, never tried to court me to the point of annoyance. There were obvious tricks that seemed stupid, it was really amusing. He was clumsy and had no idea how to court a woman, but still, his gaze was always the same, never changing, two deep black eyes, absolutely mesmerizing.
It was fun talking to him; the conversations weren't stupid. It was also fun training with him; he strives to survive, which is good…
Until we got to this point, he's very serious, a little funny sometimes. Today, he reprimanded me,
- You're very late.
In his eyes, I could see he was upset, very upset actually. I was just late, but he was very upset. My father didn't seem to mind, but he did. I've never seen him angry until now; it seems he cares a lot about punctuality. I was surprised, I looked at him, for a few seconds I didn't know what to say. He was waiting for an apology.
- Forgive me.
His eyes changed, he wasn't angry anymore, just a little.
- Alright.
It was strange; it was the first time someone reprimanded me. I have to keep that in mind. Being reprimanded is unpleasant, looking out of the corner of my eye, he was quietly waiting for my father to start talking. I have to be more polite, I thought to myself... I'll think about it in my room tonight.
My father started talking, it was problems in a few words, many problems for me and my house. Naturally, it wasn't as dangerous as before, that bastard is getting married; without a doubt, it will be to a woman of his same status, I have that in my favor. So thinking… there's only one option left, and that is Zed.
I have many questions; I hardly know anything about him. I don't like not knowing anything about the man I'm going to be engaged to, it disgusts me. So, I want answers.
We looked each other in the eyes, no lies or anything, the following questions will decide my fate. If he lies to me, there's no remedy but to accept being that bastard's woman, to save my family name...
- God of shadows.
God of shadows? What is that, I've never heard of it in the history books. There are only nine gods, not ten. Is he lying? No, he's not, his eyes don't lie, it's true.
Wait a moment, in the history books, no one has ever been seen to manipulate shadows, not even react to their presence. This boy, on the other hand, can do it, that presence, his shadow is always connected to the darkness, his very aura seems a total mystery. His magic is so rare, control over shadows, perfectly hiding his presence in the same shadows...
It makes some sense, but still, isn't he an evil god? Suspicious, but he didn't lie, he's not a demon… so who are you…
- What kind of god is he?
- As far as I understand, he's the same as the other living or dead gods.
- I've never heard of that god.
- Neither have I, I just know his name.
A new kind of power… a new aspect, a new kind of magic, a completely abnormal being, an apostle? Of a dead god? Unknown? And mysterious, that's what I know about the God of Shadows. A god forgotten by history or erased on purpose. I'm not sure.
- What's your first rank?
Zed looked me in the eyes, he's judging me, seeing if he can trust me… he's in the same position as I am. If he sees that I'm trustworthy, he'll tell me, if not, he'll simply leave…
An unknown god… a flaw in itself, this young man in front of me can change the balance of power, can change everything, can overthrow and destroy the world as I know it, just by being an apostle of a dead god…
- Does someone want to kill you?
- I think so…
That's what he said, it was true. Someone like him should be dead. That kind of magic should never have existed; if the great existences find out, they'll hunt him without mercy. A double-edged sword, either you destroy the world or the world destroys you… What is this feeling, what am I feeling, emotion? Or is it excitement? It's simply magnificent, Zed, you are magnificent, you are unique, I want you for myself. You are an apostle of a dead god.
Wait, apostles serve living gods, but in the case of a dead one, a legacy? A candidate to take his place? Wait, the same thing happened with the other dead gods, their names are known, and there's also a representative they have, those two people are known as Legacies.
Apostles have different ranks than common people, the same happens with Legacies... they are different existences, not entirely human.
Did he lie to me? He told me he was human... maybe he considers himself human... or maybe he doesn't know...
- Not trusting your future wife is also disrespectful.
He looked at me with slightly widened eyes. Surprised? Did he think I would run away or something? Seriously, what a lack of respect, does he think I'm so weak-minded?