?????????, ????????, ???????????
Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 4, Day 3
Holy Northern Empire, ????????, ?????????
-Your Grace, Your Holiness, we have information that the gates within the Riverland mountains are open. According to the reports, this was done by the noble of the city of Valenwood to obtain the resurrection plant to save his daughter.
-Your Grace, Your Holiness, the infinite darkness of the place has completely vanished, along with the dragon stone with an affinity for darkness...
-Your Grace, Your Holiness, the monster was also slain, and they took the soul fragments. Our informant tells us that a young man with black hair and black eyes, of low birth, possesses the dragon stone and the fragments. We await your orders.
The place was radiant, even brighter than the sun itself. Everything around was absolute light, beyond which nothing could be seen. Bowing his head, a lord in white robes with bandages over his eyes recited as if it were a beautiful poem.
In front of him, an altar adorned with precious stones led to a staircase, at the top of which sat a golden throne. A woman sat with her legs crossed; nothing more could be distinguished about her. There were no details or reference images; everything around her was like a miniature sun. The only known fact about the apostle of the god of light was that she was a beautiful woman.
Apostle. A messenger of God or the right hand of God, as ordinary people often think of these individuals. The truth is that these people are only beneath God and above the world itself.
The woman moved her delicate fingers through her hair, filling the place with an unsettling silence.
-Hmmm... What is the boy's name?
-Your Grace, Your Holiness, the boy's name is Zed.
"Zed... a very strange name... Send an expedition of ten people to investigate beyond the Riverland mountains. For now, let's set aside the matter of the boy named Zed."
-Your Grace, Your Holiness, I will carry out your orders.
Upon saying those words, the lord's figure disappeared from the strange place.
*****
Twilight Initiator(S), Zed, Son of the Shadows, Shadow
Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 4, Day 3
City of Valenwood, north of the Imperial Territory
There was a semi-open space, with a cement floor marked with some symbols. Around it, two pairs of posts held up a roof. There were some potted plants and a small fountain in the upper right corner. On the sides, there were wooden swords—it was a training area.
-Hmm... huh... ufff...
Miss Cristina was doing some kind of warm-up, stretching her limbs to the sides, moving her head in circles, and doing a light jog.
-It feels good to get back to training.
That's what she said, murmuring to herself. She no longer wore the dress from a few minutes ago. She had changed into some athletic pants and a slightly tight shirt, which only highlighted her body more. Moving her hips, she closed her eyes. She had been at it for almost five minutes.
-Huh, why don't you warm up too?
-I'm fine as I am...
I feel like I would lose my life doing what she's doing right now. She was stretching her legs from side to side on the floor and even contorting her spine unnaturally. She is very flexible with her body.
-If you say so.
She continued her warm-up for another five minutes.
-Alright... it's time.
Walking calmly to where the wooden swords were kept, she swung one slightly to the side, vertically, horizontally, and diagonally.
That took another ten minutes... I was starting to think she only brought me here to watch her warm up...
I remained silent, not that it bothered me or anything. In fact, it was quite a sight... her body's flexibility was astonishing.
My father would be surprised to hear these words from me. He might even hit me out of joy. On Earth, I never felt any attraction to the opposite sex, nor to men. I didn't like anyone in general. I remember the times when my father would hit me for this when I was a child. I was only seven years old... he always tried to get me to sleep with a woman far older than me at that time. A shitty father.
In my deep thoughts, I realized Miss Cristina was right in front of me. She had some sweat drops on her face, some of her hair sticking to her neck. Her beautiful silver-white hair matched the sunlight, and her deep blue eyes looked at me as if judging me attentively. She might have already figured out her father's intentions. She is a smart girl, I can say with confidence. From the first time I saw those eyes, I knew it. Smarter than her father, which makes her more dangerous.
She silently extended a wooden sword. Similarly, I took the sword in my hands. Cristina is not an ordinary girl. According to her father, she is a prodigy in swordsmanship. Her hands, though they look white and delicate, grip the hilt firmly. There are no scars or anything of the sort, but the moment the sword reached her hands, her aura changed a lot. She is dangerous; I am sure of it. Her eyes also changed, like those of a predator.
And I, the only thing I know right now is self-defense and other martial arts my father taught me... looking at the sword in my hands, I have no idea how to wield it. There's no escape; I am screwed. She will beat me up; her body is more athletic than mine. This is surprising, considering she spent almost two months in bed. I give credit to the plant she took.
I knew I was going to lose, but I still need to give it my all. She is testing me. She has been watching me all this time. I could feel her gaze every second. I think she is seeing if I am capable of surprising her, and the best way in this world is through a challenge, just like what is happening now.
-Let's begin.
And so it began.