Vika felt a sense of ease she hadn't known since her grandfather passed away—a profound relief that, for the first time, she could depend on someone else other than herself.
Determined to maintain her usual facade of strength, Vika took a deep breath and said, "In that case... I will trust my wish to you...".
She knew there was no changing their minds. Pushing further seemed futile.
Nosil, the boy with the potential to become a vassal to Ram, held a promising future for this world. Yet, something about him felt off for Vika.
Her first impression of Nosil was of a cold yet kind-hearted person, someone who had no choice in this world but to survive, like a butterfly that turned into a bat. But his eyes told a different story, they radiated a darkness, reminiscent of the night that enveloped the lands of Cyrene—a darkness that unnerved her.
Vika understood something just now, it was about Aya, and how different these two are, yet they are together journeying in the hope of achieving something.
In these moments of absolute silence, she extended her hands and hugged both Nosil and Aya together, a warm embrace, representing a shared covenant that had just been made, a promise to be fulfilled.
Meanwhile, far away, the third member of their group, who had parted ways with Nosil and Aya at the Kylian family's land, arrived in the secluded land of Andora.
This land, isolated and unique, boasted a culture and heritage distinct from any other, nestled in rugged mountains and surrounded. Known for their harmony with nature, the Andorans lived conservatively, having mastered the art of coexistence with their environment.
Bogod had traversed the entire Kylian territory to reach Andora. It was his first journey alone, a stark contrast to his usual companionship with Fano __the four members of the group with Lerna, with whom he spent most of his time training and fighting., but since their mission began, they had been separated.
Bogod is the strongest among the five, wielding the spirit of the lion—a spear that Maya had cast into this last haven amidst the encroaching darkness. As he set foot in the first village he encountered, he was struck by the alien world before him.
The male locals, mostly bald and barefoot, wore long pieces of cloth, they sat in lines, silent and meditative, paying no attention to the obvious stranger in their midst. Bogod found their presence both amusing and intimidating.
The women, in stark contrast, were like busy bees, the only ones moving and working—from the market to the carpenter's shop to the fields... Everything was running thanks to the women, It was them who kept the village alive.
In front of this unusual scene, confused and uncertain, Bogod pondered his next move. His goal was to reach the main city of Andora, but the strangeness of this new world left him doubting whether he could manage this task alone.
For the Andora family, nothing adhered to the norms of the other three major families. They were distinct, governed by a culture and perspective unlike any other.
There were no formal systems or regulations governing life among the Andorians.
Since they descended from a sect that once lived without restrictions, their existence was marred by corruption rather than reform. When the long night descended, they believed divine punishment had fallen upon them for their past misdeeds.
The survivors who reached the lands of Cyrene resolved to live virtuously to avoid further punishment. They spent most of their time meditating, believing that any action might invite more divine retribution and rob them of any chance of happiness. For them, Andora was a final refuge, a place to show gratitude, a last chance that must not be squandered.
Andorians married at sixteen, and after the birth of their first child, they left their spouses to devote themselves to meditation. The sole purpose of their unions was to maintain their population, ensuring it neither grew nor dwindled.
The women, however, believed their ancestors' sins were solely those of the men, hence they felt no obligation to atone. Furthermore, all Andorians held a deep respect for their patriarch, Lioyd, who upheld this way of life.
Andorra remained largely quiet, except for one area—the port.
Of all the Cyrene lands, only Andora had a seacoast, and a portion of it remained illuminated. This small port made Andorra a hub for merchants from neighboring territories, with a thriving fish and salt trade. The capital city, Cayan, was established along its banks.
Bogod decided to move forward rather than linger in the unsettling village. His mission was unparalleled, a true test of his strength and resolve.
Back to Iris
The predator Nero, who had recently participated in the war council in the city of Aryam, arrived at his legion's camp. Upon arrival, he dispatched another unit, led by one of his trusted hunters, Luke, to replace the third unit that had been decimated by Makal.
The soldiers who survived Makal's attack had returned to Nero's camp, except for Saron, who was still undergoing a trial.
Now, Nero stood at a distance, watching his soldiers practice their sword fighting. Lost in thought, he barely noticed the approach of a messenger carrying a report.
"Sir, I have brought the report you requested," the messenger announced, standing still and waiting for a response from Nero, who remained silent and deep in contemplation.
After several moments, Nero finally spoke, "If I remain silent without any word... will you still stand there doing nothing? Ha."
The messenger, startled, stammered, "Well, sir... I thought you were busy... I didn't want to disturb you!"
Nero glanced at him without turning his head. "What is in the report? Have you found anything worth reading?"
The messenger opened the report, preparing the papers. "Regarding both Nosil and Aya... no, we found nothing... Everything about them is either unknown or missing... We don't even know if their names are real... no place of birth, no family, no relatives or friends... it's as if they don't exist."
Nero remained calm, his intuition confirming his suspicions. "Nothing hah... Anything else?" he asked.
The messenger continued, "No, there is more... At your request, Counselor Rayl sent a query to the Kylians for any information about them... It seems Killian found no bodies of our soldiers and has no information on the missing people too... according to their response of course."
Nero took a deep breath and sighed, still not looking at the messenger. "Thank you for the report... you can go now."
The messenger closed the report, turned, and left.
For Nero, his worst predictions were starting to come true. He glanced around, trying to reassure himself that it was merely his mind overthinking.
"What the hell are you planning, you two?" Nero wondered aloud, as he prepared to leave his spot.
Back to Nosil and Aya
After that emotional discussion ended, Vika took Aya and Nosil, walking side by side, heading inside the hideout.
Vika opened the door by force, quickly and She said out loud addressing her men "Listen you fuckers... Nosil and Aya are going to stay with us for a while... Don't you dare bother them?"
" What the hell boss... Are you serious?" One of them replayed, "I knew it... Boss wants that kid " another commented.
Vika then made it more clear " I want no objections... Don't make me repeat myself".
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