︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎︎

"Oh . . . ? You're finally awake~"

". . . !"

The moment Ashran opened his eyes, a woman of striking beauty—at least, to others—is lying beside him in a white dress. Her long black hair flowed around her curves and her electric-blue eyes were fixed on him.

Despite Ashran's confusion, he couldn't help but stare back. Her voice was soft and melodic, like that of a goddess, yet somehow cold, as though a certain witch slowly burying you alive in the freezing ground with her rusty shovel and then muttering, 'Oh, you shouldn't have woken up,' and continued burying you but at a high speed.

'Ah, I see. I'm gonna die now,' he thought, too early for a pandemonium sight like this. Deciding if he could use a bit more shut-eye, he tried going back to sleep but got interrupted.

"Do you really think you have time for this?" the woman said.

And -- that's it, time's up. Time to wake up.

"E-Empress . . . ! How did you get in here? I am sure I locked the door before I slept?!" Ashran stammered as he rose from the bed.

"Who do you think I am?" she said.

"Right, right. Uhm . . . so, may I know why you're here?"

"I have a task for you, and more like --a good news, too," the Empress said, with a hint of a grin playing across her lips.

"And -- what might that be . . . ?" so Ashran asked but reluctantly, because he had a feeling this isn't good --definitely not! The last time he saw that grin of hers something very traumatic happened, which he was sent to the battleground in between of Lympsiney and Teldai.

"If you want to know the details, you should properly dress up now and go talk to Felonius. Since that old man is the one who suggested 'that' idea. Now go." said the Empress.

"Yes, Your Highness!" Ashran replied. And when he was now about to leave, the Empress called out to him once more. "Oh, and by the way, you were so cool yesterday," she said, smiling.

"Thanks, I guess," said Ashran, and smiled back, too.

As for why the Empress must enter his room and simply lie in his bed, that is something beyond discussion. Actually, there's no room for discussion, and there never shall be.

Ashran is currently on the upper floor of the tower. After descending two floors, he made his way to a narrow corridor with a high, vaulted ceiling. The corridor is flanked by tall, arched windows on the right side. And on the left are the corridor walls, but in the middle, there is a tall, wooden door.

And so he arrives in front of the tall wooden door, which has a sign at the top saying 'Library' and a symbol of a book beside it. He places his hand on the door and pushes it open, then steps inside. The air felt cold, sending a shiver down his spine as he look at the shelves on either side and above him, filled with thick old books covered in weathered leather.

Upon looking around, he spotted Felonius, the old man is standing besides of one of the bookshelves, his hair sure is fading from his head day by day; creating a barren of no-man's-land, he thought, and the old man is draped in a robe woven with threads of midnight blue, as always.

"I heard there's another task for me." Ashran said as he approached to him.

"The Empress already informed you?" said Felonius, while looking at the page of the book he's holding.

"Yeah, and she told me to get the details from you directly."

The old man then walked to a desk and set down the book he was holding. Retrieving a pouch filled with the familiar jingle of coins, he handed it over. Curious, Ashran looked inside.

"Whoa, gold coins! How generous you are old man!"

"That . . . is all the money you'll need when you arrive in Miden. Use it wisely."

"Miden?" said Ashran, ". . . Miden?" and he repeated as though he didn't heard it right.

"It has been decided that we will send you to Miden, to . . ." said the old man with a slight pause, ". . . retrieve something. You will attend one of its academy, and graduate there."

"What —?! No, no, I can't do that! That! It's too much for me," despite Ashran's statements now bordering on arguments, the old man paid no attention and continued to talk further.

"Your objective is to find a certain relic, you will have to find it no matter what. Secure it and you can return here."

"I refuse!"

"Should you really be saying that?" said the old man with a stern look.

"W-What do you mean?"

"This is the punishment I suggested to the Rounds, and thankfully, they agreed. Otherwise, you'd be in the floating prison by now, repenting for your actions."

'Ah, damn it,' Ashran thought. It was surely because of what happened yesterday. The spoiled son of a grand duke, which he considered, had really done it this time. If he caught him again, he will make sure the bastard wouldn't be able to see the light once more. Ashran gritted his teeth thinking about this.

Though it wasn't a big deal, just a result of beating Darren Lhuser who challenged him to a duel in front of the party, which happened yesterday. Probably wanted to impress the ladies, that guy. Darren Lhuser's been a bully of all time, tormenting anyone he deems weak, even a poor innocent disabled girl. Ashran lost his patience at that moment and ended up beating the crap out of him.

Now he thinks that he shouldn't have done that and just stayed quietly. Facing a dilemma now. Of course, he accepted. Not much of a choice, he can't even go against the Rounds either. He doesn't want to spend his time in the floating prison; he might die out of boredom — which is worse than death for him.

A day had passed.

"So, are you ready?" after a brief discussion, the old man asks him.

"Do I look like I am?" said Ashran to Felonius as if he was about to die.

The old man places a large map across the table, marked with key locations. They're in the north-west of the land, more precisely; within the Calborough. His said destination, Miden, lies in the southern part. It's a two-day journey by ship and another eight or so by land to reach Miden.

Ashran then stepped outside the library and proceeded to another lower floor. As of now, he still can't believe this is happening—he wants to deny it as much as he can. And here he is, preparing himself to venture into the day's unknown. And perhaps, to his own death.

He was ordered to leave now as soon as possible, because some certain individuals doesn't want him to remain here no longer.

'Can't they just chill for a moment?' is what Ashran honestly thought while looking back, with somehow, a bitter smile.

After a while, he stepped outside the tower.

□ □ □

"Alright, all good!" said Ashran, looking satisfied with himself. He wore a dark blue coat with a high collar, its edges trimmed in silver. Underneath, he had on a light blue shirt that was tucked into his slim black pants. His brown, high-ankle boots added a practical touch to his outfit, too. And on his left shoulder, hung a leather bag. Then at his right hand is a sword tucked into a scabbard that looks old enough to be discarded.

He turned around, as he expected, the old man wasn't there to bid farewell to him.

For a moment, Ashran frowns; he remembered the old man said that it's a waste of time, and he do agree.

They already discussed all the important details anyway, he thought, not looking back anymore.

And so --Ashran march forward.