The Red Star calmly observed his surroundings as his staff emerged from the vehicles, welcoming us with impeccable discipline.
"We salute the dragons!"
they cried in unison, their voices resonating like an echo of loyalty.
Sery stepped forward.
Her dark red hair, tied in two ponytails, swayed lightly in the wind. Her eyes, fierce yet carrying a certain gentleness, were fixed on me. With measured grace, she knelt on one knee.
"Greetings, young master," she said in a respectful tone.
A faint smile spread across my lips. "Hello, Sery. It's been a while."
She stood up slowly. She was shorter than me and had to slightly tilt her head to meet my gaze.
"It wouldn't have been such a while if I could perform my duty as a knight without you always finding something to complain about," she replied with a hint of sarcasm.
A dramatic sigh accompanied her words as she shook her head, as though genuinely hurt.
"And now, I hear you want another knight by your side…" She turned away, raising her hand as if to wipe away an imaginary tear. "In the end, what purpose do I even serve, young master?"
I couldn't help but smile at her theatrics.
"But really, Sery, what purpose do you serve? What kind of knight stays far from her master? How do you expect to protect me from such a distance?"
She raised an eyebrow, feigning indignation.
"Protect? Who? You?" A clear laugh escaped her lips, so contagious that even the Red Star cracked a faint smile. Why was he reacting as though I'd said something absurd?
"Thank you for joining us, Red Star," Zeyone said, cutting off the exchange between Sery and me.
"It's only natural. There's no need to thank me for this, young master," the Red Star replied.
"We won't delay, so we'll depart now," he added, casting a brief glance around to ensure everyone was ready. Our small journey was supposed to last three days.
"Young Master Zikron, you'll ride with me and your knight." He emphasized the word "knight." It was subtle, but I understood the message well: don't forget that my daughter is your first knight.
With a faint smile, I shook my head. This man was clearly opposed to my decision, which was understandable.
Without a word, I climbed into the car. The interior was beautiful and spacious, with a soft vanilla scent lingering in the air—a stark contrast to the commanding aura of Pery Crimson, the Red Star.
The others boarded different vehicles. Pery Crimson sat across from me, while Sery took her place to my left. The car started, and we left Zeyopolis, heading toward a city named Ravencroft.
The place where Ester's orphanage is located. The journey was silent.
Sery was on her phone, checking the news and social media. The Red Star, more reserved, kept his eyes closed. I assumed he was meditating, though I wasn't entirely sure.
During the ride, I asked the driver to play some music to accompany us, as the trip was unbearably dull.
We passed through several towns, crossing the continent at a steady pace. Every car on the road, upon spotting the emblem on our vehicles, moved aside to let us pass freely. The sun shone brilliantly, but the air was cool, creating a rather calming atmosphere.
Lunar, Ayla, and Elyone… I wonder how they're doing.
Suddenly, the Red Star opened his eyes, fixed his gaze on me, and spoke calmly:
— Young master, are you familiar with Ravencroft?
— I've heard a little about it. Why?
He looked at me with a calm expression and a slight smile.
— Before I answer, tell me what you know.
I knew Ravencroft was an unwelcoming city, but that was about it. Honestly, I'd never really paid attention to the cities within our empire.
— Not much, really, except that the atmosphere there is hostile. I think they don't like us very much, I said after a brief reflection.
— You're not wrong. Why do you think, young master, we aren't very well-liked there?
The Red Star asked this in an inquisitive tone.
I glanced at Sery, who had stopped paying attention to her phone. Our eyes met, and I could see in hers: Looks like someone didn't do their homework.
Even now, she found a way to tease me. I turned my attention back to her father.
Why don't they like us? The imperial family? Yet, my father has always been fair. From what I've seen and heard during meetings with him, I know he's loved by the people. An idea suddenly struck me.
— Because they're dissatisfied with the law?
A smile appeared on his face. I was correct.
— Exactly. They're dissatisfied with the law. Ravencroft has an 80% crime rate.
My eyes widened in shock.
— 80%? I repeated. That's huge. But what is Father doing? And why is the crime rate so high? I asked, clearly confused.
Now that I think about it, Ester also seemed to hold a clear grudge against me at first. But her hatred wasn't directed at me—rather, at those in power.
— Even when peace exists, there will always be those who oppose it.
He pulled a coin from his pocket. On the golden coin, there was a heart engraved on one side. On the other, a broken heart. He showed it to us clearly, spinning it so we could observe it closely.
"Love and hate are two sides of the same coin. You can be blessed by the light and the most holy, yet the thread separating you from darkness is incredibly thin. Shadow and light, war and peace… all of it is alike.
There's no peace without war, whether silent or otherwise. Humanity will always find a way to wage war, be it with weapons or through other means."
After pausing to let his words sink in, he continued:
"Ravencroft, in a way, is at war with the elitists of our people. Not an open war, but a silent one."
— Why? Sery asked, clearly confused.
— Because some elitists use their power to
circumvent the law. The saddest part of it all is that some are corrupt, and it's the common folk who bear the cost.
It was heartbreaking. I never thought some of the elites of our empire could abuse their power in such a way. In my mind, our empire was untouchable in the face of such corruption. But alas, it seems there are serpents everywhere.
Sery asked with a questioning tone:
— Father, if the crime rate is so high, how do people still live there?
As if anticipating this question, Pery pulled out a round object and placed it on the floor between us. A hologram appeared.
The hologram displayed the city of Ravencroft. Visually, it looked incredibly beautiful. At first glance, the city seemed majestic, but suddenly, the hologram flickered, and the image changed.
"This is Ravencroft. By day, everything appears normal, with only a few petty criminals here and there. But as soon as night falls, the police are overwhelmed. Local criminal organizations have been waging war for years. Drugs, burglaries… crimes that initially seemed minor. But as the years pass, the crimes grow more aggressive. Today, they're targeting law and the elites."
The images showed gang wars ravaging the city. Ravencroft, even in darkness, retained a grim majesty.
Gunfire rained down like a torrential storm. Buildings were destroyed, some shops as well. A macabre violence reigned. The police seemed lost. Some of their colleagues were being shot on sight. Strangely, there were far more deaths among the police than among the gangs.
Chaos. It was chaos.
Amidst this turmoil, a figure stood out. A man, imposing, wore a metallic mask of dull gray. One of his eyes gleamed with a bright red light, while the other was plunged into an abyssal darkness.
Opposite him stood a woman. Her chestnut hair cascaded down, framing a mask that covered the lower part of her face.
On it, a wide painted mouth, almost grotesque, could be seen. Her almond-shaped, piercing eyes seemed to analyze every detail around her, as if nothing could escape her notice.
And then, as if he knew he was being watched, the man with the metallic mask slowly turned his gaze toward us. Or rather, toward the camera.
His red eye shimmered, filled with palpable hatred, but behind this rage, a chilling lucidity shone through. He raised a blade with a fluid motion and, with a precise gesture, hurled it at an astonishing speed.
Suddenly, the hologram flickered, and the image vanished. The video was over.
I remained frozen, my heart pounding. These masked figures... Who were they? Could they possibly be the leaders of the two factions tearing Ravencroft apart?
As if answering my silent question, the driver broke the silence:
— Young master, Red Star, Miss Sery, we will arrive in Ravencroft in twenty minutes.
Pery nodded, giving a brief approving gesture, but he remained silent.
— How did Ravencroft fall to such a state? And who are those two figures? I asked, my tone loaded with curiosity.
— Why has the Emperor done nothing? Has he abandoned the people of Ravencroft?! Sery burst out, her brown eyes blazing like an uncontrollable fire.
Pery stayed calm, unperturbed. He answered in a neutral tone:
— You'll have your answers as soon as we arrive. We'll be spending two days in Ravencroft.
Red Star's tone left no room for argument. Sery groaned in frustration but said nothing more.
My mind, however, was elsewhere. I was thinking about the people of Ravencroft, about what they endured daily.
My hands had unconsciously tightened on the armrests of my chair, and my gaze had hardened. Sery, much more expressive, clearly displayed her frustration, her fists trembling slightly.
One question haunted our minds:
What are the Empire's Elites doing? Why is Father doing nothing?
It was unfair to these people. They had asked for none of this.
I needed air. Without thinking, I raised my hand and pressed a button to open the window. Fresh air rushed into the vehicle, but it was heavy, charged with an electric tension.
I leaned out slightly, seeking to calm my thoughts.
The sky, once so clear, was now gray and threatening. The sun, usually radiant, hid behind a thick layer of clouds. Rain would not be long.
Sery, beside me, stared intently at the horizon. We caught sight of Ravencroft in the distance.
If I hadn't known what was happening there, I would have found the city magnificent. It rose majestically, its towering buildings almost touching the clouds. But now, every tower, every street, gave me the impression of approaching a wolf's den.