CHAPTER 2

July 1833, City of La Greza, Rovelia

I was awakened by the sunlight beaming onto my face. Right beside the bed sat an untidy Elior, leaning against the armchair with his golden hair ruffled and his pajamas creased. I gradually sat up from the bed, pulling out the blanket that covered me and paced towards the balcony. I could tell it was the early hours in the morning since I've long felt the cold breeze that would slap me every time I was preparing for a "hunt". I've never got the chance to enjoy the sight of the sun soaring to the sky. Sunrise has always been the time I get home or the time I leave.

"It's quite the sight, isn't it?" Elior yawned, rubbing his eyes while he stood beside me. "And your appearance is quite the marvel too Mr. Stein."

"I'm confused as you are, err Elior?"

"You can just call me Elior, your highness Prince Damian," Elior grinned. "My grandfather would like to meet you, I bet he would already know you're awake."

"Elior! Is the Trinitian prince awake?!" an old man came barging in. Just like Elior, I noticed he got elongated ears too. His clothes were as verdant as his glistening dark verdant eyes. "Bless me my dear Ranos, he's awake!"

"Hello there?" I blurted out, confused by his presence. He paced in hurriedly and began inspecting me from head to toe, his eyes lingering on my face. 

"Prince Damian, meet my grandfather, Therrion Arsifel Von Roviel. Grandpa Therry, meet Prince Damian Xoferier Stein Von Heilzen-"

"And it was Lord Orion, the child of Our Deity Ranos, who brought him here last night? 'That' presence from the last night?" Therrion exclaimed with excitement. 

"He's also an elf like you?" I interrupted, gazing over his elongated ears. His ears tingles and twitches after hearing what I just said. 

"He could see our ears and could tell we're elves?! But they're hidden! No earthian could see elves!" The old man screamed while demanding an explanation from the confused, half awake Elior. 

"He was blessed by Ranos last night, grandpa, together with me. I think it's because of that. He could see the true forms of elves and other magical beings. I mean of course he could, he's the wielder of the Scythe of Truth." 

"The Scythe of Truth? The Scythe of Truth of the God of Sages? That scythe?"

"Yes, that scythe, and I got the Bow of Benevolence. Oh, and Lord Alistair of Alchymia visited him too."

"A Hellian godling visited him? What for?"

"That's how far I could share," I replied, smiling at Elior, who took that reply as a warning. "Let's just say I also received a blessing from the Hellian god himself through Lord Alistair."

"I'll take that as assurance,"Therrion's expression softened. "The appearance of the Hellian lords and the Hellian deity himself are harbingers of death. The hair as deep as blood and eyes that glistened like the sky, indeed you are a true Heilzen. That aside, how are you feeling? It's been two days since the incident."

"Oh, I feel fine. I don't feel anything wrong with me. In fact I should be returning to Rovelia right now," I replied. "Not for royal matters, but for my work."

"Should you be returning right now, in this state? The entire elvian race is probably looking for you. To meet you that is, as the blessed one," Therrion replied concerningly, gazing over at my bandaged chest. 

"Then what do you suggest I should do?" I replied. 

"Get the blessing of the elves," Therrion slyly smiled. "The gods are in your favor, go and claim back your kingdom. But not boldly, figuratively and literally speaking, my lord."

"Therrion, where is this blessed child you speak of!" A deep thundering voice exclaimed, and the heavy wooden doors of the room opened once again, a flock of elves robed in different tones of green came marching in. "Oh my he is awake. And he is?"

"Prince Damian, child of the late Crown Prince Alphonse of Trinitia, and the rightful king to its throne." Therrion retorted, glancing over them with a smile. "I have a plan in mind, do any of you want to hear what it is? I shall speak with everyone in my deskroom, now if you may excuse me, young ones, I have a herd of curious elves to entertain."

There was momentary silence until another knock came in from outside. 

"You may enter," Elior commanded. 

A young man with black hair and blue eyes came in, what intrigued me most from his physical features were his elongated ears. He's the first elf I saw who isn't blonde and doesn't have green eyes. 

"He's an elf, but why does he have black hair and blue eyes?" I muttered unconsciously, surprised I said my thoughts out loud. I turned my head away when Elior gave me a surprised look. 

"He's a half elf and half earthian, Prince Damian," Elior answered. "Half earthian elves don't have green eyes or platinum blonde hair, nor do they have the same longevity as elves. But they are intellectually gifted and stronger than the average earthian. "

The man gasped and immediately fell on his knees, bowing his head before me and Elior. 

"I apologize for not recognizing our deity's blessed one," he declared. 

"You may rise, Rondil," Elior ordered. "Prince Damian, this is Rondil, my butler."

"It is nice meeting you, your highness," Rondil stood up and gave me a bow. "My lord, the carriage is ready."

"I'll explain on the way, Prince Damian," Elior said while tugging my wrist, walking me to the bathroom. "Please change into the clothes prepared inside."

I could feel a pang striking through my veins, I'm still confused about what's happening before me. I looked around the spacious bathroom, on top of the sink table lay the folded clothes Elior said. I pulled out the plain verdant sleeved shirt and placed it in front of me, staring at my reflection on the mirror. I sighed and quickly dressed up into the sleeves and brown pants. I walked out of the bathroom feeling unfamiliar in my new set of clothes.

"They fitted you like a glove, your highness," Rondil greeted him. "Prince Elior is changing onto similar clothes in the next room. Would you like some tea while waiting for him, your highness?"

"We'll eat while on the journey, Rondil," Elior announced when he walked in. "Elvian clothes suit you, Prince Damian. Now come, there's no time to spare."

Elior, Rondil, and I marched out of the palace with curious gazes welcoming us in every stride we took. The palace was stumped on who their guest was. I find their gazes unsettling, in my entire life as a mercenary, I've always lived under the shadow. The dozen pairs of eyes following me felt like a burn, clamoring through my flesh. 

A white carriage donning the Rovelian red flag greeted us outside of the palace. Elior went in first and Rondil sat next to him. I sat alone in front of them. 

"They were a lot of ears in the palace," Elior said while reaching out for the picnic basket sitting beside him, he pulled out the white piece of clothing covering it and fished out a ham sandwich, handing it out to me, and giving another to Rondil. "Only the elves knew the existence of the different realms, hence giving us freedom to explore Earthia, your realm, Prince Damian."

"I've only read that the gods have their own realms, I never knew they literally existed, until now that is," I replied. "I didn't even believe that gods even existed."

Rondil gave an abrupt cough while Elior stared at me in disbelief. 

"But the gods blessed you," I heard Elior whisper. 

"The gods chose me because I'm capable and skilled," I felt like a ticking time bomb, seconds away before I burst into a fit. "It wasn't because of their blessings that I am what I am now, it's because of the years I've spent on it, your highness, that I was deemed chosen. You can't just give the gods credit for someone mastering their craft." 

"I'm sorry if I offended you," he replied. "I've never thought of it that way."

The conversation ended there, with the clomping of hooves and the chirping of insects grating through my ears. The silence felt unbearable until our carriage came into a halt, causing us to bump into each other in our seats. 

"What's wrong?" Rondil called out to the coachman with his head hanging out of the carriage's window. "Oh."

There were agonizing screams coming from outside, Rondil and Elior turned pale as they slightly opened the carriage's swing door. 

"Bandits," I remarked. "Were there bandits outside?"

"Yes, I assume this is your field remembering how you carry two guns behind your chest Prince Damian," Elior gave me a pleading look, which I know what to answer it with.

"This might be your first time hearing this," I said as I pulled out the two guns he mentioned and fished out gun magazines filled with bullets from my belt anklets, which were covered inside my pants. "But I was raised by mercenaries, saved by a mercenary from my killers, and taught how to be a mercenary by a former mercenary."

 I lodged them inside the empty compartments of my guns and locked them in. The two elves looked at me with intrigued eyes, their eyes followed my every move, and lurched out their necks as I jumped out of the carriage, armed with two loaded guns and hidden knives on my ankles. From that moment on when I appeared out of the carriage, the bandits were aware of our presence. They greeted with grim smiles while they clutched onto knives held near the necks of their hostages. 

"He's that bastard," the bald man with the well built body remarked. "He's Simon Crest's bastard nephew. That red haired manic killer the mercs are talking about."

Simon Crest's bastard nephew. Simon Crest's brother's bastard son. I was tired of being called that, and dragging Simon along the mud. Simon might be an ex-merc, but I think he wasn't that great as Vlad described, seeing how they have the courage to curse at me.

"You know I really hate being called that," I retreated my guns back to their holsters on my chest. "I think I won't grace you with mercy today."

"Hah, you aren't as condescending as the rumors said," the other bandit taunted, inching his knife closer to a hostage's neck. "Bloody Damian they call you, you aren't as bloody as the mercs described, I guess I had my hopes up, aye Ben?" 

I hunched down and swiftly pulled out two daggers from my ankles, their blades facing the earth. I galloped like a horse towards the bandit who called me Bloody Damian. They always regretted it after I proved to them why I was called that. I gripped onto my knife and pulled it down his bleeding skin, twisting its sharp blade and swiftly pulling it upward. Life shook away from his eyes as he slumped onto my arm while blood both gushed out from his wound and his mouth. He gaped at me, then turned to his accomplice Ben.

"Well, aren't I bloody enough for you Ben?" I pulled out my arm from the bleeding bandit and left him flat out on the bloodied ground. "You are to free all of these slaves, and bring your friend back. Tell them mercs you and your friend here, met Bloody Damian on the trails."

He nodded, and freed the child slave he had taken hostage. He hastily proceeded to free the other slaves on their run down caravan. He then sluggishly walked towards his unconscious friend and pulled him over his shoulder. His eyes danced in fear as it hindered contact with mine as I gazed at him. He walked in the forest slumping, while carrying his bloody friend. His trembling back slowly disappeared throughout the vast trees. 

"Prince Damian, are you alright?" Elior called out, while making his way out of the carriage, Rondil catching up beside him. 

I looked at the quivering child who was covered in the bandit's blood, his hands were tied by a rope. I bent down and slashed the rope, his pale skin had a purplish display under the rope's bindings. But even after I freed him, his glancing eyes were still merrily frightened. 

"You are an elf," I blurted out. "I am quite different from the others, I could see who are elves among people, even if you hide it.I could see your elongated ears."

"Elves!" Rondil exclaimed, panting. "Why are there elves here?"

"They are all elves," Elior remarked with an expression I hadn't seen him wear before. It was anger and disgust. "Were any of them hurt?"

"It seems that none of them are hurt," I replied while glancing back at the caravan, with elves robed in rags emerging from it. I glanced back to the elven child beside me, he seemed different from the others. His clothes were not as grimed as the others, and he seemed quite healthy, aside from the dark circles forming under his eyes. He seemed to be half elven seeing as how he has blue eyes and blonde hair, while the other hostaged elves all have green eyes and blonde hair. 

Elior and Rondil urgently tended to the other elves, with the coachman bringing our carriage and assisting aid. I, in particular, was intrigued by this certain little elven. 

"What's your name?" I kneeled down while wiping his face with a handkerchief I pulled out from my pocket. "You are half elven, unlike the others."

"I'm Lirion, and yes I'm half elven," he croaked. "I was on my way to find my papa at Trinitia when I was caught. They were able to identify me as a half elf since they said my hair shined like the elves. I hate my hair, I was caught because of it."

"No, don't say that," I smiled at him, while I picked him up, and carried him. I reached out for his head and messed up his hair while he glanced back at me. "They're pretty, and they shine under the sun. You might not see it, but it looks like gold when it shines. If you don't want it, let me have it then. Look, my hair is all red, but they scare people like the ones earlier, so I guess it's fine."

"You have pretty eyes," the child replied, smiling. He rested his tiny head on my blood covered shoulder. "They're blue like mine."