Faith?

"Apologies, a gentleman ought to ask for permission to seat near such a beauty" The hooded figure spoke, his voice raspy and tired "But I've been walking so long, I couldn't wait for one more second"

Lioth's heart raced ferociously as her body prepared to flee. It was so sudden, so unexpected, that the oppressive and often suffocating presence of her guards felt like the only thing that could calm her agitated self.

However, before she could do anything, the man turned to see her and a sensation of unrivaled peace and warmth seemingly seeped into her, like a glass of water after crawling on a desert, or the morning breeze of a summer day.

His eyes were golden, not just that, but like the reflection of the sun on golden coins. Long and wavy strands of silver hair fell like a curtain of vines, his skin was tan, not as much as the desert-dwelling Braunners, but more than your average farmer toiling away in the fields all day.

It was the peaceful, welcoming gaze of the mysterious man that suddenly made her breathe again, her heart slowly calmed and settled for a rhythmic, soothing repetition.

"I hope you don't mind" He continued, his eyebrows rising with a playful smile.

"Oh- No, not at all" He replied shaking her head and giving him a somewhat awkward laugh.

The man then focused his attention on the crystalline water of the fountain and began scooping handfuls with his left hand, leading it up to his mouth and drinking it vigorously.

Lioth, now calmer and collected, took some time to analyze the stranger. His frame was imposing, to say the least, she may be rather small in height but even seated it was clear the man towered over her by three full heads, was he a human or was he a Braunner? It would be unusual for one of their kind to have a face with such a rugged appearance, for he was square and his eyebrows were silver bushes. His hand was callous and thick, immediately recognizable to someone like her who spent so much time surrounded by training soldiers.

Whoever this man was, he was a warrior. Each time his arm stretched it showed he wore no tunic, instead his toned and intimidating muscle was left clear for anyone to see, scarred and with only an arm guard of leather and bronze rings on it, just like his cloak it looked battered and worn.

"Ahhhh...Once again I apologize, I had a thirst unlike any I've ever had in my long life"The man spoke and brought back the princess for her deep thought with a jolt and the fidgeting of her fingers on each other.

"Don't worry. But there is a feast inside, if thirst is what you have why not serve yourself some wine?"

"Never been too interested in the wine served nowadays, It tastes like watered-down beer in the best of cases...like piss in the worst"

"What type of drink do you prefer then?"

"Hm, now that's an easy question to answer! I always enjoyed some hoenyraspus, it was this golden and greenish drink that you had to down in one go or its bitterness would make you gag, but soon after it passed, the sweet flavor of honey would linger for ages" He seemed joyful at the beginning of his explanation, but as it went on, his tone became longing, almost melancholic.

"What is this drink you speak of? I have never heard of it"

"Of course you haven't! A pretty lady like yourself shouldn't know about drinks! Leave it for the old veterans like myself" The man had a hearty laugh to himself that made the princess giggle.

"He must not know who I am" She thought, slowly a tender smile grew on her face, but soon a curiously raised eyebrow as well "Veteran? you barely look thirty, good men"

"You humble me, princess. Thank you"

This took her by surprise, he did know who she was. It was certainly new for her that someone would so casually speak to her, most often, if she wasn't revered at an arms-length, they would cower from her in fear of her father ever being displeased. It was this man's cheerful demeanor, his calm voice felt like a long-lost parent seeing you after years of the campaign, holding out his arms expecting a tight hug.

"And what is your favorite food?" The princess, all caution left aside, leaned towards the stranger, getting into a more comfortable sitting position, considering they were giving each other's backs.

"Boar, always been and will always be" He replied without hesitation "I hope I get to eat some soon"

"Boar? I'm sorry but I have never eaten that"

"Really? I wish I could fix that, but I doubt I could get some for you"

"But, what is a boar, to begin with?" The princess had never heard of the name, which seemed strange to her.

"It's like a pig, but hairy, bigger, and meaner. With a pair of big nasty tusks" The man scratched his chin, seemingly losing himself in his thoughts.

Loud laugher coming from the feast made the princess turn around, after a few seconds when she returned her gaze to the man this time she focused on the peculiar color of his hair.

"Sir, If I may ask, why is your hair of such extravagant color? Is it a new dye I haven't heard of? Something made here perhaps?"

"My hair?" He rubbed his thumb and index finger together catching a strand of his wavy hair in between "No, it's not a dye of any kind"

"But how come it shines with a light of its own and is the color of our coin?"

"I wonder that too, but I don't have an answer for that question"

"And your eyes, they look like they contain a vast river of gold inside of them, even in the night, with your hood on, they pierce through the dark like torches"

"Ah" He looks down at his reflection on the water "These eyes do hold fire within them, with them I see in the hearts of people, I read their minds and their very souls" He lets his words hang on the air for several seconds until he looks up from the water and sees the deeply impressed princess watching him in awe, he laughs "I'm messing with you! Don't be so gullible, young princess"

"Well, with eyes like those it seems almost fitting for you to be a man of myth"

Then, something seems to click inside of her mind, all the books she has read, from within all of them, there is a description that seems to be one that fits the stranger the most. But that would be impossible.

No, the more she looks at him the more clear it becomes, she stands up, the calmness in her heart gone and replaced by a rising tide of overwhelming emotion.

"Princess?" He says, his voice low and although it comes out like a question, it seems it was intended as a statement, he too stands up.

The silver hair, the golden eyes, this alluring energy surrounding the man as if inviting her to be near him. It was, impossible and yet there he stood.

"Lightbringer" She has barely enough force to mutter the words out of her mouth, the awe on her face clear as the cloudless sky above them.

He turns around, now facing the princess she can clearly see the man hidden beneath the cloak.

His body is muscular, not big as Freund, but athletic and equally imposing. Chest bare and several large pieces of leather straps that seem to function as a belt of sorts, with a dozen disks of bronze tightly tied around by more leather strings, the disks vary in size. His pants seem made out of green linen, they are dirty and clearly old. With several cloth strips tightly tied around his legs from the knees down until it reaches his talon, the man is barefooted.

But his savage and primal appearance is not the only thing that draws her attention, but the red, still dripping, fresh blood from his right hand that falls to the stone ground.

Seeping into the cracks of the cobblestone, unlike wine, served in a glass with expertise by the servant near the Duke Hatto, who sits in a comfortable-looking chair.

"Please, sit" He says at the High General and Archmage, both sitting on the chairs in front of him, a wooden desk separating them.

The room is large and filled with paintings and small statues carved in marble, the place has a strong smell of wine, aided by a few empty bottles laying around the place, quickly picked up by the servant as she leaves the three men alone. A couple of scrolls rest on the desk.

"So, how is the life of a regent working out for you, Edler?" The duke asks taking a sip of the wine, his cheeks already redden.

"I am no regent, I simply take care of the internal conflicts of the kingdom while our king is fighting against the Skalanners" Edler replies in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Well, that sounds like a regent to many of us" Hatto whispers shaking the wine in his glass a little, his eyes fixated on it, his fingers tapping the wooden surface of the desk "But we are not here to discuss those matters are we?" His eyes raise to meet Edel's penetrating stare.

"No, we are not. Eversmile" The name is enough to make the Duke's eyebrow twitch.

"Should we discuss this with, him in here?" Hatto asks pointing at Das with his glass.

"He is here to make sure you are not lying, Duke" Edel replies, sparing a quick, angry glance at the mage.

"What?! I thought I was the one supposed to be the one asking questions!" Visibly upset, the duke hits the table with his fist "It is my land that has been torched! My people butchered and reputation tarnished!"

"While regrettable, It doesn't change the fact that I'm the one who will be asking first. For each question I make, you will ask one yourself." Ignoring the Duke's outburst Edler takes out the necklace from his pocket and loudly places it on the desk "This, does it look familiar?"

The duke begrudgingly grabs the amulet in his hand, taking one more sip of his wine before letting the glass rest on the desk and using both hands to look at the familiar yet different object.

"An amulet of The Lightbringer, or so it seems. I'm no priest so I have no clue what you expect me to say" He throws the amulet back at the desk, sinking into his chair angrily.

"That doesn't answer the question, have you seen it, yes or no?" Edel asks, his authoritative tone and dangerous stare enough to wash away some of the man's drunkness, making him sit straight.

"No, not like this" He answers, now more awake than before.

Edel then turns to Das, the annoyance in his eyes only increasing. Das then comes up with something quick, after all trying to do a spell as invasive as mind-reading could be disastrous, gladly, with everyone repeating the same thing, he was trying to be less impulsive in his actions.

So instead, he settles for a little trick.

He closes his eyes for a brief moment and then opens them again, they glow purple.

"W-What is he doing?" The Duke asks pointing at Das.

"He will know when you are lying and once we depart he will tell me how honest you have been, I will take action accordingly to his findings" Edler throws a threatening stare at the Duke "Now, ask"

"Eversmile, what is the real story behind it? To burn and butcher an entire village, the rebels have never done something like that" His question seems to pick Edler's interest.

"We do not know for certain, at the moment, all we know is that a new and savage enemy has had the audacity to challenge our authority...and the strength to get away with it this time" His words carry a certain, sourness "Now, answer me" He stands up and presses both hands on the table "Do you work with the rebels?"

"WHAT?!" The Duke shouts in shock and anger, standing up from his chair as well "How dare you to put my loyalty in question after I feed you!"

"You will answer the question, yes or no?"

"I-I can't! You people have no respect for the old ways, you are my guests!"

"I care not about your uncivilized customs, answer me or I will take your defiance as prove of treason" His sharp words make the duke choke on his words before he has a chance to speak up, fear crawling to his face.

The room is filled with tense silence for a few seconds until the Duke opens his mouth to speak, but what comes out is not his words, in fact, it's nothing at all.

An ear-splitting scream of a girl can be heard through the entire castle. However, Das, Edel, and Freund recognize the voice in an instant.

One.

A shadow jumps into action, its body moving at an inhuman speed through a corridor.

Two.

Another shadow joins, they jump out of the corridor into the grounds of the castle together, a new one joining them.

Three.

They jump again, this time at the wall of the structure, with incredible strength and dexterity they utilize every window as a means to reach their objective.

Four.

Two new shadows jump out of the windows, breaking their glass and without skipping a beat joining their brethren as they take one final jump to enter the castle.

Five.

The five guards reach the roof of the castle, crouching on its edge and having a full view of the open inner garden, where they see the man holding the princess close to him, seemingly having whispered something in her ear.