Crimson Moon - Legend and Myths (End of Volume One)

"Must it be so?" Commander Flaen cried on his knees towards the goddess under the shade of the Crimson Moon, glistering with an enchanting beauty of an Evermoon Nymph.

(A/N: Chapter 37 - Stillness First Appearance)

"Sir Flaen," Lady Syl softly uttered, "It is not by my will I came to you. I know what I ask is hard, but it is for the benefit of our kingdom."

Shedding tears that burned like molten tar, Commander Flaen clenched his eyes shut. "Than I will... I will follow your command."

Tracing her hands through her fair silk-like hair, Syl bitterly shook her head. Allowing the tears within her eyes to begin to water, drawing the beauty of the world around her with her soft, gentle gaze, "I would never ask this of you, Flaen. Never. He is my little brother."

"Does the king." Commander Flaen hastily uttered, as to change her mind.

"He does not know. You are to have your memories wiped as well. No one shall know, not even I. So is the will of the stars. " She voiced in hopelessness, turning her tender gaze towards the bloody moon bathing the skies.

Syl Clava Broma was the firstborn of the King of Broma, Lord Killian De Lu Broma. And his secret weapon hidden from his very own people due to her talent and divine power of sight. Her very existence was only known by a few.

It was even said that Killian had slaughtered every man, woman, and child that had been privy to his daughter's birth. Who, in turn, had caused the stars to fade and the moon to bloom the moment she came into this world.

"A miracle, If I had ever seen," Killion once told to his men, "But she must not be known. None can learn of her birth.

Quivering at the thought, Commander Flaen could only lift his head towards the pale moon goddess, shedding tears, "Through his heart?" He proposed with a tremor in his throat.

"T-through his heart," Syv confirmed, covering her mouth as a sharp cry escaped her lips.

Wiping the tears from his hollow eyes flushed with sorrow, Commander Flaen rose to his feet. "By thy will Lady Syl."

Turning his back, he left, under the shades of scarlet. Listening to the somber winds and the churning of dry leaves against his feet, Flaen stared at the tent in the distance, seated next to a lake shimmering with the glow of the moon.

Flaen approached, clutching his stomach that had become twisted with each step at the act he was about to commit.

'Was it loyalty?' He thought, unable to understand the mind of Syl, the whose eyes could see past the heavens and into the future.

"Commander, your back. Are you here about this strange bloody moon hanging over our heads? " Prince Lydon suddenly uttered just outside his tent, shocking Flaen, who was in his own thoughts to see he had arrived.

"My prince." Flaen greeted, unable to bring himself to look the Prince in his eye like he had always done. "let us go inside; there is much to discuss."

"Is something the matter?" Prince Lydon probed, "Did you hear about my failed attempt with Talia today? Surely, you are not here to reprimand me in lieu of my father."

"I have news from the capital, my prince," Flaen feebly whispered, hanging his head lower to mask the shame. "We should speak inside."

"O-of course," Lydon hesitantly stated, making way for Flaen, who did not seem himself. Where was that confidence fire he saw in the man a few moons ago?

Stepping into the tent of Prince Lydon, a deafening silence gripped the air as neither spoke. One standing on end with a foreboding feeling at the pit of his stomach, while another filled with so much shame his head remained low.

"run," Flaen suddenly uttered, biting his lips, "just flee, and don't stop. I cannot betray the family for the Order. You must flee and never look back."

"What the hell are you saying," Lydon suddenly shouted, "Flee? Are we under attack?"

"Just run! Stop asking questions," Commander Flaen shouted, handing the young boy a pouch from his side, "Take it and run. Stop for no one. Flee and never--"

"I told you, Lady Syl." Said a soft venomous voice that seemed to chill the very air.

Rising from the shadows like a serpent of darkness without sound, the scent of blood suddenly saturated the tent as a delicate arm appeared through the chest and heart of Commander Flaen.

In but a moment, Flaen felt his very life come and go as he fell to his knees, uttering his final words, "Run,"

Prince Lydon's heart froze, watching a bewitching enchantress lick her blood-stained fingers. She smiled at the Prince, with her sharp narrow eyes, "Cute indeed. To think you would be chosen, out of all the others. Cute indeed. "

Swaying eyes back and forth in a hurry with the reaper's blade against his throat, Lydon could only swallow in dread, permeated in fear staring at the few shadows begin to appear from outside his tent.

"no need to run. We have you surrounded, Prince Lydon," The strange Enchantress teased, tilting her head measuring the Prince, trembling as the warm blood of his commander touched his bare feet.

"And there is no need to scare my little brother Ylva." Lady Syl commanded, stepping into Lydon's tent soundlessly.

Licking the tips of her pale skin, which seemed to carry a greyish pigment, Ylva giggled, "Never that, m'lady. Never that.

"I would hope so, now do it." Syl confidently said, turning her head away for what lay ahead.

"you are—"

Sending her palm through Lydon's chest, the young Prince's lips opened wide, and his voice seemed to fade as the last wisp of air rushed from his lungs into the air.

"I wonder what his blood taste like? You never let me have a taste of yours, Syl." Ylva moanfully snorted, tearing her palm from Lydon's hollow chest. She looked up as Slv shuttered, hearing the body of her brother drop lifelessly to the ground.

"Clean up his body. We must see that everything is ready before he wakes." Syl whispered urgently, sending one last lance towards her Lydon.

'Goodbye, little Brother. I would have loved to meet you, if only for one day.' she thought, withdrawing from sight. 'but this is the day those of Legends and Myths return.'