Night time in Astralis:
"I think I have a plan that might just save us all," Countess Myra said, smiling.
Prince Caelum and Riven turned to her. The moon's light cast its glow on them, making her smile even more devious.
"Why didn't you say anything during the council?" Caelum asked.
"Because I have reasons to believe that Zurhic has a spy in the council," she replied.
Caelum's eyes widened with shock. He already believed that Zurhic had spies in the castle but he never expected a spy to be in the council—the heart of the kingdom. His shock immediately disappeared, replaced with a cold sense of wary.
"And why do you believe I don't think you are the spy from Zurhic?" Caelum asked, Riven gripping his sword firmly.
"Because I came to you with a solution to our problem, or else your guard would have beheaded me," Myra answered.
Caelum smirked, raising his hand to signal to Riven to be at ease.
"So, what is this plan of yours?"
"Please come with me," she said, turning around.
Myra led and they followed. She took them to the underground waterway. There, hidden, was a girl. Her hair was blonde with hints of green. She wore rags and held on to two items —a void black coin and a pendant. Caelum was surprised by this act. He clenched his fist, seething with rage. He asked, his gaze never leaving the girl, "What is the meaning of this Countess?"
"It's not what you think, your highness. My spies merely brought her because of the pendant she held," Myra answered.
Caelum moved closer, squatting down, focusing on the pendant. There it was, the sigil of the Zurhic— the full moon with a staff piercing through it.
"Where did you find her?" Caelum asked, standing back up.
"A run-down village near the border of Portsmut," Myra replied.
"You still haven't said what your plan is.....Countess," Riven said.
Both of them locked eyes. They glared subtly at each other, like two dogs fighting for their owner's attention. Caelum noticed and said, "Enough you two. Countess Myra, your plan?"
"Yes, your Highness. My plan consists of two parts. Near my territory is a fisherman's village that turned to ash. Nobody knew how it happened and since it didn't affect the territory, I chose not to look into it. Reports came in that a strange man was seen sitting, staring at the river from the burnt village, on a particular day of each month. I sent my scouts to investigate and they returned confirming the person as the Lunar emperor. That date is two days away. I suggest we ambush him. Even the strongest of men fall when they are caught off guard."
"How do we ambush someone whose Rem control is beyond normal?" Riven asked.
"Our allies possess a weapon called 'a sniper' designed for ambush and assassination. Their weapons will harm him and if that fails, the footsoldiers and mages we set alongside will finish the job," Myra answered.
"How does that relate to the...."
Caelum stopped himself with a chuckle. He already grasped the other part of the plan.
"Splendid. Though it pains me to do that to a child, but Valemire comes first."
Riven's eye moved from Caelum to Myra then back to Caelum. He didn't understand what had happened but he knew it wasn't going to be good.
"Riven, take her to an inn. She's a valuable piece in the plan," Caelum commanded.
"Yes, your Majesty," Riven replied and carried the girl.
They all left the waterway. Far away from Astralis in the Black Market, Tila watched with her unique skill [God's Eye]. With a smirk on her face, she said, "The chaos is about to begin."
Morning at the RSF Camp was busy. Leon had been thrust into a mission after his promotion and the preparations for it were huge. All the members of his trainee squad, now corporals were his first pick. He gathered all the soldiers he could. Ghislaine wasn't present so he had to do it all on his own. They numbered about a thousand, the new corporals included. In his office, he called Allen, Mia, Jax, Jenny, Cole, Susan and Caleb. These seven were the ones who performed best in the war on Astralis.
"The reason I called you all here was because you are our aces. Jax, Caleb, your raw strength and Rem made you stand out in the last battle. Jenny, your marksmanship is second to none in the whole of the RSF. Cole, Susan, your tag team attacks during the battle were the best in the force. Mia..... I don't need to say anything. And finally, the leader of this squad, Allen. I have no good thing to say about you."
"Huh?! What the hell do you mean by that? I have no redeeming qualities, is that it?" Allen asked.
"Good, you said it yourself. But, I am still leaving this squad in your care. Your mission is simple," he said, opening a dossier for them to see. " These three creatures are the titans of the red zone. They are your targets."
Mia saw SERBA and her hand moved to her gun. Allen noticed the reaction, then walked forward and closed the dossier. He picked it up and said, "Alright Sergeant Scaredy pants, I'll take it from here."
He turned to the rest and said, "Everyone go get ready, we leave in fifteen."
"Why the hell do we have to listen to that dope?" Cole asked.
"Just go," Susan said, pushing him out the door.
Outside the office, Allen caught up to Mia. "Saw you twitch back there," he said.
"That monster, Serba. It killed my parents," Mia responded.
Allen was silent for a while, processing what he just heard. "Then it's a good thing we were given this mission then," Allen said.
"What do you mean by that?" Mia asked.
Allen stopped in front of her, with a half grin and said, "Let's go get your revenge."
Deep inside the Red Zone, three creatures sat in a conclave— the Titans. Hit sat at the head while Puah and Serba sat at the base, forming a triangle. These beasts have consumed so much humans that they gained the ability to speak.
"It seems the humans are being cautious, " said Serba, with a snarl.
"Me tired. Humans destroy us, we kill all of them," Puah said.
"Patience my friends," Hit said with a smile. "I have a feeling we would have more than enough humans for a feast."
Meanwhile in Astralis:
The sunlight cut through the room like a blade. Its brightness woke Riven who stayed the night with the girl. Riven woke up to a plethora of ice shards hanging just in front of him, the caster–the girl he brought.
"Easy now little lady, let's not get too hasty," Riven said.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"Ser Riven. See, I mean no harm, now can you lower your icicles, the cold is infuriating."
She didn't. She clearly didn't trust him. From her eyes, Riven knew she wouldn't hesitate to kill him. He diverted her attention, "What is that?" Looking out the window.
The girl turned towards the window and in an instant, Riven used his Rem. He disappeared from her line of sight and appeared behind her. She stumbled into his arms, startled. He pressed a finger on the side of her neck and said, "You would be dead right now if I meant it. Calm down and we'll talk."
The girl nodded and Riven released her. She immediately spun around and cast [Flame arrow] but Riven expected it. He knocked her hand, sending the spell in a different direction and landed a chop on her neck, rendering her unconscious. He tied her up and placed her on the bed. An hour later, she woke up and Riven was seated across from her.
"I know you have questions and I am willing to answer them. As long as you answer mine ok?" Riven said.
The girl's yellow Rem flared. Her pupils turned yellow and she cast with her eyes [Earth Bullets]. Bullet-sized materialized and launched at Riven. Riven pulled out his sword in one swift motion and sliced through the bullets, his black Rem oozing off of him. His sword skill terrified the girl. He brought his sword just before her eyes and said, "Try something like that again and you might just lose your sight."
"Now You are going to answer my question, understood?"
The girl nodded frantically.
"Good. What's your name?" Riven asked.
"Kremlin," she answered.
"Where are you from?" Riven asked again
.
"Eldrath," Kremlin answered.
"How did you get that pendant?"
"It belonged to my mom. She gave me to help me find her hometown," Kremlin answered.
"And the black coin?"
"A bunny person gave it to me with a potion. They said I shouldn't die, it would be a waste of good chaos," Kremlin replied.
Riven sighed. She looked no older than nine years of age, yet she has been through this much ordeal.
"What do you want from me?" Kremlin asked.
"Well, Kremlin, that's one question I can't give an answer to," Riven replied.
Her stomach rumbled and Riven let a small laugh. "If you assure me that you are not going to attack me, I'll untie you and we'll go get something to eat."
"I promise," she said shyly.
Riven untied her and led her downstairs where they ordered food. The food came and Kremlin sat there, drooling at it. Riven noticed, then spoke, "What are you waiting for?"
"You haven't finished yet," she replied.
"What do you mean?"
Kremlin faced the floor, fiddling with her hands. Her head flooded with memories of her suffering. Tears dropped from her eyes to the ground. Riven pushed a plate to her with a warm smile and said, "Eat. There's plenty more where that came from."
She grabbed the plate and began to wolf down the food. Riven watched her with a smile. What exactly could have happened to her to make her like this? He thought. Prince Caelum and Countess Myra walked in and spotted them. Prince Caelum said as he approached them, "How is she Riven?"
"She is fine, Your Majesty," Riven replied, upright in a bow.
Kremlin saw Riven's reaction to Caelum's presence and followed suit. Caelum smiled only for a moment before turning away. He sighed softly his heart heavy with one question, "Do I really have to sacrifice a child for Valemire's future?"
Saintess Mei walked into the inn after seeing them from outside. She was in the slums, healing those who were sick. Her eyes fell on Kremlin and they glowed— she was getting a vision. In the vision, she stood frozen before Astralis in flames. The buildings were destroyed, bodies mutilated and everywhere. She entered the capital and its ground was red, soaked by the blood of the fallen. Its road sticky and oozing with the coppery tang of blood. This was worse than the High Lich incident. She ventured further and saw the horrific sight. Serena's head hunged on a pike, and Riven was chopped into pieces— head, arms, legs, torso and guts....And Caelum, he was crucified with four Rem spear constructs, lodged in his chest. Beneath his cross laid herself, her Sanctums, Ghislaine and the council members. Saintess Mei fell to her knees at the sight.
The vision warped, dragging her to a different place, just outside of Astralis. Caelum and the Lunar emperor stood with Kremlin, standing close to Caelum. They conversed but their voices were inaudible. After the conversation, Caelum nudged Kremlin towards the Lunar emperor, Kasian, whose eyes gleamed with anticipation. As she moved closer to him, an arrow cut through the air with a sound from the city, enhanced with Rem. It tore through Kremlin's chest from behind. Her veins turned purple from the wound and spread all over her body. Blood dripped from the wound and her mouth. Kasian raged and the vision cracked like a shattered mirror.
She returned and her eyes turned normal. She fell on her knees, vomiting and shaking fearfully. Caelum rushed to her side. He stroked her back gently while Riven brought her a cup of water. Mei drank the water and with Caelum's help sat on a chair. She gripped Caelum's arm, eyes wide, terrified, and said, "If your plans for the future involve the child, you would be sending Astralis to its doom."