— Commander?

  A voice pulled Valeria out of her thoughts. She blinked and looked around the room surprised.

  One of her soldiers, or rather only his head was peeking through the cracked open door.

  — I’m sorry. I knocked a few times, but no one was answering, so I just… opened the door. Am I coming at the wrong time, Commander?

  — No, it’s fine. — she fixed herself in her chair and invited the guard inside — Did something happen, Felix?

  — Oh, no, nothing happened. I just brought you the list of guards requesting leave for the celebration. — He entered the room and pced the sheet of paper he was holding way too tightly on Valeria’s desk.

  She took the list and scanned the neatly written names.

  The Dawning was a big event for the followers of The Ten, so every year around it, many guards were requesting for leave so they can spend this time with their families, since most of them lived in the barracks in the Golden Pace. The summer celebration made it one of the few opportunities for them to visit their loved ones.

  — Are you certain you don’t want to take a break this year either? Leaving the Pace isn’t a requirement. You can have a vacation and get some rest or travel. — Valeria asked after noticing that his name wasn’t listed.

  Felix was an orphan and like Kyra and was forced to live in the streets. Unlike her sister, however, he never found a second home.

  Valeria met him when he was already a young man, around the same time as her promotion to the commander. He showed a promising aptitude for leadership and swordsmanship, so she offered him a pce among her Royal Guards. Her intuition proved to be correct, and Felix ended up becoming her right hand.

  Ever since then, she never saw him take even a day off. She knew that he didn’t have a family that he could spend the Dawning with, but she was worried, as it seemed like the boy was working himself to the bone. She was even considering sending him on a forced vacation, but decided to leave it as a st resort.

  — No, Commander. I wouldn’t know what to do with all the time. — He ughed awkwardly and then went silent, chewing on his next words.

  — Besides, I could use some more money right now…

  Valeria studied him for a second. The pay the guards were receiving wasn’t especially high, but it was certainly enough to live a fairly comfortable life in the city. Most of them didn’t have the need to work overtime unless they had big families they had to take care of, or had a debt to pay.

  Is he in some kind of trouble?

  — Do you need any help?

  — No, no, no! It’s not like that — Felix guessed what the Commander was thinking and quickly tried to dispel her worries. — It’s just that… I don’t want to jinx it, but if everything works out, next year you might see my name on that list.

  Valeria looked at his flustered face and rexed a bit. It seemed that whatever was happening in his life was heading in a positive direction.

  — I’ll hold you to that then. — she signed the document and gave it back to Felix. — Just don’t push yourself too much.

  — I know, Commander. I know my limits, don’t worry.

  The guard was about to leave, but Valeria called out to him.

  — Take these with you. — she pointed at the box of pastries that Lin Xuen gave her. She noticed he was stealing gnces at them ever since he came in. — It’s for winning the match. You’ve earned it.

  He looked at Valeria surprised. He was simply sparring with his friend to show off in front of the Dragon Princess. He wasn’t expecting any reward afterwards. Especially since that reward was something Lin Xuen prepared specially for Valeria.

  — Are you sure, Commander?

  — Yes, it’s fine. Just take it.

  Felix’s eyes beamed with joy. He thanked the Commander and left, carrying the box as if it was a priceless prize.

  I’m really lucky to know the Commander, he thought while walking down the hall.

  His life changed significantly ever since he met Valeria.

  Before, he was just another child without a home, but she noticed the potential in him and gave him a chance. For the first time in his life, he had a roof over his head and a clean, warm bed to sleep in. He wasn’t going hungry anymore and he didn’t have to worry that he would be caught stealing and beaten again.

  That’s why Felix swore to never waste this opportunity that she had given him. He wanted to make sure that she never regretted her decision. He looked up to her and sometimes felt that she was more like an older sister to him than she was the commander.

  He wanted to make her proud.

  Far away from the comforts and splendor of the Golden Pace, a caravan was slowly making it’s way through a dense forest. The light of the moon was sneaking in between the gaps of leaves and branches, illuminating the path. In other circumstances, the tranquility could be considered beautiful. For the soldiers escorting the caravan, however, it couldn’t be further from it.

  — It’s too quiet. It’s unnatural. — said one of them, while looking around nervously. Ever since they entered the forest, he couldn’t shake the feeling that someone or something was watching them.

  — Quit whining. If a dark forest is enough to scare you, then you should consider changing jobs. — berated another.

  — No. Otho’s right. — said a soldier sitting on the wagon — Didn’t you notice? There are no animals around. It’s like they’re all gone.

  — Shut it. All of you. Or I will cut your pay if you keep squabbling. — the Captain scolded. He understood where this uneasiness was coming from. He felt it too, but it only meant that he had to make sure that his men kept their heads cool. If something happened, having them run amok in panic would mean an instant death.

  — Yes, Captain! — they answered in unison and the silence fell on the caravan once again.

  The wooden wheels gave a strained crick as the group kept pushing ahead through the unevenness of the road.

  With every step he took, Otho’s bad feeling kept getting stronger and stronger. Cold sweat ran down his spine, as every fiber of his body screamed to leave everything behind and just get away from there as fast as he can.

  Calm yourself, Otho. You need this job. It’s just the forest at night. You can do this, he tried giving himself some courage. He even started counting steps to distract himself.

  Just as his anxiety was beginning to lessen, the caravan suddenly stopped.

  Otho’s head shot up as he looked around trying to find the reason for the sudden pause.

  A few paces down the road, illuminated by the faint rays of the moon, a person was crouching.

  It was too far for Otho to see them well, but the nauseating feeling in his stomach grew even stronger than before. There was something about the stranger ahead that made every inch of his skin tingle in fear.

  — You there! Step aside. This is the King’s Caravan. — the Captain shouted. He grasped the handle of his sword, preparing for an attack.

  The stranger flinched, surprised by the sudden shout, and rose from the crouch.

  Otho squinted his eyes, trying to get a better look at them.

  In the next moment, his whole body froze in terror.

  Then came the realization.

  The st thing he registered was a blood-curdling screech and a pair of long cws shredding his body to pieces.