On a sunny afternoon, Alejandra was busying herself in her room reading dozens of books and a plethora of novels. She had quite the outing yesterday so she decided to take it easy this time around.

  From the morning to now, she spent her breakfast and brunch cooped up in her room, reading through as much literature as she could.

  She loved doing so purely to rex and calm herself. Not only does she get new information about a variety of topics, she's also just allowed to have a breather— away from all the unnecessary political discourse.

  She sat on a cushioned seat next to a fancy looking table adorned with silver linings, designs, and motifs. Her tea was served in front of her and a quiet peaceful calm filled the bedroom.

  Two quiet knocks came from beyond the door to call to her attention. “Yes?” Alejandra leaned to the side and called back.

  “My Lady, it's me Teresa.” The voice on the other side replied.

  Alejandra stretched her arms and gnced patiently at the door. “Come in.”

  With the turn of the handle, the doorway swiftly opened and revealed Teresa, standing there in her uniform, with her hands in front of her, her shoulders rexed, and a formal expression yered on her face. She bowed her head and spoke, “My Lady, Her Grace, The Duchess Amelia, has come to see you.”

  Alejandra's ears perked up and she closed the book she was holding and looked as the Duchess, in a casual outfit, entered her room.

  “Dear Niece, it seems you've been well.” Amelia smiled. Teresa bowed to both of them before seeing herself out of the room to give them privacy.

  Alejandra wasted no time to stand and curtsy. “I greet The Wolf of the North,” She bowed. “Is there anything you need, Your Grace?”

  This was Alejandra's first time catching a gnce at Duchess Amelia without any of her formal wear on. You could tell that the Duchess was strong due to her rge muscur build. She had broad shoulders and thick arms. Her short hair was tied to the back in a short ponytail. One gnce at her torso as well, you could tell that it was likely chiseled and trained to a tee.

  Yet even with this imposing stature, Duchess Amelia carried a gentleness around her alongside the intimidation that she brings to those she converses with.

  The Duchess was indeed beautiful. Anyone who could see her can tell you that much, but Alejandra thinks beautiful doesn't fully describe Amelia. She was also handsome and princely, one of great androgynous beauty.

  The Duchess stepped forward and looked around Alejandra's room, gncing at the books she's been reading. “How many have you read so far?”

  “A couple dozen.”

  “Hah.” The Duchess let out a small ugh. “You are indeed like her.”

  “Like who?”

  “Roselia.” Amelia smiled. “You mother would frequent the library more times than I could count. She’d always read a book or two daily and it didn't take 2 years until she informed our Father that she had finished all the books in the library.”

  Alejandra blinked, she didn't know this fact about her mom.

  “Roselia was the most studious and diligent person I knew.” Amelia continued. “Everyone, including me, expected her to become the Azaroln Duchess.”

  “But she had married my Father instead?” Alejandra assumed the Duchess' following words but the woman meagerly shook her head.

  “No, if it was simply that, I wouldn't have gotten into such bad blood with her.” Amelia’s face was forlorn and bitter.

  “What happened then, Your Grace?” Alejandra leaned forward, her curiosity piqued.

  Amelia shrugged. “After Father died in battle, our ideologies simply didn't mix well. In that sense, she abandoned the Family and left with her lover.”

  “Oh.”

  “We had never talked with each other much afterwards…” Amelia frowned. “Well until that one day…”

  “When you visited us all those years ago?” Alejandra felt uneasy. She didn't know of the strife between her Aunt and Mother. She didn't know of the bad blood that had long been a part of their retionship.

  She suddenly felt bad towards her mother, since she always mentioned her Aunt Amelia to her.

  “Yes…and we had a fight as well, one you were unfortunate to witness.” Amelia looked away. “She had always beaten me in combat, but I supposed motherhood has dulled her skills.”

  The Lady felt her eyebrow twitch and she lightly tapped the table, “I don't think so, Your Grace.” Alejandra would not accept any sort of insult to her Mother, whether to the way she was raised or to her strength as a warrior. “My Mother took her time to train me everyday, but she never let go of her own training. She was busy being a Duchess, a Soldier, and a Mother all at once…and I admire her for that.”

  Amelia stared bnkly at her niece, whose face was filled with determination and pride, ready to shower anyone of her mother's accomplishments. Amelia started to ugh and Alejandra frowned even harder. The Duchess quickly shook her hands to stop her from misunderstanding. “I see. I suppose Roselia has indeed remained quite skillful…then would you then agree that she had lost to me purely due to me being better then?” Amelia leaned at the back of her seat and crossed her arms, she smiled teasing the young dy.

  Alejandra blinked. She realized after all her statements she couldn't just say that her Mother was on a bad day. The Duchess had checkmated her into saying she was simply better than Roselia.

  “I-I–” The dy winced and Amelia seemed to be having fun seeing her trying to come up with anything.

  “Hahahaha!” The Duchess let out a hearty chuckle. “I merely jest you, Dear Niece.” Alejandra's face flushed red and she pursed her lips shut as sheepishly sank down her seat.

  Amelia’s face softened as she stared at the Lady, before her expression turned stern. “You know, I never thought I’d ever get to talk to you like this.”

  “Me? Why did you think so, Your Grace?”

  “Your mother…” Amelia gnced at the side, deciding to not meet her eyes. “She didn't even tell me you existed.”

  “Oh.”

  “When I found out from the papers, I was furious and angry.” Amelia closed her eyes, as if she was looking back on the memory. “I rushed to the East as soon as I could to confront her.”

  “But…”

  “But I still didn't get to see you.” Amelia’s gentle stare was filled with regret and sadness.

  “Why was Mother so afraid of me meeting you?” Alejandra raised an eyebrow.

  “She should've warned you about it already. It is only her character to do so.” Amelia frowned. “You see, our blood is special Alejandra.”

  The Lady’s face turned solemn. The memories of her Mother telling her about their curse and all her warnings began to pop up in her mind.

  “Our blood carries a blessing.” Amelia bit her lip. “But it has a cost. It–”

  “It saps our lives.” Alejandra finished. “The more we use it, the more years we lose in the future.”

  “Yes, exactly…that is how our Father passed away.” Amelia refused to say anymore, it seems the painful thoughts inside her head were proving to be too difficult to express. “He did it to save the futures of his countrymen—at the cost of his own.”

  Alejandra id her eyes at the solemn distant gaze held by the Duchess. Amelia sighed and reached over with her firm hands, giving the Lady a soft pat in the head.

  “I believe your Mother is right, Alejandra. I will train you to use our Spirit, but I will not endorse its usage in any scenario that isn't beyond desperate.” Amelia’s eyes were strict and focused. “You will be training to handle the Azaroln blessing, so that it won't go wild without your control.”

  Alejandra listened carefully, squeezing her fists. “Will this training risk my life?”

  Amelia pursed her lips. “It will. The use of the Spirit itself, unless overdone, won't take much from you…however, it's more advanced stages will end up burning more of your fme than you realize.”

  “This training will help me control the power of my support therefore I can also control the life force it takes as well?”

  “Indeed.”

  Alejandra leaned back, her eyebrows wrinkled as her face scrunched up. “Your Grace, if it isn't too prying— how long do you have left?”

  The Duchess' face turned stern. A stoic cold gaze pierced through Alejandra's soul as an immense pressure burst from nowhere. “Why do you ask?” The Duchess' voice was dangerous.

  “I am merely curious.” The dy winced. “After all, according to Mother, my grandfather did not make it past 40.”

  The Duchess leaned backwards as we. She crossed her arms and thought for a moment before shaking her head and speaking, “Don't worry about me, I still have quite some years ahead of me. The war isn't as gruesome as it was a few years ago.”

  “I see.” A breath of relief escaped Alejandra's lips before she even noticed. “I can see Auntie more often— I mean– I can see Your Grace more often.”

  Amelia ughed. “Dear Niece, settle your formalities. Just call me Auntie when we are alone.”

  “Oh.”

  “It would gdden me if you weren't so stiff all the time.”

  “Wha–”

  “Roselia would be disappointed at how easy to read her daughter is compared to her.” She teased.

  “Uhhhh—” Alejandra’s words were incomprehensible as she garbled nonsense in response to her aunt's jesting.

  “That reminds me, Alejandra,” The Duchess pulled out of her seat and left her hand out for Alejandra to take. “Shall we take a small detour in the city, just you and I?”

  The Lady's eyes sparkled. “Can we?”

  “Once training begins, there’ll hardly be any time for leisure.” Amelia shrugged. “We’ll both be busy all the time in Nieve.”

  “Alright then, Auntie!” Alejandra took the Duchess' hand and curtsied. “I will go prepare myself.”

  “I will wait for you by the front door.” Amelia kissed her niece’s hand and patted her head once more. After one st gnce Amelia exited the room and Teresa shuffled back in her pce.

  “My Lady?” The maid tilted her head.

  “Teri, I need help dressing up. I’ll be going on a walk with Her Grace!” Alejandra smiled from ear to ear.

  As the Lady got ready for her outing with the Northern Duchess in Hielo, a certain prominent figure had made their nding on the Capital of the North, Nieve.

  “Why is it always like this in the North?” A figure cloaked in a leather garb shuddered from the cold. “It’s so cold even in the city. Don't they keep any heat around to keep them warm?” It seems the person would like to lodge a compint.

  They stumbled around the city and found themselves at the town center and central commercial spot. There seemed to be a py going on as a stage was set up and a bunch of actors were enacting a familiar war.

  It was the first war between Delha and Crusz. Where the first Emperor, Crusz himself, slew thousands and defeated the tyrant king who killed the First Empress of the Empire and wife of the Emperor.

  “You have done horrible things, Delha!” The actor pying Crusz screamed and pointed his fake sword towards the other. “Your travesties to humanity shall end here!”

  “MWAHAHAHA!” The actor pying Delha ughed. “It doesn't matter, Brother! We end it here now!” The actor then drew his own fake sword. They began to exchange theatrics as their swords bounced off each other in exaggerated manners. Such that, those who knew swordsmanship would find their heads shaking in embarrassment.

  However, cringe inducing the ensuing fight was. It seemed to gather the audience's attention as lively oohs and ahhs were sounded in the square.

  “That old story has been twisted and turned far too many times for any narrative or interpretation to be accurate.” The person cloaked in the leather garb sighed. “The two kings didn't engage in any sword fight.”

  He picked up his feet and began to walk away. “In fact, there wasn't any fight at all.” He looked to the sky causing his hood to fall down revealing a sapphire like blue hair. “Delha let Crusz kill him and the Emperor did so without hesitation.” A smile formed on his lips.

  “Of course, the people don't know this and they never will.” He had beautiful ruby red eyes and his skin was dark as coal. “Only it is my job, to hold on to history as Oathskeeper.”

  He slid his hood back on and turned his gnce towards the mighty castle at the center of the city. A rge manor made from beautifully polished gray stone enhanced with the shining smoothness of marble.

  “I wonder what generation of Azarol rules today.” He shrugged and a menacing grin appeared between his cheeks. “It is duly time to make my appearance once more after a century of wandering.”

  He took a step towards the rge castle and began his way towards it. “The world has changed much. Especially after Exal’s Vanquish.” He gazes around the hustle and bustle in Nieve. “I must meet the current Duke of Azarol. For the next prophecy has arrived. A new Hero has been chosen.”

  Suddenly he stopped walking and gred at the sky. “Another sacrifice you make, Asmodeus. Your heroes are nothing but pawns to destiny. Why must you do this to them?”

  The sky didn't answer and the Oathskeeper only received silence back.

  “You sicken me.” He grit his teeth and clenched his fist. “Must an innocent life always be sacrificed for the peace of this world? You dare not answer me, Asmodeus. For if you ever chose to realize your own guilt, your heart would never be able to forgive itself.”