Knights of Tezoth

Aldelion had only recently turned 18; he was the heir to Gildaria and handled a bow quite well, but Stefania, like the other members of the lord's entourage, knew little about him — many sometimes even forgot he existed, so rarely did he appear in society. There were rumors that he greatly disliked women.

- What nonsense. So much money, time, and effort spent so that the fortunate of this world could stuff their bellies and have a good time.

The heir decided to step aside, where he continued his complaining in the company of a foreigner.

Stefania knew he was some sort of mercenary who had recently appeared in her lord's retinue, but what exactly his services were, she did not know.

Some time later, the ruler of Kabochi, Grimban Odolerus, approaches Lord Adalard Grimm, and while the big and small lords chatted about their own matters, Stefania found herself in the company of the Knight of Milk Chocolate.

- Chonchonlia Quintea, - the kabochi woman introduced herself; she was only 25 tin tall, so the Knight of the Wind surely looked down on her. - Pleased to meet you!

— Stefania Valentine, — the Knight of the Wind greeted the girl. — Likewise!

Stefania smiled at the knight from Kabochi but continued to carry out Adalard's order and watch the mercenary.

The mercenary kept conversing with young Grimm about something. Judging by the emotions on the young man's face, talking with this person gave him great pleasure — he even developed a blush on his cheeks.

-- While the path is not complete, counting steps is pointless

The horizon's vision is always deceiving

Perhaps tomorrow fortune's wheel will turn again

And our horses will trample the North into dust

And we will crown our spears with the heads of Sithia's wicked children

And the day after, it will all begin anew

Perhaps the weak will become strong, the strong — weak

None among mortals can escape

The chains of blind fate. The future is hazy, the past is hidden

What could have been shall never be.

Shame for one's feelings befits only the base-born

Far more terrible is the emptiness within the soul

If life is short and holds no constancy

Only the wild impulses of the spirit will affirm

Our existence. What need have we of wine's sweetness

And the gleam of beautiful eyes, and the light of the sun

And the spires of stone-hard palaces, when there remains

No living soul — it matters not

Whether in sorrow or in joy it dwells. While living thought

Has not left the world, we may affirm

That our lives were not in vain, though now

The burden of existence may seem meaningless,

Whose reflection, alas,

I observe in the depths of beautiful eyes

Perhaps the cup of woes has yet to be drained

But there is no question of to be or not to be

In faithful service to You, while the heart beats,

I gladly greet the new dawn

- With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking? - asks Mariarnelia.

- Revaniel, Your Grandeur. Merely a humble priestess of the Dawn Raven, arrived here straight from Duskwing, home to all our few followers.

- Ah... - Apparently, this worldview occupied no significant part of the royal person's consciousness.

- If Your Grandeur's heart finds the generosity to accept my humble gift, it would delight me to the depths of my soul!

Revaniel lowers herself to one knee and presents the Deus with a pitch-black box adorned with golden patterns.

Before the Deus even thought to reach for the box, Axel steps between the gift and the queen. He looks around for the servants whose duty it is to check such items for safety.

Such a duty belonged to the knights accompanying the Deus.

Axel looked at the priestess with narrowed eyes and displeasure. Then he rather roughly took the black box from her hands.

-- What is this? - asked the knight, carefully examining the object from all sides.

Inside the black box turns out to be an equally black mirror with a luxurious gold frame around it. One glance at it made it perfectly clear that this was an item of exceptional value.

Axel looked suspiciously at the mirror, then at the priestess, then at the mirror again. Before looking into it himself, he turns it so that the priestess looks into it first.