The price of madness vol.01 : Dream and Condemnation

Face of forgiveness

Keryll led Sylph to a balcony on the first floor of the crystal tower. Below them, the Sisters who stood in front of the tower to welcome them had changed their posture. They were now facing the tower and stood in straight and orderly rows.

"Today Sylph, we go to war. This is a point of no return for us as much as for them. It's important that you know this before giving me your answer."

"What answer ?" He wondered.

"Do you want to go back to the Citadel? Live in shame, fear, filth and end up drowning in your own blood? Or do you want to win your freedom? Trying to have a life of your own, possessions, recognition..." She hesitated for a moment. "A family..."

He puffed out his chest and took out his sword which he planted in the ground in front of them.

"I will be with you until the very end." He announced without hesitation.

She smiled at him, a hint of pride in her heart.

"Good. Tomorrow, you will take command of a unit."

The boy didn't react right away but when he realized what his aunt had just said, he felt his strength leaving him. His arms languishing at his sides and his sword making an infernal clink on the ground.

"You have three days to get to know them and prove to them that you are worthy of them. Today, tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, the day of our departure."

"B-But... I... I'm a man..." He protested softly.

She put her hand on his shoulder and made him turn towards the balcony. Downstairs, all the Nar' stood at attention in a precise orchestra of screeching metal.

"All the souls you see here today have fought under your mother's banner for almost ten years. Each of them owes her her life. Now they set out to save hers and no matter who their ally, comrade or leader will be, they'll do their duty and be proud of it. They all expect you to be their heir, to guide them in battle and to victory. Together we will change the Order forever and after that, when I'll be too old to hold my sword in front of me, you too will protect this world with them."

Sylph puffed out his chest again and put his sword back in front of him, reiterating his oath.

"Brother until the Void's heart !" He exclaimed.

"Sister until the Void's heart !" Keryll replied.

"SISTERS UNTIL THE VOID'S HEART !" The Nar' below replied to them.

Brena stood in the shadows of the balcony and watched the scene. She muttered the Order's oath to herself and quickly went back to hiding in the tower. Keryll noticed her fleeing out of the corner of her eye.

"Sylph. I entrust you with the Iron Wolves unit. They will be waiting for you in an hour at the southern entrance to the courtyard. Find them once you feel ready and show me that I can count on you." Concludes Keryll leaving the balcony.

The young Nar' leaned over the railing and gazed at the women who were beginning to disperse below him. Three of them didn't move an inch and looked him straight in the eye. They wore a dark gaze and their armor bore an additional sigil below that of her mother. It was a giant wolf fang crossed with a broken sword. Their aura had something special. They shone with blood and death. The most advanced of them had long black hair reaching her hips and hiding part of her face. The second had blonde hair and reaching her shoulders, her left eye was covered with a blindfold that only revealed the red of her right eye. The third seemed gigantic compared to all the others and wore an iron mask on the jaw. Her hair was short and brown, while her eyes were red as well. He swallowed and finally they seemed to come back to life and disappeared from his sight, without the first taking her eyes off him. They were the famous unit of which he was to take the lead, he felt it.