They said he was crazy, but I never believed them. He was sane as you and me. He was, though, accused of a crime that he never admitted although evidences were strictly against him.
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Izlude. The city of high winds and sharp blades. Home of the Swordsmen Association of Midgard and political seat to the House of Thor. Izlude was like your mini version of Prontera. The city central had a bazaar, and a beautiful fountain modeled after the capital city, although it was a little smaller. Izlude, like Alberta, lived off trading by sea. But recent weather from overseas forced the ships to stay home at the docks. It was a lot safer.
Nerva didn't want to be in Izlude. In fact he had never been in the place ever since he was ten years old. Izlude, although his birthplace, it was far from being home. Sir Tiberius and Lady Cornelia were too busy with their political affairs to look after their sons. They forced on the family tradition of producing Swordsmen and Knights to their children even if it was against their will. Only Nerva and Alexander had enough sense to go their own way in exchange for their expensive courtly life. But what about life if you had parents who never cared about you?
"Signy and Sibyl must be here." Wealthow told the three of them.
"Only Izlude is too crowded, where can those two be?"
"We can wait by the fountain." Altair suggested.
"Signy might be there drinking some cappuccino or something."
But they didn't need to wait any longer.
"THEODORIC! WEALTHOW! ALTAIR!"
The three spun around to see Sibyl running frantically toward them, arms outstretched, and zenies clanking happily in her moneybag. The Assassin kicked off from the ground and whammed into Altair. Sibyl and Altair rolled on the ground for a few circles before finally dislodging from one another. Altair looked pained and winded but extremely happy. Sibyl removed her veil and planted a kiss on the Blacksmith cheek.
"Glad to see you, cowboy!" said Sibyl. "Still spiffingly handsome, I see!"
"Sibyl!" Theodoric said, stepping forward. "Come here, you sly old fox!"
Sibyl stood up and gave the Knight an armor crunching bear hug. Then she turned and embraced Wealthow in a sisterly fashion.
"Oh boy, its so nice to see you." Sibyl sniffed. "I was lonely in Morroc. I was alone, your company was better"
"Bugger, Sibyl." Altair smiled. "Arent you going to greet Nervy?"
"Nervy?" Sibyl repeated blankly. "Who's that?"
Wealthow beckoned a handsome but rather starved looking Wizard to join them. "Nerva al'Thor, Sibyl. Our new partymate."
"Oooooooohhh" Sibyl breathed as she took on Nerva's physique.
Nerva nodded and tried to smile, but found that his facial muscles didn't know how to do it anymore. His lips managed to twitch at the corner, though.
Signy joined them, her beautiful smile in place. They hugged and kissed her except for Nerva, who just extended his gloved hand. Signy took it and shook it.
"So!" said Signy. "I see that Firnheild is whole and kicking again!"
"And we have a new one in too." Sibyl giggled shrilly. "Gifts first then!"
"Oh, yes." Signy remembered. She took out a magnificent Mighty Staff from her arrow case and handed it to Nerva, whose astonishment couldn't be denied.
"That's for you. But allow Altair to check it though. We can never be sure."
Altair only needed to look at the staff once to check it. "It's one of the finest I've ever seen. You haven't been cheated."
"That's good news." Signy answered.
"I haven't brought anything." Sibyl spoke hopefully. "Would a kiss be fine, Nerva?"
Nerva gave a start and shifted his eyes to the Assassin. "No, thank you. I'd rather have a potion if you please."
Sibyl blinked a few times. How did Nerva found out that she had a bottle of potion hidden in her backpack? She gave it to him anyway.
"Neat Vision you have there, Nerva." Signy smiled. "You've been trained partly in Archery?"
Nerva shook his head. "It's one of the powers of Sight."
"I see now that we are complete and ready for our task." Wealthow spoke importantly. They all stopped and looked at her. "Our task will start tomorrow morning."
She held out her hand. Theodoric put his hand on hers. Signy, Sibyl and Altair followed suit. Nerva didn't extend his hand. Theodoric inclined his head, inviting him to do the same. Nerva did, although reluctantly and hesitantly.
"Firnheild is back in action, people." Sibyl said ecstatically. "Make your way, coz were going to take you by storm!"
Theodoric smiled, but his grin vanished in a flash. "I still have to get a new Peco-peco, though. I'll be back real soon."
He turned on his heels and dashed away with a swish of his cape.
"Where are we heading tomorrow?" Signy asked.
Wealthow looked intently at Nerva. "To the place where it all started. Byalan Island."
Nerva felt his chest tighten. His mind clouded very rapidly, obscuring all thoughts except for that horrible day seven years ago. Images flashed like sharp photographs in his mind
The Shadow. A creature of infinite black and dark power. The very Ragnarok, end of the world. A creature with its grimy and skeletal arms. It was your worst fear given life. Its breath was colder and sharper than ice. Death was emanating from everywhere on its body.
Death.
Faces of dead comrades came next. Richard, Isidore, Matilda, Kiara, Octavian and Haja. Dead, all dead. And Nerva couldn't do anything to help them. All he did was cry as they died protecting him. No matter if he was the best in magic, he was still helpless.
Let the dead Past bury its dead, Nerva
He was in the Present. It was no use sulking in memories.
He looked at the faces of his new companions. Wealthow, Theodoric, Sibyl, Signy and Altair, all glowing with the warmth of life, not the icy coldness of death. Their blood was not yet flowing.
Nerva made a vow, staking even his soul. Nobody of Firnheild will die. Only one person will die, and it was him.
But he was not going to die until he seals the Shadow into the underworld, where it belonged.
