Chapter Text

Prologue

Mahotana, at most, was but a barren sandy land by the shores of Neredias ocean. A handful of humble huts surrounded the beach that had long since lost all hopes of trading posts. The local legend spoke of the wrath of the Goddess of sea who cursed the thrashing waves to devour the land bit by bit as well as the lives of the fishermen, the bread-bringers of the barony.

Yet the land of melancholy only rouses the fondest memories of my past and of the fragrance of the long-stretched bed of white roses, where my mother with her ailing frame would sit and watch me play with my little wooden sword. Be it the proud swings of my little hands or my feet wobbling from the weight of the sword, her smiles through the hollow cheeks and sunken eyes were the most exquisite.

"Mommy, look!... Hiyah!!", with every swing I made, I was so determined to impress my mother, who was my very first teacher. "See? I did it today! Did you see?"

"You are perfect, my darling."

"Was I better than yesterday?"

"Of course! I'm so proud of my trusted knight."

"If I do better, will papa visit us? Riana's father bought her a dagger. And-and it had these strange carvings on it! So mysterious! Are you listening, mommy?"

"He will, darli-Khoffgh-"

She had fallen off the chair, coughing up blood and clenching her chest, right in front of my eyes. As the so-called "trusted knight", all I could do was witness the blank agonised stare of her emerald-green eyes. My weak little knees gave in, as others rushed to carry her away from me, where I sat among the white roses speckled with red.

I truly was weak.

... Too weak.