A day before the attack on Rajwak, in the nearby village of Ravinal… life moved quietly.
Inside a large tent—more like a workshop than a home—the calm was suddenly shattered. The door burst open as if ripped from its hinges.
"Dero! This bow is incredible! I went hunting in the forest, and even that wasn't this hard!"
Dero flinched, eyes fixed on the dangling hinges of the door.
"Can't you just enter without breaking the door every time? And this bow… only someone skilled can use it properly."
"I know. I'm the best."
Dero fiddled with something in his hands.
"You've been gone for three days… I bet the elders are furious."
Ashura grimaced.
"Don't mention them around me… just the thought makes me sick."
At that moment, a man burst through the door, panting.
"Chief! Where have you been?! The elders are furious—they want you immediately!"
A look of annoyance crossed his face as he muttered,
"Tsk… these annoying old fools!"
He shrugged with annoyance, waving his hand at Dero dismissively. He strode quickly toward the elders' tent—a path long secured but always loathed.
Inside, the elders remained silent. Their faces were like stone, eyes fixed, demanding an explanation.
He chuckled softly, seated himself on the throne-like chair, legs crossed, a mocking smile on his face.
One of the elders stepped forward, striking his staff against the ground:
"Do you think… the village leadership is a game?"
Another elder added,
"You waste the village's wealth on trivialities… then return as if nothing happened."
The chief elder, eyes unblinking:
"The position of leadership is not to be touched by anyone who does not understand its weight. As for those who tamper with it—we decide whether they deserve to remain… or be erased from the village's history."
Ashura's voice dripped with mockery and anger:
"Are you threatening me?! You old fools… your lives are barely enough to repeat the same boring lectures! Have you finally lost your minds?!"
One of them, brushing dust off his staff without looking at him, replied:
"Remarkable… at your age, and you still act like someone who hasn't learned from a single past slap. Leadership came to you because of your father, not because you're clever. Did you think it was a gift from the heavens?"
Ashura leaned heavily to the side of his chair, muttering in annoyance:
"When will they finish this nonsense?"
Moments later, a guard entered the tent and bowed quickly to everyone.
"Chief, apologies for the interruption… a man requests an audience with you. My lords, please excuse me."
Ashura turned to him:
"Who is he?"
"I don't know, Chief. He refused to tell me anything."
Ashura smiled faintly:
"Let him in."
The guard nodded and quietly opened the tent flap.
The man stepped in, his black cloak hiding half of his face. He stopped in the middle of the tent and bowed respectfully.
"I apologize for the interruption… but it's urgent, and I've come seeking your help."
Ashura lifted his head slightly:
"Speak… I'm listening."
"Tomorrow… Rajwak will be attacked by Sereen's mercenaries. I've come to ask you to aid them… before the city falls completely."
Ashura leaned on his hand:
"Who are you? You don't seem to be from Rajwak."
The man paused for a second:
"I'm sorry… I cannot tell you."
One of the elder chiefs' eyebrows shot up in sudden anger, and he slammed his staff into the ground, making the tent shake:
"Impudence! You ask for help… yet we don't know who you are or who sent you!"
Another elder said firmly:
"No news of this attack has reached us from Rajwag… and what guarantees that you are not an enemy trying to trap Ravinal?"
Ashura smiled wryly:
"Calm yourselves… let him speak first."
The man bowed even deeper.
"I'm sorry if my words make you suspicious… I deserve your doubt. But I came only to stop a massacre I know is coming. All I want… is to keep innocent people from dying for nothing."
Ashura went silent for a moment, staring at him without a hint of expression.
"I refuse."
The man bit his lip, tension tightening his shoulders.
"My apologies for troubling you," he murmured before bowing once more and turning to leave.
As soon as he left, the elders turned to Ashurri, eyes wide.
Ashura raised an eyebrow in annoyance.
"What?"
One elder stared at the door.
"That… was strange. Did you just refuse his request?"
Their chief whispered.
"I'm certain he's plotting to deceive us."
Ashura smirked arrogantly.
"What are you whispering about? I would never accept any request that could harm the tribe."
Moments later, he slammed the door open.
"Dero! I want useful equipment against Sereen!"
"Sereen?! Is she coming here?!"
He smirked slyly.
"No. But we're the ones going to her."
----
A full day had passed…
Silence.
Sereen looked at him coldly.
"Who are you?"
"Me? I had a goal when I came here…"
He glanced around, scanning the area.
"But I don't see it anywhere…"
He paused, then asked with a chilling hint of mockery:
"Tell me—are Sereen's people just children? Do they force kids to kill?"
He smirked provocatively.
"These kinds of deeds don't suit you, little girl."
Sereen dashed toward him in a flash.
Ashura gave a faint smile—but it vanished the moment he realized just how fast Sereen was.
He pulled a small orb from his pocket and hurled it at the exact moment Dero charged in on his horse, grabbing Cyrus with a firm grip.
The instant the orb burst, sharp waves slammed into Sereen's senses.
Her balance shattered—her body hit the ground hard.
For a heartbeat, time stopped.
Sereen's mind reeled violently, as if a spike of pain had exploded inside her skull.
She pressed a hand against the side of her head, her fingers trembling.
Rick rushed toward her.
"Sereen! Are you okay?"
He approached cautiously, his eyes fixed on the tremor in her shoulders. He had never seen her show any weakness, not even for a moment.
The trembling stopped.
She turned to Rick with razor-sharp eyes.
"Bring me Cyrus. Alive or dead. And bring that clown with him."
Rick nodded once and took off on his horse.
----
The three managed to escape quickly, putting as much distance as possible between themselves and the battlefield.
Ashura, catching his breath, asked:
"Is the man alright?"
"He's unconscious…"
Ashura looked ahead:
"That girl… her speed is terrifying. And the villagers are still at their mercy."
A moment of silence passed, then he stopped abruptly.
Dero exclaimed in shock:
"Why are we stopping?!"
"We have to go back."
Dero's eyes widened, his face pale:
"You must be joking! We barely escaped her… if we go back, we'll be dead in an instant!"
Ashura looked at him in surprise:
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… that girl is Sereen herself. Furthermore, the contract with them has already been concluded… she won't harm them."
Ashura's eyes widened in shock, as if he hadn't heard properly:
"Wait… that child is Sereen?!"
He didn't finish his sentence when, suddenly, out of nowhere, a spear shot through the air like lightning.
It struck Ashura's horse with force. The animal screamed and fell, dragging Ashura with it.
A painful groan escaped him as he tried to get up.
Dero's eyes darted around, frantically searching for the source of the attack.
Then they saw him—
Rick, charging on his horse at full speed, right behind them…