[TVL] Prologue I

The moon rises and sets. Every day, this cycle is repeated. Sometimes, the moon peeks through, clear. Sometimes it hides in the clouds. The moon, a perfectly rounded circle, chips off a bit of itself with each passing day until there is no moon in the night sky. It becomes a new moon in the dark night. When the moon disappears, there are those that consider the night to be sinister. The road without moonlight is clothed in black. Unable to see anything, one is forced to give up riding their horse. Lighting a torch would not be an option. If a torch is lit, one would risk being attacked bandits. In the first place, horses fear fire, so it would be pointless to light one. Therefore, one would naturally avoid going out. However, the night of the new moon is a masterpiece. A beautiful world of stars visits.

On that day, the clouds and the stars were illuminated more brightly than usual, a kaleidoscope, glittering the sky. However, the girl gazing at the sky from the terrace did not seem to be impressed, her face, expressionless.

“Oh, you don’t like stars. Or are you looking at something else?” Except for the stars, the deep darkness seemed to expand. Within that, a voice rang out indiscriminately, however, the girl did not move at all.

“Why do you always appear on new moon nights? You can’t even use a horse, so isn’t it inexpedient.” The air was so clear, it felt painful.

A subtle voice uttered in reply. “I can use it. I came riding a horse. On a new moon night, the road is serene and comfortable.”

“I always think to myself; how do you manage to come here? It must be difficult.”

“There is no place I can’t break into. The security, the guards, it’s completely pure dirt...But you’re talking an awful lot tonight. The you who’s usually silent, what’s wrong?”

“Speaking of mood, do you feel upset?”

“No. I don’t know the feeling of being offended. If you want to, feel free to talk.”

The girl was unable to grasp the identity of the master behind the voice. Even if she knew he was a man from his low voice, she had never seen his face because he had always worn a dark robe and concealed his face deeply beneath his hood.

“Every time someone wishes for someone’s death, the stars will disappear one by one.”

“That’s ridiculous isn’t it. Going off people’s desires and in history, if that were true, I wouldn’t be able to see any stars now. Humanity kills and robs; the country that is born becomes destroyed. It’s an endless, tireless cycle.”

“Yes, that’s true isn’t it,” the girl raised her eyelashes and replied. “I’m sure if you turned into an enemy, this country would perish.”

Whilst she was speaking the man appeared, standing beside her. There was no indication that he had been next to her. Elusive, he was just like a shadow.

“Certainly, it would be an easy feat to destroy one country, but don’t worry. I don’t do anything pointless. Nevertheless, you’re my customer. Now open your hand. Here’s the medicine.”

When the girl reached out, a fancy decorated vial was placed in her palm. It was a bottle that she was all too familiar with.

“The contents have changed a little. People are adaptable creatures, so we needed to change the prescription.”

“Thank you... however, I apologise. I will never take this medicine again.” The girl tried to return the vial, but the man refused to receive it.

“It’s yours already. Feel free to use it, store it, throw it away.”

The girl looked down at the vial and squeezed it lightly.

“If you don’t need medicine, you don’t need me. Today is the final night.”

“I see, it’s come to the final night. Thank you for everything thus far.”

“It was interesting to meet you, so I’ll tell you something special.”

When the girl raised her chin, that was the prompt for him to talk. “Allesus, Nogueira, Arveis. All the countries that are adjacent to this country are indifferent. They are actively observing the state of your country. However, regarding Teges, take extra caution. They are not content with just destroying Serrat. Your country has fertile land and has a plethora of resources. If Teges takes action, how will neighbouring countries come forth? The weak are opportunistic. If the small blades unite, your country would not be safe. The ruined Serrat is also an existence that cannot be ignored. Every day your country is eroded by the remnants of Serrat. Some parts have already been acquired. Either it’s destroyed by ambition or consumed in the uproar as collateral.”

The girl glanced at him unafraid.

“You’re lucky. You have choices. If it’s now, I’m here. You can quickly destroy Teges and eradicate the thunder that nestles in this country. So, what do you want to do?”

The girl took a short breath and shook her head slowly. “I don’t need you to raise a hand, because this is my... our country’s problem.”

The moon rises and sets. Every day, this cycle is repeated. Sometimes, the moon peeks through, clear. Sometimes it hides in the clouds. The moon, a perfectly rounded circle, chips off a bit of itself with each passing day until there is no moon in the night sky. It becomes a new moon in the dark night. When the moon disappears, there are those that consider the night to be sinister. The road without moonlight is clothed in black. Unable to see anything, one is forced to give up riding their horse. Lighting a torch would not be an option. If a torch is lit, one would risk being attacked bandits. In the first place, horses fear fire, so it would be pointless to light one. Therefore, one would naturally avoid going out. However, the night of the new moon is a masterpiece. A beautiful world of stars visits.

On that day, the clouds and the stars were illuminated more brightly than usual, a kaleidoscope, glittering the sky. However, the girl gazing at the sky from the terrace did not seem to be impressed, her face, expressionless.

“Oh, you don’t like stars. Or are you looking at something else?” Except for the stars, the deep darkness seemed to expand. Within that, a voice rang out indiscriminately, however, the girl did not move at all.

“Why do you always appear on new moon nights? You can’t even use a horse, so isn’t it inexpedient.” The air was so clear, it felt painful.

A subtle voice uttered in reply. “I can use it. I came riding a horse. On a new moon night, the road is serene and comfortable.”

“I always think to myself; how do you manage to come here? It must be difficult.”

“There is no place I can’t break into. The security, the guards, it’s completely pure dirt...But you’re talking an awful lot tonight. The you who’s usually silent, what’s wrong?”

“Speaking of mood, do you feel upset?”

“No. I don’t know the feeling of being offended. If you want to, feel free to talk.”

The girl was unable to grasp the identity of the master behind the voice. Even if she knew he was a man from his low voice, she had never seen his face because he had always worn a dark robe and concealed his face deeply beneath his hood.

“Every time someone wishes for someone’s death, the stars will disappear one by one.”

“That’s ridiculous isn’t it. Going off people’s desires and in history, if that were true, I wouldn’t be able to see any stars now. Humanity kills and robs; the country that is born becomes destroyed. It’s an endless, tireless cycle.”

“Yes, that’s true isn’t it,” the girl raised her eyelashes and replied. “I’m sure if you turned into an enemy, this country would perish.”

Whilst she was speaking the man appeared, standing beside her. There was no indication that he had been next to her. Elusive, he was just like a shadow.

“Certainly, it would be an easy feat to destroy one country, but don’t worry. I don’t do anything pointless. Nevertheless, you’re my customer. Now open your hand. Here’s the medicine.”

When the girl reached out, a fancy decorated vial was placed in her palm. It was a bottle that she was all too familiar with.

“The contents have changed a little. People are adaptable creatures, so we needed to change the prescription.”

“Thank you... however, I apologise. I will never take this medicine again.” The girl tried to return the vial, but the man refused to receive it.

“It’s yours already. Feel free to use it, store it, throw it away.”

The girl looked down at the vial and squeezed it lightly.

“If you don’t need medicine, you don’t need me. Today is the final night.”

“I see, it’s come to the final night. Thank you for everything thus far.”

“It was interesting to meet you, so I’ll tell you something special.”

When the girl raised her chin, that was the prompt for him to talk. “Allesus, Nogueira, Arveis. All the countries that are adjacent to this country are indifferent. They are actively observing the state of your country. However, regarding Teges, take extra caution. They are not content with just destroying Serrat. Your country has fertile land and has a plethora of resources. If Teges takes action, how will neighbouring countries come forth? The weak are opportunistic. If the small blades unite, your country would not be safe. The ruined Serrat is also an existence that cannot be ignored. Every day your country is eroded by the remnants of Serrat. Some parts have already been acquired. Either it’s destroyed by ambition or consumed in the uproar as collateral.”

The girl glanced at him unafraid.

“You’re lucky. You have choices. If it’s now, I’m here. You can quickly destroy Teges and eradicate the thunder that nestles in this country. So, what do you want to do?”

The girl took a short breath and shook her head slowly. “I don’t need you to raise a hand, because this is my... our country’s problem.”

He bent over a little and peered at the girl’s face. His face in front of him was still hidden beneath the deep hood, but his nose and lips seemed to be in order. He appeared to be quite young. “I thought you would say so, then I will cut the thread that ties me to you tonight. If the time comes, that we will see each other again, then...that’s when you’d best kill me.” His full lips made a sharp arc. “Pay attention to the scents that you are familiar with. Time is moving, steadily.” For a split second, the girl blinked and lifted her eyelids. In the blink of an eye, he had disappeared. Instead, the sound of the living room door opening could be heard.

He bent over a little and peered at the girl’s face. His face in front of him was still hidden beneath the deep hood, but his nose and lips seemed to be in order. He appeared to be quite young. “I thought you would say so, then I will cut the thread that ties me to you tonight. If the time comes, that we will see each other again, then...that’s when you’d best kill me.” His full lips made a sharp arc. “Pay attention to the scents that you are familiar with. Time is moving, steadily.” For a split second, the girl blinked and lifted her eyelids. In the blink of an eye, he had disappeared. Instead, the sound of the living room door opening could be heard.