Zora arrived safely on the harbor of Rysanthe, and as soon as she stepped down from the platform, she was welcomed by a familiar face. 

"Glory upon Asphodel! I, Lieutenant Jacob Quezon, welcomes you General!", He knows there was no need for such formalities but Zora guessed it was to give an example to the two soldiers behind him who looked at her with awe.

"May the eternal glory of Asphodel be with you.", She replied. "But I came here on such short notice, there really was no need for such formalities, Lieutenant."

Jacob immediately smiles and put his arm around Zora like old times, completely forgetting his surroundings.

"Oh, come on! Don't say that! I heard the news about your victory and I...", His voice trails off and looked behind him to make sure no one would dare interrupt or listen in on their conversation.

"I actually stumbled upon a very interesting news about your childhood sweetheart."

Zora sighs and took his arm off her shoulders.

"So, you also knew."

Jacob shrugs and smiles nonchalantly as if saying he was expecting things to turn out like this from the start. 

"I told you about it a long time ago but you wouldn't listen. You kept insisting that it's impossible for someone like him to do but here we are."

Zora looked at Jacob and suddenly, she felt apologetic towards her old friend whom she didn't listen to. He was right all along about Davien, and how he would go about betraying her and killing her in the name of the struggle for power over the empire.

She didn't want to admit it, and blindly believed Davien even though Jacob had warned her about him from the start. Even when she was marching to her death in that war that cost her to lose half her soldiers because of a surprise attack from the enemies, she believed in Davien and all the rumors and reports about his suspicious movements fell on deaf ears.

But it's different this time.

"I know and I was foolish. I held on to fragile things like memories and that blinded me to the point that even now, I'm hesitating to turn against him. But Jacob, I'm willing to listen now."

Jacob was taken aback but immediately regained his composure. He chuckled and looked at Zora with warmth in his eyes.

"Looks like you are finally seeing my way.", He said with a grin on his face.

Zora turned her back on Jacob and treaded lightly as she carry her luggage.

"It's time I look for the answers that I need for myself. And the first step that I need to take, is right here.", She stopped for a moment and looked back at Jacob who's eyes sparkle with interest, seeing how Zora changed immensely from someone cold and unfeeling, who only knew how to behead a person, to someone who feels more alive.

"The war changed you, Zora."

Zora closes her eyes and took a deep breath. She exhaled and looked at Jacob straight in the eyes.

"It was bound to, Jacob."

Jacob looked pleased as he walk up to Zora and lightly pat her back. It seems his friend is finally working up the courage to think for herself and not letting her family, or another person to dictate her on what she should be.

He can't help but cheer for her, the person he admires the most.

Jacob showed Zora around Rysanthe and told her all about the latest trends in the country while they walk the busy streets where commoners would most of the time spend their time, going about their daily lives.

It's peaceful here too, and Zora can't help but feel out of place. Jacob takes notice of this and he would take several breaks with Zora as they make their way to a hotel nearby.

When they finally arrived, it was already sunset and they agreed upon meeting each other again at midnight where the plan to meet the man of the legends himself was to set into motion.

"Oh, that's right before I forget."

Zora stopped on her tracks and looked at Jacob who has that weird grin on his face again.

"What is it?"

"You don't mind being surrounded by Omegas right?"

"Not really. I think I might have met a few but what about it?"

"And you weren't affected the least bit? Especially, when they're in heat?"

Zora looked confused. What in the world was he talking about?

True, she was surrounded by Alphas most of the time and she only met a handful of Omegas in her life because they were rare to even pass the average tests of becoming the empires soldiers due to the common knowledge that they might get pregnant  but do they go into heat? If they are, what does that have to do with her?

"Oh dear, based on your reaction, you lack experience dealing with Omegas don't you? This is going to be troublesome."

Jacob has that look of defeat on his face but Zora remains clueless. She has experience if they are talking about sexual experiences but it was only with Davien who was a fellow Alpha.

She never did had experience with an Omega and she was too busy to even think about such things. Not to mention she was focused on Davien all those years. 

"Is it something I should be worried about?", Zora asked.

Jacob cannot believe what he is hearing especially from someone who would most of the time act on her own instincts alone and is a ticking time bomb, that might lose control anytime and anywhere.

"N-no, I guess not. Yeah."

Zora didn't notice the cold sweat trickling down his friend's face, and she decided to not think too much anymore about Jacob's weird reactions.

Is what is running through Zora's mind at the moment and in her mind she is already preparing for a worst case scenario, as if she was preparing for yet another war and Jacob who was unaware of what is going on Zora's mind can't help but feel worried.

"Then, I'll meet you at 24:00 sharp."

Jacob forced a smile at Zora who still has the same stoic expression when they first met but for some reason, things about her really feels a lot more different than before and Jacob can't help but notice it.

"Yeah... see you."

Zora nodded and worked her way up the stairs, entering the hotel. 

Once Zora's silhouette was out of view. Jacob let out an exasperated sigh while scratching the back of his head.

"Shit. I might as well have dug my own grave. I just hope she'll be able to control herself and not let her instincts get the best of her. After all, the man of the legends...

...is an Omega himself."