The haze of colors slowly started to return after a couple moments. And with it, like the dawning sky, the ice fell away like wet silk melting beneath the sun.

“Hmm…hopefully he can fix these. I’m confident he will. Yours eyes have been in darkness for so long that they’ve been severely wounded. It’s why you can’t see. No number of blessings in your town was going to be enough to cure you. I bet sometimes all you see is black, as if blinded completely.”

“H-how did you…” She began, genuinely startled.

“Like I said: Dark Sleep leaves scars. Your eyes are just one of several. I’m not sure how much of them you exactly have. Auggie is pretty remarkable when it comes to healing. He’s even better than some members of the inner Church council.”

“Epsilon…”

He didn’t say anything. The man had his head turned to see out the window, then ran a hand through his flowing bangs, “Your father took care of it. You shouldn’t be followed for the rest of the way. You might be asked to stay for the night, and you should take advantage of it.”

“Why?”

“For the food, of course. Duh.”

She flatly looked at him in disbelief, “Food, huh.”

“Yeah. You gotta eat if you wanna grow into your curves, little lady! Hourglasses are hot!!”

“Oh, you pervert!!” Ryunise chucked the pillow like a bullet at him, but it made an unsatisfying thump against an empty seat. Epsilon had vanished, and with him she felt the walls return. The Mute spell had dissolved. The tear where her foot had broken into the cushion was also back to normal, as if she hadn’t inflicted harm upon the fibers and stuffing.

While the carriage was still in motion, the door opened. Sure enough, the image of Marcaes Emerodelle slipped in. And just like what Epsilon said there wasn’t a scratch on him, not even one wrinkle. From the brilliant and lively smile and eyes at his daughter upon greeting, he was also back to being her father and not an agent of the God of War.

“Hi, honey wheat, I’m back!” Immediately Marcaes snatched her up and cuddles her small body into his chest and lap.

“Oomph! Papa! Hey…!” She squeaked and muffled when her father smushed their cheeks together, “At least put poor Caelus away!!”

“Ah, sure. But in a bit! Look, look!” He beamed bright like a star as he presented her with a small bouquet of wildflowers. They looked like carnations and peonies in sherbet and raspberry sorbet colors accented with vibrant Kelly green leaves, “For you, sweetie pea!”

“Ah hah…” She laughed freely then, “Thank you, Papa, but first…”

She seized in a flash his sword leaning against the closed door and slid it back home in its sheath. Ryunise waved her finger at him, “You need to take better care of Caelus!”

Marcaes just laughed and squeezes her, making her wriggle, “You are so cute!”

“Ugh! Papa…!” She fluffed her cheeks.

Idiot father! Idiot man!

After getting settled back into his side and his weapons all back in place. Ryunise admired the flowers, holding the in her hands, and her father preened. She thought, despite Epsilon being here for that long, there really was no trace of him in the carriage. Her fawning father didn’t even suspect a thing, and nothing slips his attention to detail.

“So, what happened out there, Papa?” She asked.

“Oh, nothing. Just an amoeba,” He replied.

“What? Amoeba?”

“Yup. Just some country amoeba looking to be more than it will ever be.”

“…so, in other words, it was just a road bandit. And they thought they could possibly rob us.”

“Something like that, yup.”

“Um, it’s not like our carriages are very common. And we had our crest on the doors.”

“I hid them, actually,” He confessed.

“…and you would do that why now?” She raised a brow at him.

“Maybe to have some fun?”

“Why you lying? You would seriously joke about that to your own daughter?”

“You’re right. I wouldn’t dare,” He chuckled, “But yes. I did hide it. Just in case we might some clues.”

“But since it was a common bandit there was nothing to go on. What happened to him?” She asked, then went on, “You didn’t kill him, right?”

“Oh no, not this time. Young punk. I just turned him in to Verdis to drag him to the next town in the opposite direction.”

“…drag him.”

“Yes. Rope and all in hog tie. It’ll allow him to taste the dirt he thought he owned for one last time,” He smiled.

Ryunise just shook her head and sent a small prayer for the poor unfortunate soul who had the real unluckiest of luck to cross paths with the Order Knight. Is this what they mean about Karma?

“You’re doing well. Anything happened while I was gone?” Marcaes looked down at her.

“Huh? Oh, no. Nothing. I was just admiring the sites,” She didn’t want to lie, but at the same time she doesn’t want to cause unnecessary waves if she could help it.

It didn’t seem Epsilon, in truth, was a bad guy. Irritating as hell, but not bad. It seemed he was working for unknown reasons, but she had the feeling it was more for good. No hidden intentions or plans. She didn’t really want to admit it, but he had been helping her. Lots of knowledge, maybe more questions, but more explanations on a few things. Ryunise found out that there was the chance she could lapse into slumber again, and that was more important than trying to figure out what the masked man’s deal was.

“How long until we reach Regina, Papa?”

“Probably another twenty minutes. If you want to take a catnap against me, I wouldn’t be opposed to it,” He was practically blooming his own flower garden, “I can look at my cute Nise’s face!”

“No. Please. Don’t.”

Epsilon watched the carriage carry on its way from above, the two horses trotting and hoofing on. His arms were crossed over his broad chest as he stood on a brushy precipice. What should be a natural clearing was anything but. The dirt was soiled and fouled up by blood and pieces of meat. Yes, supposedly it should be called that. Meat of a human, or at least it used to resemble one. Whoever it was, they were smattered and splat all over the area as if a mad painter went wild and zany with paint and human jelly. Circles of black runes still burned with ebony fire all around, determine to scorch and immortalize its power.

“But it’s useless without your master,” He mentioned to the flames, “Poorly done and wasted effort. You were lucky it was the Order Knight. I would have done much worse.”

This was no bandit as Marcaes had said. He only said it so as not to make Ryunise worry. This was a White Crow servant. Before the servant could even complete his sacrifice to complete the cast, Epsilon knew, the Order Knight would make sure the enemy would feel every lightning-fast blade cut into their body, intentionally miss vital areas for maximum suffering, and keep them alive for one second. One whole second, and make it an eternity of torture. Death would not come, instead it would step back and recoil to its knees in the presence of Bapheis and the wraith of a father.

“You were just fodder, as the lot of you are. Filth.”

Epsilon lifted a hand and snapped his fingers. The fires seemed to scream, writhe in agony of a thousand victims, and detonated into oblivion. His eyes were a risen bolt brighter than the sun barely shaded by his whipping garnet hair.

“The White Crow, huh…you bastards are awfully arrogant to toe into my territory…”

-*-

“Wow…” Ryunise breathed out.

“Welcome, Ryunise,” Marcaes began.

It was one thing to be impressed by the bustling, almost shimmering streets to the proudly tall and beautiful rooftops. The overflow of rich goods on carts, colorful produce an explosion of the rainbow, a bizarre nearly on every corner, glittering boutiques and even commoner shops, and so much more. Lamp posts, spacious cobble streets, archways and strings dripping with the flags of Regina, Rakoul, and the current twin flags of the ruling kings, and even electricity. Live music in the air, dancing and performances, and wonders packed into every second.

Regina had ivory walls fitted with Rook tops, arrow and gun towers, lookouts, and a very healthy outer patrol. There was no lack or laze in any man. They were the pride and flow of Regina’s flesh against all invasion and bad-doings. There was not one of this, but two layers of walls, and the same quality of guards at every stop. It was a requirement to be a part of the military: you must be strong or above affinity with Gods of offensive traits or you’re disqualified. This is to ensure there are no feeble knees or weak of heart from bribery to problems with authority to respecting chain of command.

It’s no small feat either that it was the Order Knight that helped rewrite and maintain quality control. He was one of the top task masters to consult and better than any hardened battle veteran. Like history said: if you want the best strategy and efficiencies, House Emerodelle is the best a nation could ask for.

If the city was impressive, then The Sacred Oraclast Church was flooring. It was like the grandest of palaces; neck-aching walls colored warm coffee, towers with frosted red ochre roofs that makes one squint built at the four cardinal points, and another layer of walls in the center to lord over all of them. The walls were made of pure wood, and were somehow alive as if the healthy trunk of a tree. At certain angles when the sun hits the Church you could see glitters of what looks like silver veins.

Twin tail-like leaves of silver danced around the gentle breezes and rolled about the streets. Children ran around, trying to catch the pretty glimmers, and laughing together. They were from the great tree planted at the Church’s center and is told through origin tails to be its actual foundation.

“To the Sacred Oraclast Church,” He finished.

“It’s huge…” She remembered to inhale.

“Ryunise.”

“Yes, Papa?”

Marcaes drew his heavy cape to one side and knelt one knee before her on the street. The clink of his medals and shifting of his jewel red-skinned uniform eased about his body as if breathing with its owner. He adjusted his crest around her neck, then took her hands in his, and just looked at her. Ryunise looked back at him, a few auburn strands tickling along her skin.

“I can’t come in with you. I haven’t been invited in. But I’ll be sure to be here as soon as you’re done,” He said.

“How will you know?”

“They’ll send word when your audience is finished. The castle is only a few minutes away on foot.”

“Don’t you have work though, Papa?”

“I do. But I’ll be taking you with me after I pick you up.”

“You mean I can stay with you today?”

“Mm-hmm,” He nodded, “I have light duties today, per His Highness’ order, and he approved.”

“Okay, Papa.”

Marcaes watched her for a moment. He had a face of softness and tender eyes. His hand touched her hair, patted, then smoothed it out. How did I ever get so blessed with such a father? Who do I have to thank...?