The Deev River had its source in the west, in the icy Shadia mountain range of the distant Denwen Empire. This was a wide, fast-flowing channel that traversed the entire Milbong rainforest, crossing the Gerda mountain range and flowing into the Gulf of Kikimora to the east.

The banyan trees of the Milbong rainforest were characterized by being colossal, having a diameter of more than 50 meters and reaching heights of hundreds of meters, making it possible to see them from the borders of the three neighboring kingdoms.

Its reddish wood was so resistant that it was impossible to cut it with normal instruments and, instead of leaves, the cups were full of aromatic flowers of snowy colors throughout the year. The thick branches and roots of the banyan trees extended everywhere, creating great distances between each one, and above, the canopies joined together to form a natural roof that cushioned the fall of the constant rains, protecting the vast majority of the fauna and flora. For these reasons, many beasts sought shelter in the rainforest.

A few kilometers from the Gerda mountain range, a small camp was located on the other side of the Deev River. Usually, one or another herbivorous beast must have been grazing and delighting in the fruits scattered on the ground, but there was no trace of life in the vicinity at that time. But it was to be expected after having experienced two intense earthquakes.

Three camping tents stood at the base of a tree; the colors of the fabric blended in perfectly with the surroundings, and their sizes went unnoticed among the dense foliage.

A few meters ahead there were remains of a campfire which embers were out, and to one side, far from the tents, three beasts were hunched back to back. The leather packsaddles they wore tight around their backs contrasted with their thick white fur now smeared with dirt, while their vigilant postures as they scanned their surroundings indicated their high state of alert.

These beasts were called helmi. They had slender, elongated bodies that complemented their agility and dexterity, yet were robust enough to carry twice their weight. Besides being excellent mounts for traversing territories with uneven terrain, they have an extraordinary sense of smell, and their snouts are equipped with sharp fangs.

Suddenly, the crunch of quick footsteps on the grass echoed through the area, cutting through the deathly silence of the rainforest. The helmis immediately turned their heads in the direction the noise came from, producing low growls as they prepared to take action.

The footsteps stopped a few meters from the camp, just behind the wide trunk of a tree. The sound of cloth rustling reached the ears of the helmis, which immediately recognized the scent of the human behind the banyan tree. Still, none of them let their guard down, visibly restless by the impetuous aether that swept through the rainforest. 

If it weren't for their special training, the three would have fled far away, abandoning their masters.

A few minutes later, a man dressed in a dark red uniform appeared from behind the tree. He raised one of his hands and his short nails were replaced by sharp claws, which he used to cut the vine-like roots falling from the treetops that stood in his way.

When he approached the camp, sigils in the grass flashed in a flicker before fading away. He continued walking without giving it much thought while undoing his claws and returning his hand to normal. Once in front of one of the tents, he probed inside, sensing the presence of three different aethers. His brow furrowed in displeasure, but he quickly wiped all traces of emotion from his face.

“Elisha, I'm coming in,” he announced in an overbearing tone. Without waiting for the other person's response, his hand removed the fabric that served as a door and went in.

The tent's interior was much larger than it appeared on the outside, all due to a dimensional enchantment that allowed the space of a defined area to be modified and enlarged. 

The man then examined the mess before his eyes. Several jewelry boxes were lying on the carpeted floor, their contents scattered everywhere; earrings, bracelets, brooches, and chokers, among other luxurious accessories, all being hurriedly picked up by a girl wearing the typical grayish uniform of the maidens who belonged to the Sacred Creed, a congregation of believers who worshiped deities called eloah.

Recognizing the man's voice, the ochre-blond-haired maiden shuddered with fear. She instinctively hunched her back, with her chin almost touching her chest, and tried to pick up the scattered objects more quickly while diminishing her presence as best as possible.

He ignored the maid as usual and continued taking long strides towards the center of the tent, where another woman sat, clad in a thin white robe that covered every inch of her skin, but this could not hide her captivating presence, which was not appropriate for her young age of nineteen.

The area around her was neat and clean; the wooden table was filled with small appetizers, perfect for eating in one bite, and the cup of tea she held in her hands still gave off a faint mist.

The scene of the young woman peacefully enjoying her rest, ignoring the disorder around her, was quite dissonant, but no one commented on it, as if the situation were completely natural.

“Elisha,” he called her again, stopping in front of the table.

Elisha raised her gaze in his direction as if she had just become aware of his presence. Her pale pink eyes widened, revealing her surprise, and her cheeks colored with a subtle blush, accentuating her daintiness.

“Mael!” Elisha exclaimed jubilantly, setting the teacup down and then standing up to approach the man whose overwhelming presence seemed to cut through even the air.

Samael's mint green eyes stared at Elisha's figure, scanning every inch of her clothing. Seeing that everything was in place, Samael averted his gaze to the man standing silently behind her.

A man with long purple hair and slanted eyes was looking at the floor as if he was not paying attention to his surroundings, but Samael knew very well the capabilities of Zagan, the paladin who vehemently protected the apostle of the Sacred Creed, who was a significant person for both the members of the Creed and the inhabitants of the kingdom.

And this person of such high prestige was precisely Elisha Lezabel, the young woman that Samael had in front of him.

Elisha noticed the man's scrutinizing gaze, but she decided to feign ignorance in the face of such discourtesy. She knew his domineering and controlling temperament quite well, so expressing irritation would only be counterproductive. She then decided to attract his attention before he started looking for reasons to criticize her paladin because of his jealousy and distrust.

“Mael?” She asked sweetly as one of her hands grasped the sleeve of his red uniform, tugging it gently.

The mint green eyes that seemed to shoot daggers finally turned towards Elisha. Not many would be able to tell the difference, but Samael's austere gaze was mitigated by seeing her act like a meek pet begging for his attention.

“All the beasts escaped far away, the area is safe,” Samael reported the results he obtained after having explored the surroundings.

Not wanting to put Elisha's safety at risk, he decided to make a reconnaissance of five kilometers around the camp as soon as the second earthquake stopped, but he did not find even the slightest trace of the tiniest beast in the vicinity.

Elisha placed a hand on her chest and breathed a sigh of relief. That meant that for the time being they wouldn't have to fight tirelessly like they had been doing for weeks.

Having to be continually awakened in the middle of the night by the sudden attacks of the beasts was exasperating her, and her exhaustion —both physical and psychological— was increasing after not being able to fall asleep for more than three or four hours at a time.

To be honest, she did not want to go into the rainforest, much less live in these disgusting tents, but how could she refuse the second hilmir's request and betray the expectations of her entourage?

If she turned her back on them, the image she had worked so hard to create would crack and she would surely lose the trust of many of her followers if word reached them that the apostle of the Sacred Creed had refused to help when there was a chance to put an end to the war between the humans and the beasts of the Milbong rainforest.

Elisha had not stopped cursing to herself from the moment the second hilmir put her in such a disadvantageous and risky situation.

Who in their right mind would abandon the comfort and luxuries of the temple to enter a rainforest infested with ferocious creatures? And on top of that for the public benefit? To her, this was utter nonsense, but she couldn't express her irritation openly.

Noticing how Elisha's tense features relaxed, Samael glanced sideways in the direction of the paladin and the maiden before attempting to hold her hand to reassure her as she usually did with him. But before he could do so, he noticed something and lowered his hand quickly. Then, he put a little distance between them. Elisha caught his movements and knew immediately what it meant.

The tent door suddenly opened and another person rushed in without even announcing their presence. The man who usually wore a robe adorned with abundant jewelry was now wearing a simple khaki green uniform that accentuated his healthy brown skin.

Identifying him was also easy thanks to his bluish-green hair, which evidenced his blood of noble origin. It was the second hilmir, Duman Vikram.

Green hair was the symbol of the Hathor kingdom's Vikrams, so only direct descendants who had inherited the powers to become the next great rhig boasted this precious color. Among his siblings, Duman was the only one with green hair, so it was an open secret that he would be the next regent once his father abdicated the throne.

As soon as Duman stopped in front of them, all the occupants of the tent paid their respects by placing a hand on their forehead, crossing their index and middle fingers, and then pointing towards him while maintaining this sign. Duman raised his left hand to the height of his chest, squeezing the tips of his index finger with his thumb while leaving the other fingers stretched, and then lowered it as if he were cutting something. This was a sign that he accepted their cordial greetings and that they could now relax to continue their conversation.

“General Zurie, how did it go on your side?”

“The area is safe,” Samael reported again, “there are no signs of beasts within a five-kilometer radius.”

“Although this is convenient for us, we do not know the cause or how long it will last. Have you secured the route?” Duman continued inquiring about the situation.

Meanwhile, the maid resumed her cleaning duties. Zagan glanced sideways at the table with half-eaten appetizers and the cup that no longer emanated heat and then rested his violet eyes on the girl.

The servant girl turned quickly and exchanged glances with the paladin, exasperation evident on her freckle-streaked face. It was the job of the apostle's servant to wait on her and be attentive to every detail, so Zagan was simply being kind by telepathically reminding her that the tea had gone cold and there were not enough cups for the new guests.

Mara had developed a character similar to Elisha after years of servitude, but, unlike the apostle, she was lousy at masking her emotions, so she could be considered somewhat honest, but ultimately, her arrogance and disdain towards those inferior in rank obscured the rest of her good qualities.

Leaving the pompous jewelry boxes on the dresser, Mara hurried to the table in the center of the tent and raised her hand above the appetizers, murmuring something.

The pearl in the silver ring on her little finger flashed faintly, and then the things on the table changed completely. A teapot, three porcelain cups, a pitcher of juice, and three crystal glasses now lay on the table. The appetizers were also changed to a sweet and savory selection to accommodate the guests' varied palates.

Mara then pulled out a tiny and flat reddish-colored stone, and threw it into the teapot, sprinkling in a couple of herbs afterward. After a few seconds, white smoke began to come out of it. The maid carefully poured the hot liquid into each cup and then repeated the process with the pitcher, filling the glasses with fresh lemon juice.

Once she finished setting up the table, she glanced in the paladin's direction and rolled her eyes before resuming her pending tasks. Familiar with her temperament, Zagan simply averted his gaze to the ground and continued his duty of escorting the apostle silently.

“Great Hilmir, General, please,” Elisha called, indicating the empty chairs with a wave of her hand.

Duman was talking to Samael about the mysterious pillar of light when she interrupted them to invite them to eat something so they could regain their energy. To tell the truth, Duman was feeling quite thirsty, so he thanked her and took a seat, but Samael decided to remain standing.

The three men, including Zagan, had secured and cleared the area of beasts, but the paladin, despite his high rank within the Creed, was still considered a commoner, so he could not take a seat among the jarlar.

Duman then went on to explain what he had discovered.