"What will we do now, Atya?" Asylia asked.
"I will return to Cyrus."
"Lord Atya, your son Abril has returned to Moon," one of the knights reported.
"That is great news. It has only been six months since their departure."
"The only one yet to return is your second son… Will?" Asylia wondered.
"Yes…"
The world had not changed much in six months, yet every nation had begun preparing for what was to come.
Cyrus formed a common front with Kyrtas and Sun — something once thought impossible given their shared history. For generations, both nations had been remembered as the only ones that rejected peace. That changed when their rulers were removed, exposed by their corrupted doctrines.
The ruler of Sun, Asmodey, was stripped of his position for his one-sided tyranny:
the slaughter of innocent lives across multiple nations, repeated border violations, and — the gravest sin of all — an attempt on the life of a Saint.
Now, nearly every nation stood united to defend their lands.
Only Ferynt refused the alliance, maintaining strict neutrality amid the rising conflict.
"Since the alliance has already been forged, shouldn't you return to Moon?" Asylia asked.
"I am not permitted to leave Cyrus until His Highness Pheminus arrives," Atya replied.
With the Saint of Cyrus still missing, Atya was forced to oversee the nation's affairs personally.
"I see. Please excuse me — I must return to Sun to prepare our border defenses," Asylia said, reluctant but resolute.
"I appreciate your understanding and your role as an emissary," Atya replied. "Please convey my wishes for Her Highness's health and prosperity."
"I will inform her," Asylia said.
With that, she departed.
"You are free to go."
A familiar voice echoed through the chamber.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I was unaware of your presence," Atya said, bowing deeply.
"No issue," Pheminus replied. "You must prepare to lead your forces in Moon."
"At once."
Pheminus scoffed.
"To think that mere relics would dare wage war against all of Azuli… insolent insects."
"If you will excuse me," Atya said, lifting his head before stepping through the portal Pheminus opened toward Moon.
"You still haven't found her?" Pheminus asked coldly.
"Your Majesty, there have been strange fluctuations in Area particles near the Purple Forest," one of his subordinates reported.
"To think that a mere insect managed to breach Heriaus's seal…"
"I must apologize, Your Highness, but I am not strong enough to enter that domain."
Pheminus vanished without another word.
"My Father have not returned yet?" Abril asked the maid in front of the mansion.
"He is waiting for the Saint to arrive in Cyrus" She kindly replied while bowing in front of him.
"There's no need to bow in front of me, ha ha ah" He showed respect toward her and added a bit of amusement in his behavior. "Only my sisters are home?"
"Alicia and Miyria are with her majesty Myiar. Andreeyi is practicing swords with his trainer. As for Chrise and…" A gloomy face shown on the maid face while trying to explain him about all his family members.
"Did something happen again between Chrise and Shi?" Abril was concerned.
"It's not like that, it's just that…" The maid didn't avoid the question, she wasn't sure how to answer the question.
Abril didn't pry into it further and decided to move toward Shi room.
The weather was a bit gloomy, grey clouds started to gather around the city and made it look like snow will soon fall. It was early in the morning that Abril arrived back at Moon nation and with that marked his first achievement as a grown-up person, and probably became a person fit to be a Guard.
What could be found strange was the silence in the city. On his road toward the mansion, the main center was empty – no markets open, neither a person swarming the alley.
There wasn't any warning or notification about the status of the nation, yet people somehow knew that something wasn't right in his place.
While moving toward the mansion, Abril saw his younger sisters Alicia and Myiria practicing sword play with the nation Saint, Myiar.
Myiar is one of the renowned swordsmen, reaching the highest rank that could be achieved – Fallen class.
"A beautiful day to you, your Majesty Myiar" Abril showed respect to the Saint.
"A beautiful day to you too, young boy" She kindly replied.
"Master, can we have a small break to play with our brother?" Alicia and Myiria asked at the same time.
"Aren't you two so cute? Do you know that your brother is Special class, right?" Myiar was happy to see that her disciples wanted to show off.
"Aham" both sisters body showed pride, "That's not even close to your highest, Lady Myiar"
"Hei, you should show a bit more respect!" Abril was a bit furious about his sisters attitude. "Above being your Master, she is the nation Saint!"
"Don't worry about it, I don't mind being treated like that by my cute disciples" A small laugh and happiness could be shown on the Saint, "So, you are fine fighting both of them at once?" She asked Abril.
"That's fine, your Majesty" he replied.
Myiar lifted her dress and sat down on the little bench in order to watch their match.
Instead of taking out his sword from its sheath, he chose to take a training sword that was gently put in his place around the training grounds.
"Shall we start?" Abril questioned.
[Enchant – activated]
[Dark & Light sync - activated]
[Khaelnar - activated]
"Oh, it seems that both of you are taking it in a serious way" Their mentor stated.
"We must show that you are a great teacher, Lady Myiar!" Alicia stated.
Both girls enchanted their skills and prepared for the mock battle.
"It seems that I must take in serious too this fight" Abril was clearly happy to see that his younger sisters started to get on fire over something.
[Avalon – activated]
[Rapid – activated]
[Rasius – activated]
Abril enchanted his skills too and in a blink of an eye his sword tip was less than a foot in front of Alicia's left shoulder.
"Solzt" Myiria said and Alicia was teleported in front of Lady Myiar.
"Hii" Alicia shouted. It wasn't because she was almost hit by Abril sword, but due to Lady Myiar that touched her hips.
"Alicia… you could defend yourself. Why did you let Myiria to use her skill?"
"I…i…I thought that was the best option" Alicia hardly replied while being embarrassed.
"You should be more wary about your swordplay, you shouldn't underestimate yourself" Lady Myiar was a bit concerned about Alicia's way of thinking.
While both had small talk, Abril kept launching attacks over Myiria that made her to move in defensive.
"In the name of Myiar, the Saint resembling Pride…" Myiria started to enchant a spell, but Abril was aware of the consequences using such high-tier skill – furthermore claiming to be one of the Saint's flowers, one of her rankings couldn't be let aside by Abril or rather by Saint Myiria itself.
Without a second to waste, Abril began to show his authority in order to stop Myiria from casting the spell.
"Thou, who be defeated!"
And with that, a strong pressure was put on each individual lower than his ranking.
"Young boy, please do not resort at such skills over a trivial thing" Lady Myiar stood tall in front of him while touching his sword in order to stop his chanting.
"I must apologize, your Majesty – but claiming to be one of your flowers is not a trivial thing" He replied while gently letting down his sword.
"If I didn't say anything about it, it means its fine – right?" She showed a shiny smile on her face.
"I'm aware that it's not my place to say, but please do not pick people on a whim" He was clearly frustrated about the situation.
"I must give you some credits, I never thought that the boys in Sofner family will show concern over their family" She genuinely moved her small arm from the sword and put her back inside the dress cuff.
Myiar attire wasn't of a noble, neither of a commoner. This time she chose to wear a light white dress with silver straps and small pearls of the same color on her bodice. A yellow hemline and white cuff that let you to see what's behind it. What was easy to see in her behavior was that she always kept her hands inside the cuff or sleeve – making her to look a bit unsure or easy to intimidate.
She was bestowed with Saint title not long ago, making her the youngest and a new authority holder
Pride.
The continent was informed about the new Saint over her ceremony that was held by Pheminus in Moon capital, Lunè.