“So, how’s the enemy doing?” Keith asked with his mouth full of rice. He sat down alone in the dining table, as he stuffed his stomach. It had been a couple of weeks after the president’s order was declared. Since the security was tighten in the whole country, the group decided to rest first, by renting a small house outside of the capital area.Xion just came back from running a small errand in the town, and he looked around the house before answering his friend, “Bad. They’re attacking full-charge at every town in the northern area. Adam has closed the gate, no one is allowed to enter here. They’re just-““Waiting to be butchered,” Sierra cut him with her cold voice. Xion glanced at her who stood still at the kitchen and nodded bitterly, “Yeah. He’s crazy… Adam, I mean. And, based from what I’ve heard, some still managed to pass through with various ways.”“Let me guess; bribing the soldiers!” Keith spoke with apparent disgust by the thought that soldiers took advantage on the poor

Xion’s lips parted as he questioned the lady, “You’re kidding, right? True Blessing is a myth.” Sierra glared at him and tiredly answered, “It’s not. It’s right in front of your eyes, Xion.”Gray looked up at the two people who glared at each other for the hundredth times already. “G-guys, what’s a True Blessing?” His question did work as Sierra averted her focus to the kid. Her eyes clearly showed uneasiness and complicated things that she hadn’t share.Gray waited for the explanation, but no words came out from her. Instead, Sierra turned her back to stand in front of the light as if she wanted to pry it opened. Xion decided to take over as he rubbed his neck tiredly, “I’m not sure, kid. It’s a legend; long ago, back in the earliest civilization that was written in the history. I don’t believe it though. Legend said, True Blessing was a destructive power that shaped the earth.”“It’s more than that,” Sierra added. With a long breath, she started to explain the history.“Long time ag

It’s been a couple of months again after Gray obtained his True Blessing. Now, he could control his power better than before. If Leon was knocked down by the clash, he would summon a soft barrier beneath his friend.“It’s crazy outside at the border.”Xion and Ketih just came back from scouting the area. Lately they kept doing that, so that when the time came, when the enemy came, they were prepared and could easily leave the city.The five of them sat down in their small, shared house. They were about to make their next moves. “The north towns are already occupied by the enemy. Thousands of soldiers are matching towards the gate at this moment, so freaking near.” Keith added grimly.“From what we’ve heard, Adam already dispatched almost his entire army to protect the gate. Probably hundreds of thousand,” Xion explained.“Why they’re focusing too much on the north gate?” Leon questioned them curiously. “Isn’t that too much risks to take? What about the south border or the east one?”“

No one dared to let down their guard even for a second. Sierra was tense, she couldn’t stop herself from pacing back and forth in the damp cave. The smoke still rose above and they knew, morning would come soon since the sky was getting clearer and stars were already gone.Gray was worried sick about Leon. How could the other just leave without waking him up? What’s on his clever mind? In front of the kid, Keith stood close the fire, realizing the tense situation, he spoke, “Don’t worry too much. If Xion said he’d come, he’s going to be here.”Sierra suddenly heard a crack of twig; thus, she quickly raised her bow to the sound. Keith also drew out his sword. The black silhouette turned out to be someone they familiar with. However, he was alone.“Xion,” Gray gasped when he saw the handsome man covered with dirt and blood. He stumbled along, and Keith quickly aided his friend. “Where’s Leon?” Sierra trembled a little when she asked the man.Xion shook his head, then when he sat down, h

“Apparently, Fallton already pledged their loyalty to Kingdom of Bealaris a week ago.”Xion furrowed his eyebrows as he watched the map on his hand. Being fugitives, the group couldn’t rent an inn on every town they reached. Thus, they had to make a camp outside in the woods, which really annoyed Sierra.“How many cities or towns left?” Keith asked the other as he added another X mark to Fallton.“Probably eight. But they’re not strong enough to hold on their own if Bealaris decided to attack. And, we don’t have time and energy to travel to those places.”Sierra crossed her arms as she peeked at the map. “Huh,” She muttered.“What?” Xion asked her.“Here,” She pointed at a town, “Iris.”“Yeah?”“Let’s go there,” She looked up to stare at Xion. The handsome man was confused, “There’s nothing in Iris, Sierra.”“There is,” She raised her eyebrows, clearly ready for an argument. Xion was tired as he rubbed his eyes, “How could you know about it?”“Let’s say that I have a good intuition,”