Sebastian lay awake in his room, staring at the ceiling above him. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t sleep. This insomnia had plagued him for a month now. No matter how tired he was, his mind felt too crowded, too noisy. Sitting up on his bed, he looked outside as the moonlight shone dimly onto his balcony. He stood, walked toward the balcony, and gazed out at the vast green seas.

  Sebastian touched the pendant he wore. He took it off and examined the beautiful red ruby his mother had once worn. This pendant probably cost more than his father made in a year, yet his mother had never even thought of selling it, even when times were tough. The pendant seemed to speak to him, whispering stories of a bygone era—when things were simpler. When things were peaceful. Sebastian looked up at the moon, thinking about how beautiful it looked tonight.

  Thousands of miles away, another pair of eyes gazed at the same moon. However, these eyes were filled with boredom—the eyes of an apex predator. The eyes of Ipsilas, Savior of Isildus.

  He had officially received the title from the King himself. The entire kingdom had cheered as the Stampede incident was finally declared over. The celebrations and festivals had lasted for a month. The capital had been flooded with tourists and visitors from all over the kingdom and even from nearby countries.

  Ipsilas sat with his rapier resting on his lap, staring at the moon with such disdain and hatred. He loathed how peaceful everything was. The world he had envisioned was slipping further away, pushed back by a mere letter. If it weren’t for Peter’s treachery, the world would already be engulfed in war by now. However, despite this setback, things were still under control. He had planned for this moment for years. A simple bump in the road wouldn’t send the entire carriage crashing.

  A knock came from behind Him.

  “Come in.”

  A cloaked figure appears entering the room. The shadow concealed him and his face was covered by a mask. The figure approaches Ipsilas and lets out a small whisper. Ipsilas grinned, finally the moment he was waiting for had arrived. Ipsilas stretched his hand above to ease his tense muscles. Then he opened the balcony door and looked towards a carriage that’s ready to depart at the moment's notice.

  “Francia.”

  *

  Sebastian looked at the line of carriage ready to depart in front of the palace entrance. Hundreds of soldiers are busy running around carrying supplies and equipment for the road ahead. Then he looked at both of his entourage. They both look awkward and Sebastian could definitely see fear and confusion on their faces. Sebastian could only let out a long exhale as he approached his designated Carriage. The inside of the carriage looks comfortable. Too comfortable for Sebastian's taste. He then approached the coachman on the front.

  “Can I sit with you?”

  “I-in the font?! With me?!” the Coachman exclaimed as he looked at Sebastian with horror.

  “My saint, y-you can’t possibly sit in the front! Does the carriage feel uncomfortable to you?!”

  “I just didn’t like it. Too fancy for me.”

  “But my Saint, we can’t just let important people like you sit in the front! Our captain will kill us if he sees you like that!”

  “Alright, alright I won’t sit in the front,” Sebastian relented. “But I will walk with all of you.”

  “WHAT?! NO! YOU CAN DO THAT!”

  A Commotion erupted around Sebastian Carriage. Dalia peaked her head out to see what’s going on outside. Then she sees Sebastian surrounded by another church soldier. Sebastian looked really annoyed and even seemed to get into a verbal spat with some soldier.

  “Is it Sebastian?” Carlos asked.

  “Yes, he’s talking with a lot of soldiers.... more like arguing, I guess.”

  “That spoiled kid always acts out like that, I wonder what disturbance he causes right now.”

  “Hey, you can’t say that. He’s just......”

  “Just?” Carlos raised an eyebrow.

  “Just need a friend!”

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  “What?!”

  Dalia immediately goes out from her carriage and approaches Sebastian. Carlos on the other hand follows behind with a dagger look on his eyes. He just didn’t like Sebastian very much. It used to be only him and Dalia around the church and now he feels like Sebastian is just ruining the norm and atmosphere. Carlos also heard some unpleasant rumors about Sebastian from another Cardinal. A lot of them say Sebastian is a herald of grim future as the arrival of war saints usually precede a war.

  “Come on, it’s not like I don’t like the carriage. I just wanted to train!”

  “H-how about you train when we rest during the trip? I-I’LL TRAIN WITH YOU!”

  Sebastian looked at the soldier in front of him, then he shook his head and let out a mocking smile.

  "You wouldn’t last ten seconds sparring with me. How about this—during our 'rest,' all of you spar with me. All. At. Once.”

  All the soldiers seemed shocked by Sebastian's proposal. Sure they’re just normal soldiers. However, the fact that they’re placed as Papal Palace guards, proves that they’re the best among the best. The church soldiers looked at each other with a passing glance.

  Suddenly Dalia emerged from behind the crowd with a warm smile on her face.

  “Good morning everyone,” Dalia said with a smile.

  The atmosphere shifted instantly. The situation becomes less tense and some church soldier seems to be in a better mood all of the sudden. Sebastian looked around as he watched all of this happen. He can’t believe Dalia managed to calm the situation just by her presence alone. Carlos who just arrived didn’t even let his eyes wander off from Sebastian. He looked really angry and annoyed. Sebastian can feel Carlos piercing hatred towards him, even when their eyes didn’t meet.

  “What’s going on here? Is there some kind of party happening?!” Dalia asked playfully.

  "N-no, my dear Saint!" one soldier stammered. "Saint Sebastian here refuses to ride in his carriage. He wants to… sit with the coachmen or… walk with the rest of us."

  “Why the hell did you even want to do that?! Can you just sit quietly inside and not cause any trouble, you spoiled brat?!” Carlos snapped

  Sebastian immediately shot up a look at Carlos and bloodlust emanated just like a thick air. Other soldiers seemed alerted as their bodies tensed up all of the sudden. By habit most of them quickly grab the hilt of the sword, ready to take it out. Carlos on the other hand could feel his heart sink and his body become limp. He falls to the ground as he watches Sebastian towered over him and become bigger with each passing moment.

  “Calm down, calm down,” Dalia said as she patted Sebastian's head.

  All of the soldiers seem shocked as they watch Dalia pat Sebastian head with ease. Then gradually the bloodlust Sebastian emits becomes less tense and disappears entirely. Sebastian's face looked boiling with embarrassment. It’s been years since someone treated Sebastian like a child. Getting this kind of treatment after so long feels really awkward and weird.

  “G-get your hands off me!” Sebastian said as he pushed Dalia's hands away.

  Sebastian's face is beet red. Dalia on the other hand just threw Sebastian a big warm smile. Other soldier now seems more relaxed as Sebastian calms down. However, Carlos just couldn’t shake his fear. He sees Sebastian more as a monster. A monster that can lash out without warning and no one can stop him. Slowly he stood back up with the help of his personal entourage. Then accidentally both Sebastian and Carlos' eyes met briefly. Even without a word and in a mere fraction of a moment, Sebastian's eyes speak loudly towards him.

  Don’t ever talk to me like that ever again you imbecile.

  Carlos immediately scurried back to his carriage without saying a word. From the way he walked he was almost sprinting back. Dalia then looked at the soldier around with a smile on his face.

  “So, can you just let Sebastian walk or.... train? I promise I will take the blame for it if anything happens.”

  The soldiers looked at each other and just nodded their heads in agreement. They’re already behind schedule now and continuing this problem even longer will only bring them disaster from the higher up. Dalia smiled with joy as the soldier began to disperse leaving her with Sebastian.

  “What do you want?” He asked

  Sebastian knew there must be something Dalia wanted from him for her to stand up for him. However, Sebastian just can’t pierce her mind and predict what she’s thinking. He feels like he’s trying to grasp a cloud with his hand. Something that’s impossible to do. Dalia just gave Sebastian her usual smile. She doesn’t know what Sebastian is implying, for her it’s just helping a friend in trouble.

  Dalia tilted her head in confusion. “What do I want?”

  “Yes, just say it now. I know you must have something on your mind,” retort Sebastian sharply.

  “Then, can I be your friend?”

  Sebastian seems to be taken back by that request. He was expecting Dalia to rope him into some kind of conspiracy or just wanting some kind of reward. Becoming his friend however, is not what he expects at all. He stared at her eyes trying to find any hidden meaning behind her words. However, the request seems genuine and there’s no string attached behind it. Sebastian just looks sad as he realizes Dalia's sincerity. Friends are such a strange concept for him now. The memory of his friend playing in the soldier village just resurfaced from the depth. What a beautiful memory it was. And what a sad tragedy it becomes.

  “I’m sorry, but we can’t be friends.”

  Sebastian's face looked gloomy and Dalia could see it. The darkness in Sebastian's heart and mind seems to manifest to Dalia as she watches Sebastian closely. It’s such a cold and suffocating place, filled with thorn and mist all around. However even with all of those around him, there’s still a little light far out in the distance. Shone dimly in the abyss.

  “However, maybe........later we can be friends. But not now,” Sebastian said as he threw his gaze around.

  Dalia smiled hearing that word. Even when the darkness in Sebastian is very thick and dense, there’s still hope that the light will emerge victorious.

  “I will remember that.” Dalia said with a warm smile on her face.

  Dalia goes back to her carriage leaving Sebastian behind. Then a little smile appears on Sebastian's lips when no one bears witness to it.