1 Fear

"We're almost there Miss."

Although her body tensed up, she did not respond. Liliana stayed silent as she stared at the grey clouds in the sky.

The carriage ride had been two days long. The view of the outside and the dark faces of the knights that accompanied her was the only entertainment she was given. She was tired. The rattling of the carriage exhausted her frail body, and the food was not enough to keep her satisfied. The knight's words should have brought relief.

Yet, the opposite held true.

The noises in her head grew louder and more frantic, but her heart was truthful; beating loudly into her ears to remind her of the fate to come. And as she reached closer to the end, her insides twisted into knots.

What awaited her at the end of this journey was the Zephyr house.

A commoner's honor is to be recognized by nobility. To be called upon in a fancy carriage is a luxury most could not afford to touch. Furthermore, her benefactors was the Zephyr family. A household so infamous, they were second in power after the royal family. Everyone, even past the empire, knew who they were.

Ever since the dawn of age, the Zephyr's were known to be blessed with unfathomable sword skills – no rival to exist in their vast world. Every son in the family became a sword master so talented, they could wipe out a country with an army incomparable in size. The Zephyrs were feared by other empires and a threat to any enemy in their way.

In accordance to their talents, the riches bestowed onto them was haunting. Their wealth accumulated from generations of rewards from winning wars and ensuring the protection of the royal family. With their money, anything was in their grasps. According to rumors, whole countries could be fed with the wealth in their vaults.

Liliana was nothing compared to the people who waited for her arrival.

Yes. She was absolutely nothing. A mere human they could slice with their swords with no remorse. So why was she in this fancy carriage? Why did they want her there? Her whole life, she had stayed in the small town she grew up in. There was no reason for them to know of her existence.

It was rare for even other nobles to take a glance at their faces. The Zephyrs were known to be secluded from the high class. They did not attend fancy balls or coronation ceremonies. The only time they appeared in the capital was to head to the royal family's call.

The only way for a normal citizen to meet the Zephyrs was through the battlefield. Right at the brink of death.

With great talent comes the aftermath. No normal human should be able to stay sane after viciously killing so many people. Contrary to the bright and righteous royal family they served, the Zephyrs were dark and evil. They thrived in the battlefield. A place they called home. It is said that their eyes burn with joy as red splattered across their pale faces.

Any person who's survived the war would repeat the same thing. The Zephyrs were monsters. In front of them, not one human survived.

It was ironic. The fact that the Zephyrs were loyal to the royalty, yet cruel to anyone below. Was it not the empire's best interest to make their citizens feel safe?

The clouds outside only grew darker; slowly, the forest etched away revealing a large fortification.

She was here.