Core

Every story had its core. Sometimes the 'core' would be obvious, and other times, it would be the least expected thing. Nonetheless, every story ever told had its core.

The hunter stood there, feeling the pressure of that core. Indeed, it could also be disguised as a choice. The course of things was slowly paved like a staircase to either hell or heaven. Kal did not know how to respond to the sorcerer.

He really wanted Bave to wake up, be lively and see him speak again. He meant to him more than a captain. He was a friend, and a family at the same time. Kal was sure that Koh felt the same. Hence, it was quite obvious he would die for him.

But such a choice wasn't easy to make. If one thought that it was as easy as throwing oneself into a fight, it wasn't. There were consequences and they could cancel the positivity of a choice. These consequences could render a choice to regret.

The hunter stumbled a bit, holding onto a nearby chair whilst he was observed by the keen eyes of the mage. She watched closely as the hunter grew quiet and his inner conflict was visible. He looked ready to die but something held him back.

"Let me know when you come up with your decision.", she might have appeared merciful. After all, she let him have some time. However, it was the opposite. Time could drive one insane. Therefore, it was no mercy.

Kal looked up, his eyes spoke of fear and sadness. He wished he could ask if there was no other way but he didn't want to press any further. What if the mage decided to let Bave die and steal the opportunity of saving him?

The old hunter left wordlessly; his shoulders showed defeat as his body posture revealed the heaviness of that choice. He paced in decided to save Bave, and he walked out conflicted. He felt guilty as well. How stupid of him to idealize his bravery and think he would do anything just to bring Bave back to his conscious state.

As he walked away and left the sorcerer alone, the door closed with a creak. She remained seated, staring at the door with her honey-colored eyes glistening from the candlelight.

A figure shifted from one of the darkest corners in the room and stepped into the light. He had been hiding skillfully so, though the hunter was too distressed to notice even the plainly obvious details, listening to the conversation that had taken place.

Tall built, wide shoulders and beautiful hands relaxed on each side. His mysteriousness looked familiar to the observant eye as he stepped out of the shadows.

The mage shifted her attention to the figure and watched him as he reached slowly hand to lower his hood down. Beautiful long strands of hair spilled over his shoulders. The candlelight carefully teased his facial features with the illumination.

His chin was sharp but not square-ish. It was masculine the way it connected each of his jawlines that formed a beautiful angle as the jawbone was well-defined. His almond-shaped eyes, despite different colors, resembled the mage's eye shape.

His irises were dull brown color similar to his brownish hair. Despite the ordinary colors, his beauty somewhat soared with his straight nose and developed cheekbones. If one could voice an opinion would probably question the choice of nature to gift him with such dull colors.

His handsomeness deserved something extravagant! Like…like blue eyes or at least hair color like the mage's one.

His warm gaze glanced over to the woman in the room and she stared back at him before a sigh escaped her.

"Really… Remind me again, why are we going through all this trouble? Not only you wasted so many resources to chase them in the forest, then we had to even get to Luse to make sure we can follow these three on the exact same route they have planned to take on, protecting them from the shadows but now you even sheltered them?"

The sorcerer finally showed some emotions. She felt frustrated from head to toes. That was correct, they were the ones who ambushed Bave's guild. Then they arrived in Luse and had to eavesdrop on the hunters in the horse house but also be ready to assist them in getting the Nominalia. Not only that but also sheltered them.

Ridiculous. All seemed ridiculous to the mage.

"Calm down Ilvy", his voice was smooth like the rivers and deep like the forests.

"But brother!!", her tone raised and she got up from her chair, "Why are you going through all that trouble!? What if you get caught? We have stayed in the shadows for twenty years!"

Ilvy was visibly worried but annoyed by the fact that her brother was risking so much for these strangers. She would justify if it were just for the Nominalia, but they no longer needed them. Why did he insist so much?

These twenty years have been hard for them. After the last King of Tulo died, these two siblings have been in the shadows. Haunted by memories but also hunted by enemies. Whatever her brother was doing was against all logic.

"Moreover", she continued without taking a sip of air, "you are even willing to use your magic on some hunter?! Why are you even going to use THAT spell?

If you use it, you are basically exposing everything! You are like straight inviting all of our enemies to hunt us!"

Her scolding drilled in the man's ears as he remained quiet. Once she paused to gulp air, the man patiently explained.

"I am not going to use 'Revival'", just as he stated it, his sister got relieved.

'Revival' was a dangerous spell, in fact, it was a forbidden sort of magic. In the past, only royals or close to the royal family could master it. 'Revival' was based on the principle of ancient magic, or later referred to as alchemy – the equivalent exchange.

The spell-caster, however, had to use enormous amount of Orenda. Since 'Orenda' was hard to control and unique to the Tulo clan, it was rare to see that spell being used. Therefore, it has been classified as a forbidden art.

If that man used it Ilvy worried that he would leave traces of the spell in the energy surrounding nature. After all, Orenda was not artificial but something quite natural and it affected nature too. It affected fate.

There was no way for the spell to stay hidden for long, if used. Eventually, someone would track them.

Ilvy sighed audibly but her relief was short-lived as her brother continued his sentence.

"I am just testing them for The Three Royal Guards."

"You—what? Three…Guards…", her breathing grew irregular and she felt dizzy.

"You have lost it!", her paleness spread over her pink lips and she flopped back onto her chair as she felt sick. Her brother had even a crazier idea. She had to calm down as her blood pressure probably went dangerously up.

"Brother…you cannot think of granting three hunters the title of 'Royal'. Moreover, think about it…if the current Crown gets to know that you are actually alive and preparing 'the royal three', you are basically inviting a beast in our den! We will be annihilated! Pulverized! Into the Nothingness! End of it. End of all Balhkara!"

The man reached hand up to hide his chuckle as whenever Ilvy was angry, for whatever reason, it made him chuckle. It wasn't that his sister was wrong but her way of putting things were funny. 'Pulverized'? He doubted it. She should know that her brother was not so weak.

"Ilvy…", he glanced to the book since he was close enough to read the page title.

The one she had previously opened when she talked to Kal, and her brother smiled. Although she scolded him, she had been reading on a spell which can temporarily bring consciousness back to form a pack between the sorcerer and the patient. It would grant the patient vitality.

The spell was known as 'Soul Promise' since the only way for a near-death patient to survive was to strengthen his soul.

The man smiled and cocked a brow, "'Soul Promise'? Were you planning to bind yourself to 'a mere hunter'?"

She looked away as her embarrassment drew her cheeks rouge. She wasn't that cruel to leave the man die but did not want her brother to reveal his powers. So what choice did she have?

Her brother left it off as he knew Ilvy. She highly disliked hunters, and he wouldn't blame her. After all, these men served the Association Hunters Bar. One of the most corrupt organizations ever created.

Even if the hunters were innocent, and Ilvy knew they meant no harm, they still were part of the Association. Even worse, Bave was the best out of the best! Her dislike came out naturally and was nothing personal. It just happened that these three men were hunters.

"Listen Ilvy, I have instructed lady Tanya and even Rana agreed to the initial plan. We have to make sure all seems effortlessly logical. The hunters have to survive and then strike a deal for the Nominalia which they were tasked to retrieve.

Their captain wouldn't let the Nominalia stay in our hands and that's why he has to wake up. That way we can track the one who is looking for it."

The man reminded his sister of the plan. She knew but she was afraid that something bad was coming their way. She didn't want to lose anyone close to her, not again. Twenty years ago, she lost everything she loved, and the one thing that kept her sanity was her brother. If she lost him, she would never recover.

"I know…just promise me one thing…"

"What is it?", his voice softer than cotton and gentler than the candlelight.

"You will not reveal your powers to anyone.", her eyes pleaded and she kept her amber gaze glued to him.

"You know I am bad at keeping promises Ilvy…", he chuckled but his laughter sounded weak and saddened.

"Promise me! Or I will not support you on this one!"

The man's laughter ceased and he looked back at his sister. His almond eye-shape matched hers despite the different iris' color. He reached up and gestured to bring the hood over his head again,

"I promise."

Every story had its core. Sometimes the 'core' would be obvious, and other times, it would be the least expected thing. Nonetheless, every story ever told had its core and it came in different forms. In a choice, in a small detail or in a forgotten moment. But when a core came with a promise, it became eternity.

The core of a promise, whether kept or not, became eternity.