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Chapter Text

His appearance was different, bringing something new, something pure. Loham was born in an unexpected birth, unlikely to happen. His mother didn't survive the delivery; she was very weak, having two babies wasn't easy. Loham doesn't remember what happened before he turned five; on one hand, many people don't remember when they were little. It bothered him because he found himself in a giant realm inhabited by orcs, with no idea who he was, where he came from, or even how to speak or walk. He just... appeared.

Orcs didn't like elves, because they had been exiled from Tor'dash, but they never discovered why. A strange presence in their land, an elf present there. Despite the imposed rule, they grabbed their weapons and approached that presence. A boy sitting on the wet grass, frightened and trying to understand why he didn't resemble them. An orc tried to approach, and Loham moved back and fell. An orc standing behind him helped him up and said in their language:

 "Don't be afraid, we won't hurt you" *Signaling for them to lower their weapons.

She appeared to be at least twenty years old. She picked him up and said:

 "I'll take care of him, leave it to me."

But one man didn't take it well, and a warning was sounded:

 "Be careful, he might be a threat."

With an obscene gesture, she replied:

 "Shut up, Charles."

Surrounded by gazes, she walked away with the boy towards her tent.

 "How did you end up here, huh"

 "Such beautiful hair."

 "Do you have a name?"

 "My name is Suzan, and you?"

The boy looked confused, and Suzan understood that he couldn't communicate. So she decided to teach him.

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 At the age of 6, he could already speak and spoke very well. He learned the language of the orcs, which was their native tongue. He had learned to walk and was already running everywhere, bothering the orcs who were working. He became known to everyone and was the main attraction. He still didn't have a name, and everyone called him White.

One day, Suzan called him for a conversation, and he quieted down.

 "Do you like being called that?", she asked.

He shook his head from side to side and rested his hands on his knees, looking sad.

 "We need to think of a name", she said.

He looked at her, struggling to think, but quickly said with a smile on his face,

"Victor, Victor the Orc Elf. Rawrrr."

Suzan laughed and shook her head.

The tent was covered in snow, and a snowflake fell on her hand.

 "Loham... Loham Crysthall. Your hair is like the snow that shines in the sun, and Loham... It's a strong name like ours. What do you think?"

His eyes sparkled, and he hugged her. She smiled and hugged him back.

He began to whisper, "Loham the brave warri-"

"Gentleman," Suzan corrected. 

"Gentman, the brave gentman of his land. I will be known to everyone like that, right, Suzan?"

She nodded and smiled.

Loham ran out of the tent and started shouting as he went.

"Hey, everyone, attention! I have a name now!! Loham!! Call me that, okay? It's official now!" he said, jumping from crate to crate of various food stalls.

As he was distracted, a girl with long black hair passed in front of him. She seemed to be a little older than him. Loham ended up falling off one of the crates but still put a smile on his face.

"Hi," he said.

And she walked away.

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1004

Two years had passed, and many stories had been told about this place, as well as the distant land. The land of the elves. The desire to get closer to Tor'dash only grew stronger every time he heard about it, but he felt uncomfortable about what they had done. Suzan used to tell these stories in the early hours of the morning.

1006

Loham was already forming thoughts appropriate for his age; he was still a child but already understood many things people talked about. He wanted justice. Loham considered himself an orc; he was like them, walked like them, and spoke like them.

One day, he approached Suzan and casually asked if he could call her mother. She was like a maternal figure, even though they were not actually related. She was around 26 years old, about 16 years older than him, but she already considered him a part of it all and agreed.

Suzan knew Loham more than she should and knew that more things would come along.

 ''I know you want to tell me something. You can speak. I won't scold you.''

 ''I want to learn how to fight and defend myself, mother.'' *Making punching gestures with his hand.

 ''You know the appropriate age is 12, and even if I wanted to, I couldn't teach you.''

 ''You said you wouldn't contradict me.''

 ''I didn't say that, I said I wouldn't scold you. And that's not what I'm doing, Loham. I'm just saying you have to wait a little longer for it to work out. Now is not the time.''

 ''Okay. Then... can you teach me the language of Tor'dash? Maybe I can get there someday, infiltrate, and well, I don't want to get confused, you know... in case they find me and discover that I'm an orc who can't speak the language.'' *Suzan smiled.

 ''You're not an orc... and it's very dangerous to learn that language. You know, many here don't like it and could punish you, even as a child.''

 ''I know, but I consider myself one. And you can teach me.'' ''Secretly.'' *He whispered.

 ''Sorry, I consider you one too. I can try to find a place...'' *Loham realized that she didn't dissuade him, so he widened his eyes and hugged her, then ran off to play with some children nearby.

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Finally, Loham reached his 12th birthday, and he was eager for this moment. Over the past two years, he had studied the Tordashian language every morning with Suzan in an abandoned castle. The words were difficult to pronounce, but as the months passed, he got the hang of it. Most orcs treated him as one of their own.

On a cold afternoon, a duel took place as Loham passed by after buying fruits. Two orcs were fighting. One of them was Charles, the greatest warrior of that land, wielding a giant sword in his hand. It was mirrored and looked new. Loham smiled, thinking that someday he would be fearless and strong like them. But just as he approached to get a closer look at the fight, Charles raised his arm, holding the sword, and struck down with brute force toward the neck of the orc in front of him. A fallen body and a panicked boy. Purple blood everywhere, with the greatest concentration on Charles' sword. The boy's smile faded away. What seemed to be someone of significance to that orc crumbled and attacked the warrior, repeating the same motion. More blood. Silence. A watchful gaze at the naturally pale boy, who was now turning white.

"Do you want a lesson, boy?"

It was the first time Loham had witnessed someone dying, not just one, but two. Now he understood why Suzan didn't want him to learn so early. Suzan arrived and covered the boy's eyes.

"Too late, he has already seen. Now you'll have to teach him. Or I will. I insist," Charles smirked.

"Asshole," Suzan muttered as she took the boy away.

Loham imagined himself losing a fight and said, trembling, "I don't want to... die."

Suzan was startled. "Who told you that? You're not going to die. Was it Charles?"

"No, it wasn't him. It's just... what if I duel someday like they did and I lose? I'll end up leaving and never see you again," Loham looked at her with sad eyes.

"You're not going to die, my love, and you will never lose. You will always prevail. Take this necklace," Suzan removed a dragon-shaped black pendant from her neck and put it on Loham.

"If there comes a day when you think you can't do it anymore... think of the necklace, think that I will be with you, destroying any threat. And always repeat that you're not afraid. Understood?"

"I'm not afraid," he squeezed the necklace tightly and tried hard not to think about what he had seen. It was very difficult, but he knew he would overcome it someday.

"Are you ready to fight, my dear?"

"No. I'm sorry, I just... need to forget."

"That's okay."

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For three years, Loham couldn't bring himself to look at a sword properly; his vision always blurred into purple, and he would clench his necklace in remembrance. At the age of 14, he decided to learn how to fight, but not with a sword—with his bare hands. He learned everything through punches; countless strikes were thrown. The pre-training exercises brought strength for practice. He didn't know that Suzan had fighting skills; if he had known earlier... She taught him every step, every hand movement, demonstrating how to throw a punch without breaking the thumb or hand. The thumb was placed between the fingers, with the index and middle fingers slightly raised, followed by a closed fist. A wrong move could turn his hand inside out, believe me. They punched wooden boards and fought each other. It was a valuable learning experience for just one year.

At the age of 15, Loham began practicing kicks and accuracy. His aim was perfect, and Suzan knew he had some kind of ability, and that's what he enjoyed. The kicks brought leg pains every night; he didn't know how to maintain the correct posture, but he practiced nonetheless, every day, regardless of the pain. He had become the main attraction of the year, gaining more admiration as he grew.

Every 15 years, something foolish happened. And now it was time; Loham knew it. And he didn't like it. It was an event, a magical event. Not for him. It was the night bonfire. It was the moment when the bonfire would choose a new family, a swap, for 15 years. Loham cherished every moment with Suzan. Of course, they would still see each other, but he would live with someone else, with new rules from a stranger.

Loham had never seen so many orcs in his life; the whole land was there, with room for everyone around that bonfire. It was something serious, something important. To him, it was just nonsense. A sturdy, giant orc rose from a chair and walked toward the fire; the children trembled. He held a closed book in his hands and opened it; words were spoken in a low tone, incomprehensible. Loham looked around, and most of the young ones were confused; he wasn't the only one. When the orc finished reciting those verses, the bonfire changed, transforming into blue flames, and a silhouette appeared. Was it stretching? It had the shape of a person, but no face.

"Finally, you woke me up. I've been waiting for you for so long. Anyway, today is the day you will cry, the day when pants will be soiled, and—alright, alright, you young ones are scaring me with those looks. Let's get started already; I can't wait to go back to sleep."

Looking around, it was noticeable that the silhouette was scanning the area, and it stopped, fixing its gaze on Loham. He shivered; that thing in the bonfire had no eyes or any features, but he knew, he knew that thing was staring at him. And he clenched his necklace. Suzan gave a faint smile.

The blue silhouette spoke firmly.

"Lo-ham. A great name, isn't it? It hides a lot behind it; you still have to discover it."

"Me? There's nothing that'' *I'm interrupted.

"You just don't know yet. There's something inside you, something strong and dangerous, but it cannot be revealed. If I tell you, there will be consequences. You still have to discover it." *The sentence is repeated.

"It's a lie, this... THING is wrong, I... I... don't hide anything!" He looked at Suzan and whispered. "I'm just a normal boy, right? What could I hide?"

"No, you're different." *The flame interrupted and vanished.

The orcs began conversing, and the murmurs grew louder; his name was mentioned several times. And then, one of them shouted.

"Charles was right from the beginning; he might be a threat to us."

It was summer. Loham was scared, panicked; a tear ran down his face. As it hit the ground, the grass in front of him turned into ice, causing Loham to retreat. The murmuring began again.

"How did you do that?" Charles approached.

"I... I..." *He tried to run back home, to escape from it all, but Suzan held him back.

"You don't need to answer him. Stay here with me, for as long as you can." *She embraced him.

The giant orc didn't seem to care much. And once again, those strange words sounded, and a white flame emerged. Only a silhouette remained.

"Hehehehe, it's time. I love doing this and seeing the sufferi—sorry. It's irresistible. Come on, cheer up; it'll be fun."

Chapter Text

The white flame speaks two names, a girl who appeared to be 16 years old and a man with gray hair. The flame says something else, and they nod their heads as if they understood. They join hands and approach the campfire, reciting incomprehensible words, and their hands, still clasped together, move towards the fire, creating a bond. A subtle transition.

The act repeats, hundreds of times, with various names spoken.

Loham's name is loudly uttered, followed by another name. Shit. His eyes widen. Charles. A flashback. He couldn't believe he would have to live a life with this son of a..

Loham tightly embraces Suzan and looks into her eyes.
 
 ''Promise that you'll never forget me?''

 ''I promise, my dear. I never will. You are my son, and you always will be.''

 ''Cut the lovey-dovey crap and let go of the boy. It's our moment. He'll stay with me now.'' *Charles smiles as he takes the boy's hand and pulls him towards the campfire.

Loham is scared, anxious, and far from pleased, which is why he repeats everything Charles says at his request. Loham doesn't understand the words, but somehow he comprehends them.

It seems like Charles has received the greatest gift of his life.

United. United for 15 fucking years.

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Loham turns 16, his first year living with Charles, who lived in one of the largest houses in that land, or rather some kind of castle.

Loham lived in a tent with Suzan. To take care of his needs, he had to go to a nearby river, but it was fun to live these adventurous and dangerous moments, and Suzan was a good person. She still is. It was the first time he would live in a house like this; he had visited large places a few times, the castle he went to with Suzan to train, and friends' houses, but it's not the same.

Upon entering the house, the first thing he noticed were the swords on the wall, like medals, each with a date for each person he killed. He shivered, but followed Charles as he climbed a long red staircase. Loham felt out of place but was amazed by the amount of food there. Charles was trying to please the boy. But it didn't work. Loham knew something was off and decided to break the awkward silence.

"What do you want? There's no way you would prepare something like this innocently, especially for me. You hate me. You always have."

"I don't hate you. I just... believe you have potential, kid. And you're very clever. I thought this table would convince you to join me." *An evil smile

"Ever since I saw what you did to that man, I've never been the same. I never forgot how... how much of a murderer you were. I was just a child. I know I clearly shouldn't have shown up at that time, but to look at a child and repeat the same action without a shred of remorse, it's too much. So, I would never, NEVER join you."

"It's up to you. But I wouldn't miss out on a table like this for anything. Your room is upstairs."

Charles turned his back, and Loham remained in the same spot, arms crossed. When Charles disappeared down the hallway, Loham didn't miss the opportunity to eat. He grabbed a bowl with a huge bottom and filled it with chicken thighs and portions of everything available. He didn't care if there was something poisonous there; he knew it was "valuable" and that he wouldn't die anytime soon. He rushed to his room.

The room was empty, but it could be filled over time. He sat on a wooden bed and started eating what was in the bowl; he was hungry. He thought about what he would become if he hadn't witnessed that scene. Would he accept Charles' deal for this feast?

The year went by with discussion, discussion, and more discussion in every corner of the house. Sometimes Loham saw Charles stretching through the cracks. It was different from what Suzan did, some were even similar, but improved.

Loham visited Suzan a lot; she now had a girl he used to see walking in the mornings. He never tried to start a conversation. He didn't care about that; he was searching for what was hidden inside him.

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Second year with Charles, visits to Suzan continued. He became friends with Rose, the girl who lived with Suzan. They shared the same thoughts and occasionally playfully fought together. Loham was still not accustomed to staying with Charles, but he forced himself to remain calm.

At night, Charles would usually stretch and exercise, and Loham would always observe his movements without being seen. In the morning, Charles would grab any sword to train. Loham avoided joining him. One day, Charles caught him watching and invited him to join. The boy refused, but Charles persisted until one day he relented.

Third year.

Loham accepted. Although Charles wasn't one of the best people, he knew how to teach well. He positioned Loham in the best way possible, and each year he improved. Loham was turning into a man, with more mature and age-appropriate thoughts. He grasped Charles' teachings and started going out every night to train in the abandoned castle, far from anyone's presence. Except for Rose. She was there, glancing, as if she wanted to learn too. Loham never tired, as he had become accustomed to carrying weights. He decided to call her and teach her what he knew. She was special, sweet, but there was something about her. She was dedicated and knew how to show it.

Fourth year.

Loham started talking a lot with Rose, wondering what she might be hiding within herself. Rose was six years old and wasn't present when he arrived. What had been troubling him all these years, how did he come to this land? Because he didn't know what was normal for a being—speaking, walking, expressing oneself. He was five years old. What happened before that?

Living with Charles was strange. Charles only ate in the morning and consumed a lot of food. He didn't seem to need to eat throughout the day like orcs do. He would leave the house every afternoon to do something outside. And at night, he would return to train even more. Did he kill more people when he went out? It was the same routine every day, except when he called Loham to train and eat with him. But Loham always declined. After he learned from Charles, he stopped accompanying him.

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(25 years old) Tenth year.

 It was only five more years. Loham had already grown up and was dating Rose; they were like soulmates. Charles didn't accept their relationship. It affected Loham's training. After starting to date, Loham stopped training for 2 years. Even Suzan wouldn't admit it because training was essential until a certain age when real combat would begin.

 There would come a time when they would try to make a proposal to the people of Tor'dash to return to live there. In this land, Orcs don't have many provisions, but they have many weapons. Orcs always build weapons. Most of the weapons in Tor'dash were made by Orcs, and now it must be in chaos. That's why they would bring an offer.

 In that year, Charles began studying what he saw in Loham. What fell from him formed a layer of ice on the ground. There was something about it, and Charles could make him a champion using his powers. But after many years of research, Charles didn't find an answer. However, he didn't give up. What Charles didn't expect was that during the time Loham stopped training, he was also studying what he was.

 One day, Loham asked Charles how he ended up in that land, and Charles told the truth. Suzan never really told the moment the boy appeared and how it happened. It caused quite a commotion—a unknown Elven child in these lands.

 Living with Charles had become normal; Loham was used to it. He was adopting some of Charles' habits. Loham's room had become a room filled with scattered papers containing stories about magic, but he never found exactly what he was looking for. He couldn't wait for those years to end.

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Last year (30 years old). Despite the fact that Elves never age, time still passes. Loham, in his last year, resumed training as he found nothing in those papers, and the relationship was just a distraction from what he was truly doing. Nothing helped him understand what was happening to him. As for Charles... he discovered at the last moment what Loham possessed—it was something magical, something that could bring about a terrible outcome if not used correctly. Loham was merely a vessel. If someone with ill intentions found him, they could transform him into something quite powerful, capable of destroying everything he touched. This information cost Charles dearly. He had spies in Tor'dash and could have anything he wanted. He was searching for a book, a book with invaluable information that an orc shouldn't possess, so they saw it as a golden opportunity. Loham was in the book, not exactly him... but what was inside him, and there were three more, three others lost in the world, being receptacles for something.

Loham was eager for the moment when he would no longer live with Charles and would return to living with Suzan. He had waited years for this moment, and it had finally arrived—the bonfire night. The moment repeated itself, just as it had been done years ago, with orcs lined up. Some families were sad, while others were hopeful. No one could become too attached. That's why this event existed. These 15 years Loham spent with Charles weren't so bad. They argued every day about that upcoming event, but aside from that, there were many things Loham liked about that house.

A different, smaller orc than the one from 15 years ago approached the bonfire, carrying the same book. Once again, words were recited and a kind of blue glow appeared in the flames. Loham shivered. He remembered that moment exactly. Fifteen years was a day for that blue thing in the fire. Loham had studied about it. The silhouette didn't hesitate to turn towards Loham and say:

"I'm sorry, little shell, but you won't find out anytime soon. Until something terrible happens, you won't know." The blue silhouette then turned to Charles. "I sense something coming from you. Hide it." And once again turned to Loham. "Something big is coming; you're just a piece in this show." And the flame dissipated.

"Wait! How..." Loham gave up trying to continue speaking as the flame vanished before he could ask a question. He had waited so long to hear that sentence. On the other side, Suzan seemed worried. Murmurs began. Charles had the book in his pocket and concealed it with a blanket.

Once again, the orc who was at the bonfire started reciting random words, and a green flame appeared in the shape of a silhouette. "The festivities end and begin so quickly. I can't sleep properly. Why is everyone staring at me? I don't have a scheduled date for this. Ah, was it today? I feel really sick; I don't think I can do it."

The wind was strong, and the flame almost extinguished. Loham seized the opportunity and took a step forward. "Excuse me, but—" The green flame quickly turned towards him and became startled. No one could see its appearance, but everyone noticed this detail. The flame disappeared. The murmurs grew louder. This hadn't happened the last time.

Charles approached Loham and whispered something: "I know your secret." "You think you can deceive me with that cheap trick? Try to deceive me another way." Charles pulled back the blanket, revealing the book to Loham, who tried to grab it, but Charles didn't allow him. Taking advantage of the situation, Charles whispered: "If you want to know, you'll have to join me and fight with a sword."

Loham clenched his necklace. For the first time, he felt the desire to be part of that agreement, even though the memory of blood staining his vision was still painful. He had seen blood throughout his life, but only in one death. But it was about his own life that he would discover, and he didn't know what that book was, but he knew Charles wouldn't manipulate him like that just to end up with a bedtime story. Loham's face grew stern; he had never been more serious than at this moment. He would join Charles for who knows how long. He didn't want to do it, but he wanted to know more. Without hesitation, he shook Charles's hand and glanced at Suzan. She was the only one staring at Loham with concern. Rose was preoccupied with something else. All of this was done while everyone murmured about the event. The event ended, and no one knew what to do anymore.

Chapter Text

(31 years old) The Year of Discoveries. Charles promised Loham that with every sword technique he taught him, Charles would show him a page. But Loham didn't know that Charles was teaching him techniques that no one had ever been able to replicate.

Charles was one of the greatest warriors in that land, the most unbeatable and the most difficult to defeat. Loham knew this, but to him, it was all the same tricks for everyone. It was the first time Loham had touched a sword, all in an attempt to find out who he was and what he had hidden inside him.

Charles first taught him how to handle a wooden sword, which was the first thing a beginner should know when using a sword. Handling. It was like a dance, it could never stop, if you missed a step, you would fall. So if you made a wrong move, your head could be severed.

Chapter Text

(32 years old) Loham has already gotten the hang of handling a sword. It takes a long time to learn. He is still trying to overcome his fear. After the first test, Charles handed him the first page. It was just a warning about the danger he was facing by containing this book. It was too dangerous to know this information. That's what was there.

 ''Is that all?''

 ''There will still be many tests, so I will give you many pages.''

 Loham sighed.

 During this year, Loham was practicing sword cuts with the wooden sword. He was much better at aiming, you could say. But he continued nonetheless. It was a success by the end of the year.

 Loham was forgetting to visit Suzan during this time, as the search for himself was consuming his mind. Rose gave up waiting for Loham at the castle. It wasn't the same anymore; he never showed up.

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(33 years old) Charles handed him another sheet.

It was a drawing of five children, one of them was erased.

 The first child was a boy with black hair and small horns curving backward, the second child was a red-haired girl with small reindeer horns, the third child had white hair as it hadn't been colored, and Loham realized it could be him and was astonished... it was a lot of information. The fourth child was a dark-skinned boy with orange eyes, and the other child was scribbled over with black ink, making it impossible to see.

 There was nothing written on the sheet, no name, nothing. Loham was determined to continue because the information he was receiving was highly valuable. Loham was progressing in how to move the sword and his body. Movements were essential. Charles was pushing his limits to turn Loham into a brutal force that could be used in the future, but Loham didn't realize what he was becoming. Loham already had a sword of his own to fight with. It wasn't like the wooden one; the wooden sword was light and easy to handle.

Loham would have to get used to that sword until he got the hang of it.

Chapter Text

(34 years old)
Another year trying to improve his movement. He succeeded.

They started training in an open place instead of at home. People could pass by and see what they were doing. Charles taught every step.

Suzan didn't like it; she thought it was ruining the boy's life. To her, he was still an innocent boy. Her boy. But Loham... Loham tried to tell her that he was doing this for a reason that could change his life. But he didn't say what it was. She couldn't believe that Loham was on the verge of sacrificing himself with Charles for some trivial reason.

As the months went by, Loham mastered the right movement. Charles smiled with each successful move Loham made. And another page was handed to him. It had a written text.

 *~Why do we only know the whereabouts of two mothers? They died during childbirth. One carried 2 children in her womb, but it was never known which ones were together. And the other carried only one. It was said that something evil resided in their bellies. They couldn't bear it. They wanted to get rid of the children. When the children were born, they seemed special, as the people of Tor'dash said.~*

 Loham received a lot of information all at once. He identified with that boy again, and now he considered his true mother to be someone who had the courage to endure that childbirth and bring Loham into the world. Who knows, maybe he had a lost sibling? Loham's thoughts raced, and if he was born in Tor'dash... what was he doing here? Could it be that there was no one to take care of him, and he was handed over to the orcs like trash? Why would Tor'dash hide this?

Chapter Text

 (35 years old)

It was time for Loham to learn how to cut the ribbon. It seemed easy, but it wasn't just any ribbon. This ribbon was considered the strongest of all and only true warriors who were preparing for battle could cut it with a sword. Loham knew he wasn't a warrior and knew he would become a knight who would honor everyone, but it still had importance to him. If he succeeded, he would gain a page and new information. He didn't want to be a warrior, but little did he know that Charles had been manipulating him all this time. Loham tried and every time he thought he was going to succeed, the sword would return to the top. There was even one time when the sword broke. Charles laughed at the situation, it was hilarious to see Loham struggling to get a piece of ribbon. He didn't manage to cut the ribbon. But he continued training with a wooden dummy that was there. He did not receive the page. 

Chapter Text

(36 years old)

Loham was starting to get frustrated with it all. He was putting in so much effort for so little in return. So one day, Loham decided to talk to Charles about it.

"What can I do to earn the book and not receive crumbs?" His face showed clear disgust.

"Become my champion, my warrior. You'll get the book and still come out ahead by being on my side," Charles replied.

"You were just waiting for the right moment to say that, weren't you? Is that what you've been planning all this time? To make me someone like you? Never. I've already said it," Loham retorted.

"Then no book for you."

Loham stood up, feeling stressed. He walked towards that ribbon. Expressing all the pent-up anger in his heart, he stomped his feet hard on the ground. Everything he had kept inside for so long was finally going to come out. He gripped the sword with agility and maneuvered it in a way that he knew would provoke a reaction from Charles. He yelled with fury, and the sword descended rapidly towards the ribbon, causing it to tremble before the blade made contact. But something unexpected happened. When the iron of the sword touched the ribbon, ice in the form of crystals emanated from Loham's hands, freezing the sword. He trembled with rage. The ribbon also became covered in ice and shattered.

Loham released the sword to the ground and stood there, paralyzed. The last time he saw something like that was when his tear hit the ground.

"What?!" Charles was startled. He was smiling, as if it was the moment he had been longing for since he met the boy.

"Five pages if you do it again. That was incredible," Charles said with a smile.

"How?! How did I do that? I... Loham looked at a piece of wood and raised his hand towards it, attempting to do what he had done before.

"It doesn't work. It happens involuntarily. I need to talk to Suzan."

Loham hastily left the house. Charles began to grow furious.

Loham went to look for her, but she wasn't in the tent anymore. However, Rose was there. The person Loham had left behind because of the training. The person Loham had left to avoid getting hurt. She was gathering their belongings.

"Mom, I need to talk to y-- Rose?" Loham swallowed hard.

"Hi, Loham," Rose replied, seeming different. There was no expression on her face.

"Where is she? Please don't tell me..."

"No, she didn't... I don't even want to think about it. And... what are you doing here? Leave."

"I need to talk to her. It's urgent."

"You never looked for us. We waited six years for you, Loham, and you never showed up. In the first few days that you disappeared, I even thought you were sick, but I still waited for you every day in that castle for two years. I had hope. Until... Until I saw you training, you seemed fine. You had even replaced your 'mother' with the man who always hated you. You know, she still waits for you. For five years, she sat at the door of this tent, waiting for the moment you would arrive and hug her. She never gave up on you, Loham. And you? Did you never truly love her?"

"I'm sorry... I..."

'' And now that you're in a moment where you need help, you come looking for her? What is it now, huh? Did Charles send you to kill her? ''

 ''ENOUGH, Rose. Listen to me. I never liked staying in that place with Charles. But I stayed away because I chose to, because I wanted to uncover what's hidden inside me, and Charles... Charles had the answers. But I haven't figured it all out yet, and this... this thing is destroying me. That's why I need to talk to Suzan. She has always helped me in times of need. And I promise I won't abandon you all ever again.

''You can't promise what you won't fulfill.''

Loham pressed his lips together.

 ''Where is she?''

 ''In the castle.''

Chapter Text

As Loham stepped out of the tent, he was walking towards the castle where he used to train and talk with Rose. He also learned different languages with Suzan. But as he walked towards the castle, Loham felt a blow to his head, and everything went dark.

"I can't let you go," a voice whispered.

Loham's head was throbbing with pain. He couldn't identify the voice, but it felt deep enough to be used as a disguise.

"You can hurt her. You wouldn't want something like that to happen, would you, Loham? If I were you, I'd let her live her life without worrying about the danger you bring."

...

Loham found himself sitting in a dark place, and when he tried to stand up, he realized he was chained.

"You, boy... you'll stay there until you learn to control yourself."

And silence engulfed the place.

"Who are you?" Loham asked.

A laughter echoed through the space.

"I am someone who will need you in the future."

"You didn't answer my question."

Silence.

...

Days passed, and the complete darkness persisted. But Loham didn't give up, he kept shouting for help or trying to break free. Then, a voice called out his name. It was Rose.

She entered the room with a torch, illuminating the whole place, which seemed like an abandoned house.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, I think so. How did you find me?"

"After you left the tent, I decided to take a walk to clear my mind, and that's when I saw someone following you whom I couldn't identify, and... it wasn't an orc... I'm sure of that. I discreetly followed him, but lost sight of him. Even though you did that thing, I was worried. I used the magic Suzan taught me and managed to track you down, thanks to the blood you left on the ground. It was challenging to get here."

"A non-orc in our land? Don't look at me like that, I know I'm not one, but you... never mind, we... I need to investigate this. Tell Suzan I'll visit her when I feel better."

"And when will you feel better, Loham? She'll be waiting for you." Rose released Loham from the chains and left the house.

Loham was pondering how Suzan knew how to use magic when she never taught him. Does she also think he's a danger?

He left the unfamiliar house and took an hourglass from his pocket, heading north.

Loham arrived at Charles' house, and Charles seemed worried.

"Loham? Where have you been? You look terrible. I thought you were dead."

"Well, then you would lose your warrior, wouldn't you? 'And your most powerful vessel.' " *sarcasm

"Watch your tongue."

"What? Are you going to kill me? Oh right, you can't."

Chapter Text

For one year, Loham studied the person who had captured him that day. But he gave up in that same year. The person was completely anonymous. Unless it was the unknown person (a human) who stole the dragon from Tor'dash. Unlikely. It haunted him, but he didn't pursue it. After the incident with Charles, Loham took a break from training.

Chapter Text

Loham walked around, worried about Suzan even though he couldn't see her. He wondered what would happen if he stepped into her house. So he dared to try. He proceeded to the castle, and there was Suzan, waiting for him after 8 years. She stood frozen at the entrance, gave a wide smile, and ran to hug him.

"I knew you would come."

"I'm sorry. I had major problems after..."

"It's okay. I know. Do you want to come inside for a cup of coffee?"

"You... you know?" Loham headed inside. Rose was not there.

"I know everything, Loham. I know that you only wanted to protect me from yourself."

"How... how did you..."

She looked at the necklace and smiled.

"I can't believe it... haha, you're very good at what you do." He hugged her.

"I know, my son, I-"

A loud noise was heard. Before their eyes, an arrow that seemed to be glowing was headed towards Suzan. A cursed arrow? Loham didn't have time to protect her. The arrow pierced Suzan's neck, and she was choking in that embrace.

"Mom? Mom? No... No... Look at me, please. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Oh my.. what have I done? What have I done..."

Suzan's last words were spoken with a smile on her face, having her last moment looking at Loham's face.

"Never be afraid, my son. Be the 'knight' you promised me."

"No, I'm here. I'll never leave you again. Mom? MOM?"

Suzan was dead in his arms. And the necklace was shining brightly.

"You'll always be with me." Loham held her tightly in his arms, his clothes stained with blood. Purple blood.

Loham was crying like a child in front of Suzan's lifeless body. The woman who raised him to be someone in life was dead in his arms.

But... Something happened.

Suzan was frozen, completely covered in ice.

Chapter Text

People heard the sound of Loham crying and approached. But everyone was shocked when they saw Suzan lying at their feet, dead and frozen. Rose was in the middle, she tried not to believe that Loham could have killed her, but she couldn't.

"Loham? What... what have you done..."

"What? No... You... You don't think that..."

Guards approached Loham and pulled him away.
"I always knew you were a threat," one of the guards said with a chuckle.

"No. It wasn't me. I would never hurt her."

"Say that in prison."

Loham struggled. He couldn't leave Suzan's body there, but he knew Rose would do something.

The guards celebrated as they took Loham away. They waited for the right moment when Loham would do something wrong. And this was the moment.

Even Charles, being the strongest warrior, couldn't do anything about it. He was at his doorstep, genuinely concerned about the scene, a desperate look on his face.

Chapter Text

(39 years old)

Loham never thought he would rather go back to living with Charles than stay in that place. Charles was a fucking arrogant, but he was better than everyone in prison. I can assure it. Loham thought, trying to find a way out. There was no way. He also wondered how someone could have killed Suzan with a simple arrow shot. It must have been the man who warned him about it. Damn it, Loham, why didn't you think about continuing the investigation before? This shouldn't have happened.

The necklace kept shining. What could be in that necklace?

Chapter Text

(105 years old)

Even in prison, Loham trained tirelessly with whatever little he had available for years. He had no weaponry, so he trained with a large piece of wood he had taken from a chair there. He vowed that once he got out, he would find his mother's killer and strike a new deal with Charles, if he was still alive. Charles had helped him before, so there would undoubtedly be a problem to solve

Chapter Text

500 years have passed.

--

1600 - (605 years old)

Loham emerged from prison as a new person, destined to become the unbeatable guy. Charles waited for him outside, looking extremely serious, but he wasn't alone. There was a woman by his side, looking somewhat unrecognizable. She was incredibly strong, of medium height but imposing, with armor on her wrists and weaponry all over her body. And there was a smile on her face. It was Rose. Why would she be standing beside Thales if she hated him? Or maybe things had changed. Rose approached Loham and hugged him, but he remained still, not moving a muscle.

"I didn't kill her. And I thought you hated him," Charles observed from the background.

"I learned to like him, you'll see. You will too."

Loham stayed silent and continued toward Charles.

"We need to make a new deal."

"What deal?" Rose asked.

"You're quite bold, kid. We'll talk about it later. Let's go."

Rose started walking, and Charles was about to follow when Loham held him back. "We need to do this now."

"Spit it out."

"I agree to be your warrior, but... I'll need the book. I won't settle for breadcrumbs from you anymore. I've spent years here, and during those years, I realized how foolish I was to follow your rules. No matter how long I have to wait for that book, when I'm ready, hand it over. I won't serve you, I'll only fight on your behalf and provide valuable information. The book speaks about me. I need to know. And I also need to know who killed my mother." The necklace still glowed.

"Done."

"What? Just like that?"

"Just like that." Charles walked toward Rose, and Loham followed, lost in thought.

"Where are you two going? The path is over there." Loham pointed in the opposite direction.

"The city no longer exists."

"What?..." Loham felt unsettled.

"They used a spell."

"A spell."

"Yes, a teleportation spell. Maybe the person just wanted to escape, but spells and magic have been forbidden. When they tried to perform the spell, the city simply vanished. We don't know where it is." Thales looked surprisingly calm.

"Who did that? I will make them pay..."

"I did it. I did it myself." Rose approached without making a sound.

"Why?"

"Suzan... She taught me. But I don't think this is the right place to talk about her. Over the years, I became so isolated, lost my friends, lost Suzan, lost you. Again. And I just wanted to get away, so I hid in a place that couldn't be seen in the city. And I just wanted to go far away, so I cast the spell. Everything around me disappeared. I was left with no one. But watching the people I used to know vanish was terrible. The only person there was Charles. He helped me when I was lost, without direction. And here I am now, a new woman."

"Are you a warrior?"

"Shhhh. Don't say that too loud." Rose whispered. "I've killed over 500 people."

Loham shivered and swallowed hard. He had never killed anyone, only witnessed. But he was willing to kill for Suzan.

To his surprise, they were living in Tor'dash, hidden away. They entered a small house that was surprisingly spacious inside, like a pocket dimension. Rose called Loham into a room to talk.

"I'm sorry."

"For what? I should be the one apologizing..."

"No, you don't have to. When I saw you with Suzan, I thought you had killed her. I cried for a long time, for years. Until I found Charles, he took me in. I found clues and discovered that you didn't kill her... well, we'll talk about that later. At first, I didn't like Charles much, but I stayed with him out of desperation. I needed him. He taught me how to train, and now I'm loyal to him. After finding out it wasn't you, I spent years trying to find a way to get you out of there. But despite all the training, I never succeeded. Not even with magic."

"Magic?"

"Rose. She taught me during the time you were absent. She was one of the most powerful Mages. But she wanted to hide, just like you."

"She never told me." He squeezed the necklace.

"Maybe she wanted to protect you. And I... I was just a girl living with her. We only had a strong friendship, and she couldn't keep that secret for long. After she died, someone else took her place. But we don't know who. I've been trying to find answers, but I can't."

"It's okay, Rose. I understand." And Loham stepped away.

Charles was leaning against the door, observing their conversation.

"I need to train both of you together. This will be very beneficial."

"Give me a break. I spent 500 years in prison." Loham lay down on a bed in the room.

After a few days of recuperation, they started training. Loham executed the training exercises, impressing Charles with the new movements he had learned while in prison. He felt Rose watching him from the mats a few meters away. He tried not to look at her, glistening with sweat, as she jumped and performed agile acrobatics, landing almost silently on the floor. She was fast. She must have trained intensely during the summer.

Chapter Text

2022

(1026 years old)

Years and years of training had passed, and finally, the ultimate challenge had come. A brief conversation between Rose and Loham had occurred before the final test.

"I'm afraid," said Rose.

"I get scared too," the young man whispered. "Want to hear something ridiculous? Whenever I'm terrified, I tell myself: My name is Loham Chysthall... and I won't feel fear. I've been doing that for years. Thanks to Suzan."

Rose raised her eyebrows this time.

"And does that really work?"

He laughed in her direction. They were in a deep relationship. Throughout all these years, they had become like they used to be.

"It works sometimes, sometimes it doesn't. But it usually makes me feel better in some way."

And they set off for the final task.

Charles awaited them in a grand room. Loud laughter echoed.

"So, what's it going to be today?" Loham asked.

Charles just smiled and threw a sword on the ground, it was the sword. That particular sword, the one that made a boy see his first death and suffer from it for years.

"No..." Loham backed away.

"Loham, Loham... I've been quite friendly with you for years, and I've finally reached where I wanted. The end of the deal. You know, it's time, it's time for you to become loyal to me, and maybe take my position. Come on, boy, kill her."

"What?" Rose exclaimed. "All these years were a sham?"

"Exactly. Except the part where I rescued you, dear... I learned so much from you."

"You... you... aaaarrrgh"

 Rose advanced towards Charles, but he simply appeared on the other side of the room.

"You know, Loham, your mother was quite powerful indeed. We had a fling in the past, but an inconvenience happened. She left me for an elf, and I took her powers. How? I asked an old friend for help. But don't worry, Loham, I didn't kill her. I would never kill her; I was in love with her."

"Lies, you never had an ounce of love in your heart."

Charles laughed.

"I loved Suzan. I loved her until you showed up. And she loved you much more than she loved me. That hurt, Loham, it hurt a lot. It also hurt to see her go. And now you're going to feel my pain, the pain of losing someone you love. I could spare you... but I don't want to... and... don't try to escape; it won't work. Good luck, boys. Remember your training. And Rose... if you win, you'll have the chance to be free." And Charles disappeared.

A sword on the ground, begging to be wielded, who would be capable of picking up that sword?

"I'm not going to pick up this sword," Loham was the first to say something.

"But I will." Rose walked up to the sword and drew it. "I'm tired of this, Loham. I spent this time thinking everything was fine, and none of what happened was real, no compassion, no remorse, just killing... and I liked it, liked it because Charles taught me... that... that bastard."

"I'm here." Only Charles's voice sounded.

"And I missed you, Loham, I missed you a lot, it wasn't just a few years like that time. It was many, many years wondering how you were rotting inside, and I couldn't do anything. And when you got out, I felt the weight on my shoulders lift, it was a relief. But knowing that I couldn't do anything is what hurts the most. And knowing... knowing that my life was a lie... I miss it." Rose raised the sword to herself.

"What are you doing, Rose? Forget the past, forget what hurt you. We're here now, aren't we? Alive." He approached and tried to take the sword. The necklace was glowing.

Rose backed away. "Alive." She pointed the sword at Loham. "I love you. But I want to know what it's like to be free." And she lunged.

"I don't want to fight, Rose."

"And who said I want to fight? I want my freedom. And the time has come."

Loham didn't move. He opened his arms.

"Go ahead," Loham smiled maliciously.

Rose took a step, spinning both, but Loham was waiting for it.

By thrusting her back into his chest, he trapped her foot behind himo and Rose stumbled, tripping over Loham's leg. A cut on his hand.

Blood flowed over his cloak, but the warrior pushed through the pain and elbowed Rose in the stomach. "I don't want to do this," he said. "Stop, Rose." She didn't stop.

Rose's breath was sucked out, causing her to bend over only to find Loham's knee colliding with her face. A slight crack like sound echoed as Loham's knee hit Rose's nose. As he threw Rose to the ground, blood stained the leg of Loham's pants. Her blood.

Rose swept Loham's legs from beneath him and climbed on top of him. A kiss.

"Well, that didn't go as planned, did it?"

Loham's hand throbbed, blood running as she grabbed Loham's necklace and pulled his head closer to hers.

"Why does it shine?"

"I don't know. I think it always does when I have an act of courage." Loham shot up like lightning, took the sword from Rose's hand, and plunged it into her ankle. "Stay here."

Rose screamed.

"Alright, Charles. I won." Loham shouted in the room.

"You won. Your mom will be proud when I tell her." Rose was behind Loham when she grabbed the sword stuck in her own abdomen. Loham's hand was still on the sword.

"Rose. Rose. Rose. Rose. No. No. No. I... please, don't go. Rose, look at me. You'll be okay, you'll be okay." Loham held her in his arms.

"I know. I... I got my freedom Loham." Rose smiled and closed her eyes.

Charles appeared, clapping.

"Congratulations. You are now a warrior."

Loham looked at Charles with tear-filled eyes. 

"I hate you." 

Without thinking twice, Loham grabbed the sword stuck in Rose's abdomen and headed towards Charles.

"I know." And Charles disappeared.

Loham dropped the sword and he was about to lie there in the fetal position forever, but he looked back.

And one thing caught his attention.

A book emerged from within that pool of purple blood, as the person he loved most disappeared from his sight.