"... please protect her… I know there is more to you than what you are..."

Again, those words pierced through Sol's mind. Even in his subconsciousness and in his dreams, they echoed like the loudest drums of war. The dread filled his thoughts and the guilt overwhelmed him and forced him to awake in a cold sweat.

He was still laying on the dirty cot in the makeshift hospital of the tavern. It was dark, he figured, as he looked at the nearby windows and saw that there was no light coming through, though the scattered candles kept the place dimly lit. The patients that surrounded him were sound asleep, say for a few of the nuns who watched over the wounded and one particular man who sat in a chair next to him.

"You're finally awake," Hicks called, noticing the crimson rogue stirring from his sleep.

Sol groaned as he sat up, noticing the bandages that were wrapped around his bare upper body. He was slightly relieved that they didn't remove the scarf that hid his face.

"You were knocked out for some time," Hicks told him. "That pretty little pink lady must've put a sleeping spell on you to help you with your wounds."

"She gave me a tonic," Sol corrected as he rubbed his temples to regain himself. "And I was exhausted, so that's why I was out for so long. Why are you here though?"

"Boss told me to keep an eye on you," Hicks explained. "Said to tell you something important once you woke up."

Sol grunted. "Must've been fun watching me sleep for hours. But what could be so important that you would just sit here until I woke?"

"We'll be moving out soon," Hicks told him. "And we're headed for the capitol, Geofu."

"A trip to the holy city?" Sol asked, mildly surprised. "We're going there to confess our sins to Lady Celestine or something?"

"I'm as pure as a nun of the Church, so I don't need to confess anything," Hicks snorted. "Maybe you can confess your sins to her, possibly get a look of her 'assets' while you're at it, but we're going strictly for business. We're to escort the Princess Knight to the city. Not only that, but the Church apparently wants to hear our story of the battle as well."

Sol sighed, aggravated at the thought of telling the battle. "Really wish that orc general would've caved my head in. Not looking forward to it."

"Neither am I," Hicks agreed. "But we go where the money goes. It's what we do."

Sol nodded, though he was not looking forward to the journey. "When do we move out?"

"First thing in the morning," Hicks said. "Take it easy though. You know the boss doesn't like it when you rush things."

"I'll be fine," Sol said as he slid out of the cot and planted his feet on the floor.

"Don't act so tough," Hicks laughed. "Your recklessness is gonna get you killed."

"I'm still alive, aren't I?" Sol remarked.

"You're a scout, not a soldier," Hicks told him. "Upfront confrontations aren't suited for you. If you get hurt or killed, then I'll be the one that gets in trouble."

"I couldn't care less about your troubles," Sol joked. "'Course if I do die, I'd miss out on seeing you being reprimanded."

"At least then, I'll be free from your sarcasm," Hicks pointed.

"C'mon, you know I make your day brighter," Sol chuckled.

Hicks sighed in amusement. "Just focus on the mission ahead. After all, the boss is gonna want you to take point, so don't be reckless this time."

Sol grunted, insisting on making another witty remark, but held his tongue. When it came to getting a job done, he focused on the task and nothing else.

"Well, I'm gonna tell the boss you're awake," Hicks said as he stood up. "You should probably get your things ready as well, seeing that you're all better."

Before Hicks could leave, Sol stopped him.

"By the way. Thanks for your help."

Hicks was somewhat amused that Sol would thank him. He appeared to be a person who would never verbally thank someone, but the genuine gratitude had caught him off guard.

"Save your praises for your guest," Hicks told him. "And don't be a bastard to her."

Sol noticed that another person had appeared before them. Prim approached him as Hicks took his leave.

"Evening, Sir Varron," Prim greeted him in her usual kind and polite tone. "I came to see how my Miracles have worked on you. It seems you are faring well."

Sol bowed respectfully. "I do feel alot better now, thanks to you, Lady Fiorire. It's an honor to have the Princess Knight of Ur herself look over the wounds of such a lowly commoner."

Prim smiled, her heart warmed by Sol's unexpected kind gesture. "You have such kind words. I never thought mercenaries were so polite."

"Did you think we were all just rotted-teeth simpletons?" Sol asked sarcastically.

"More or less, given that you keep hiding your face," Prim answered as she chuckled, her witty remark catching Sol by surprise, which caused him to chuckle in return. He noted that she was somewhat cute when she laughed.

"Well, I never imagined a princess knight would answer in such a manner," Sol said. "Seems we're both wrong about each other."

"I don't find myself as a funny person though," Prim said. "All I can do is try to be polite and kind to those around me. To give comfort to those who need it and help them smile."

"And it works," Sol pointed. "Kindness works much better lifting others up instead of being a sarcastic bastard."

Prim smiled as she slightly blushed. "Yes, but I also wish to bring joy to those closest to me. To lift their spirits with my own smile. I just wish I could do the same for my sister."

Her smile quickly faded as her expression turned to sadness. Sol watched silently as she began to explain.

"Lately, she's been so distant and detached. She is still quite tempered and fierce, but she also showed kindness and compassion, or she used to. She's always focused on her work, focused on her role as a Princess Knight, but she never takes the time to care for herself."

Prim paused and Sol noticed her soft blue eyes beginning to water.

"Ever since the passing of her father, she has tried to fill in his role. It's taken a toll on her, and she tries to hide it, but I know she is still mourning and is still in pain. I do my best to be by her side, to comfort her and let her know she is not alone, but I feel my efforts aren't enough."

If it weren't for his scarf, Prim would have easily seen the stoic facade on Sol nearly break. The guilt began to instill in him again, and the consequences of his actions were ever catching up to him. He also never expected the girl to express herself to him, but then again, she was the sensitive type. Grunting was all Sol could do to respond.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to complain," Prim apologized as she flustered. "I must've made you

uncomfortable."

Sol shook his head. "You're just doing what you think is best in helping Arcturus, and there's nothing wrong with that. You love her, and she knows it, even if she doesn't say it."

Prim smiled again, her saddened expression fading just as quick as it had appeared. "Thank you, Sir Varron. My sister is right- you do have some honorable virtues."

Sol scoffed. "Wrong. She knows damn well I'm just a killer for hire. And you know that as well."

"Perhaps," Prim pointed. "But there is good in you. I know there is more to you than what you are."

If only you knew about the things I've done, Sol thought. Prim may be more forgiving than her cousin, given that he had not directly wronged her, but her opinions on him would change drastically if she knew he was the source of her older cousin's suffering. The girl was just too naive for her own good, always trying to see the good in every person, but Sol knew he was nowhere close to what she thought she saw in him. He concealed his true self like he concealed his face with his red scarf, never allowing anyone to know who he was or what he thought. There was nothing to save for him, and he knew he was past redemption long ago.

"Prim?"

Sol and Prim both turned to Alicia's voice as she approached them.

"Prim, I've told you not to wander off on your own!" she scolded.

"I'm fine, sis," Prim reassured her. "I was checking up on Master Varron and-"

"Enough, Prim," Alicia interrupted. "I've already told you not to go near the Kuroinu. You could've been hurt!"

Sol scoffed. He knew Alicia was protective of Prim, but to see how she overreacted was laughable.

"Yes, the Princess of Ur could've been harmed by a cripple," Sol remarked. "Really, don't you think you're overreacting just a bit, Arcturus?"

Alicia glared at him with her fierce purple eyes that met his dull crimson eyes that were unfazed.

"I appreciate your good deeds and your assistance in defending the city, but you will not be anywhere near Prim. Know your place!"

"Alicia!" Prim gasped, shocked at hearing her words. "He has done nothing but help, and you would degrade him? This is not how a Princess Knight should act!"

It was Sol who spoke before Alicia could get a word in. "Your sister is right, Lady Fiorire. I am just a mercenary. And you are a Princess Knight. You will have nothing to do with me."

Both Alicia and Prim were shocked to hear Sol's words, Prim moreso, as tears started to well in her eyes. She looked at Sol's dead expression, to try and see if Sol was joking like before, but his attitude did not change. Confused and hurt, she left his side and walked towards Alicia, her head drooped and her eyes now filled with tears. Alicia quickly had one of her knights escort her away.

"She truly is innocent, isn't she?" Sol asked. "Maybe you ought to stop keeping her in a cage and let her make her own mistakes, yes?"

Alicia turned to face him, her fierce purple eyes meeting his dull crimson.

"Do not let me see her with you again," Alicia warned as she brushed off the question.

Sol scoffed. "Whatever. Go do your thing, Arcturus."

Alicia gritted her teeth as she casted one last glare at Sol. Before she could leave, Sol called to her.

"But I want to know- why'd you let it go?"

Alicia paused, keeping her back faced towards him. She clenched her fist as she shook her head, the regret of letting the enemy go still plagued her thought. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she should tell the rogue what she felt.

"I try my best to uphold my father's legacy," she muttered. "To know when to take a life, and when to spare one. That is what he taught me. I don't know if what I did was a good thing or not. But you wouldn't understand."

To Alicia's surprise, she didn't hear Sol reprimand her or give a witty remark. He simply grunted and remained silent, though he may not have fully understood her intentions.

"And the young boy that we saved," Sol quickly changed the topic, "where is he now?"

Alicia was caught off guard with his question, turning around to face Sol and wondered why he cared for the orphaned child.

"He's going to be taken in by the orphanage here in Halem," she explained. "They will take care of him as the city rebuilds."

Sol nodded. "I see."

He then reached for his pouch beside his cot, pulling out the sack of orens that he had received from Vult for the bounty. He didn't know whether it was the words of Prim that inspired him or proving to Alicia that he wasn't just a killer or simply some other factor he did not know, but something in his mind stirred and almost forced him to move without his command.

"Give this to the kid," Sol said as he tossed the sack to Alicia, who caught it with her right hand. "Make sure the nuns use it for him, and for the other orphans too."

She was surprised by the kind gesture as she looked towards him but he only stared at her with his dead expression.

"And Arcturus," he started. "If it means anything… you did a good thing today…"

Alicia was confused. Sol had the impression of an empathetic thug, but she never expected to hear compassionate words from him.

Sol had left a rather odd impression on her. He was just a member of Kuroinu, one that was not to be trusted, but he had shown somewhat redeemable qualities. After all, he did help plan defenses for the city and helped her on many occasions during the battle. He did not seem like someone to place others above himself, and so she wondered why someone like him would help her in the first place, and what "debt" he owed, as Sol had put it. She regretted that she was harsh towards the mercenary but she could not trust him entirely. Her father's words still echoed in her thoughts.

"Be wary of the Kuroinu, my daughter."

She didn't want to believe her father's words. They have always helped the Alliance in fighting the aberrants. But after his death, she began to question more and more. It couldn't have been a coincidence, she figured. It was the Dark Queen that had killed him. No one in all of Eostia would dare go against him. It wouldn't make any sense.

It was perhaps the reason why she took her frustration out on Sol since she couldn't find anyone else to blame. His death still pained her, and since her mother had died long before she could remember her, he was the only family she had, aside from Prim.

Perhaps it was also the reason why she was so protective of Prim, seeing as she was always considered a younger sister to her. She swore to protect her no matter what, and she would not lose another member of her family. With the duties entrusted to her as a Princess Knight and the ongoing war, it seemed almost too much for her to bear.

What do I do, father? Alicia would often ask herself.

The next morning was awkward, to say the least. Alicia and Prim had not spoken to one another since last night, and Alicia felt things had soured between them. Even still, she kept a close eye on her while they prepared for their journey. She ordered the majority of her soldiers and her knights of Iris to stay in Halem to help the refugees rebuild, against Beardsley's will, so her remaining forces were few. Luckily, the Kuroinu were escorting them, and the road they were taking was relatively safe, though she did not like the idea of having mercenaries accompanying her convoy instead of her knights.

Alicia and Prim met with Beardsley and the remainder of their soldiers at the main gates of Halem where a carriage waited for them. The Kuroinu were also present, all of them gathered in the hundreds. They were more of a rowdy gang than an organized military, and a majority of them had rather dark sinister faces that were unsettling to her. Standing next to Beardsley was none other than the famed mercenary himself, the leader of the Kuroinu, Vult.

"My guys will be taking point and guarding the rear," Vult explained to Alicia. "Your soldiers can relax as they watch over your carriage. We'll make sure no harm comes to you or Lady Prim."

Alicia nodded approvingly. "Make sure everyone watches out for each other as well. Our carriage is the least of my concern, as I want to make sure we all make it in one piece."

"Everything seems settled then," Beardsley said. "We move on your orders, my lady."

Alicia took a quick moment to study the band of Black Dogs. Apart from Hicks, the second-in-command and the mercenary who also assisted her in the battle, and Keane, the company mage, who has fully recovered, there were also a number of key members that she noticed among them.

One man she noticed was Red the Stoic, fitting as his name was since he was an older man with aging red hair and speaking few words, though no one knows his true name. He had gained a reputation by slaying thirty orcs on his own when he first joined Kuroinu, a testament to his status as a veteran, and there were many rumors that stated he was a former Alliance soldier that served under General Grave Levantine himself.

Then there was Father Gaul; he once served as a priest of the Church, but was removed from his position for reasons unknown. Alicia had once heard he enjoyed torturing others, and for that reason he was banished, but nothing ever confirmed he had committed such acts. However, he became a skilled fighter that quickly rose amongst the ranks of the Kuroinu and was rumored to be their interrogator and executioner. He was heavy weight and stocky, and was certainly not the most attractive looking person she had ever met, to put it in nice terms.

And finally, there was Johan Piers Lorenth, the only member of the Kuroinu who was born of nobility. The house of Lorenth was a wealthy and powerful family, but they lost much of their fortune due to the war. Many of them believed they should continue to help the Alliance, despite having lost their money, while others sought vengeance against them, claiming they had their fortune stolen. They never reached a peaceful conclusion, and in the end, they all murdered each other. Johan, the youngest son, was the only member to survive. Unable to restore his family's name from shame, he became a mercenary and joined Kuroinu. Everyone was shocked to see how a noble son was able to fight so ruthlessly and how he was able to rank up amongst the Kuroinu.

Alicia noticed that one particular member was missing among them. Almost reactively, without even realizing what she had asked, her question pertained to a certain man with a distinct red scarf and dead expression.

"Where's Sol?"

Prim heard Alicia's question and also wondered where Sol was.

"He went on to scout ahead," Vult answered. "To make sure the road is clear. Why?"

Alicia flustered, but quickly kept her emotions in check. "No reason."

"So then, shall we set off now?" Beardsley asked.

Alicia nodded and gave the order. "Let us head for Geofu."

As the convoy moved out past the gates and onto the main road, a small group of certain individuals amongst the Kuroinu isolated themselves from the rest and quietly discussed their plans.

"So, both Princess Knights are traveling with us?" Gaul asked amongst the three. "God's promises are real. An opportunity has presented itself after all."

"We cannot make our decision so carelessly though," Johan pointed out. "We have to be careful, or else Vult will figure out our plan and everything will be ruined."

"No need to fear him, my son," Gaul reassured. "God is willing to help us with your plan. We also have Red the Stoic to protect you and make sure we succeed."

The grizzled soldier said nothing, making the stocky mercenary uncomfortable.

"Everything depends on the men we hired," Johan explained. "If things go well and everything works, I will give the rest of my inheritance to you two. You, Sir Red, will finally have enough to retire, and you, Father Gaul, will have the money to do… whatever it is you wish."

The stocky man smiled deviously, eagerly twitching his fingers on his belt that held several torture tools.

Red spoke up in a soft, coarse voice. "And what about you, young Lorenth? What will you do with the Princess Knights?"

"With just one of them, I can finally restore my family's name," Johan explained. "Vult's dreams are not my dreams, and I will be damned before he gets what is rightfully mine."

"Hey!" Hicks called for them, riding up to them on horseback and unaware of the plans the three had made. "Get back in formation, you dogs!"

Gaul quickly dispersed while Johan glared at Hicks before leaving as well. Only Red was unfazed by Hick's barking orders, calmly staring at the mercenary before leaving to join the others.

The entire day was a long and strenuous trip for the convoy. Many of the soldiers were still fatigued from yesterday's battle and were all slow at pace, despite riding on horseback. Vult was more strict on his mercenaries, constantly barking orders and keeping his men on high alert. Alicia could see that the Kuroinu, despite being rowdy and rag-tagged mercenaries, were hardened veterans and more disciplined than many of her own knights. The tales she heard of Kuroinu's exploits could not be overstated, and she saw why they were a major factor in fighting the war.

Prim had still not said a word to Alicia, nor Alicia to Prim. The silence between them was uncomfortably long, and Alicia was rather relieved once the convoy had stopped to make camp for the night, where she could leave the carriage and tend to her soldiers. Luckily, they had made it through the day without any dangerous encounters. Alicia made sure her men were well fit and it boosted their morale, as well her own. She knew she had to remain strong just like her father, to inspire her soldiers and push them on to complete their mission.

As she surveyed her own camp, she looked to the Kuroinu's camp and saw how Vult, despite the vulgarity he displayed towards his men, lifted their spirits and constantly kept their morale high, with strange talks of dreams and glory. The mindset of a mercenary was different from that of an Alliance knight, and she knew the common folk had a stronger drive for success than the higher class folk. Perhaps there was alot of things she took for granted, she thought, and it made her pause to reflect on what she was grateful for.

It also made her wonder if Sol had the same drive as the other mercenaries and what his motives and desires were, though she found it silly that the thought of him even crossed her mind.

Alicia's thoughts of Sol were then interrupted by the crimson rogue himself, who had appeared out of nowhere and walked past her without a care for her. She had not seen the rogue all day, and to see him return safely had made her somewhat relieved, though again, she found it silly that he even crossed her mind.

Sol approached Vult, but there was a serious look in his dull crimson eyes.

"You've been gone all day," Vult said to him, noting his expression. "Anything to report?"

"Bandits," Sol answered, his voice low and stern. Alicia listened intently, as well as the nearby men.

"A small village lies half a day from here," Sol explained. "Or, it did. The place was leveled, burned to the ground. No survivors. And the prints left by the attackers suggest there's a lot of them."

Alicia noticed the blood covered on the back shoulder of his brigandine that looked like an arrow had pierced through it. He was wounded, but showed no signs of being impaired. Had he been attacked? she thought.

"I had a chance of luck and encountered some of these bandits, however," Sol continued. "Some stragglers who were greedy and tried to salvage what remained of the village."

Alicia saw Sol seemingly pause mid sentence. His tone had changed, and she had seen that same expression before, back from when he had found the orcs that had violated the woman in Halem. It was an expression of anger and disgust, but there was also sadness, and she wondered what had happened to him.

Vult raised a brow. "Tell me you left at least one of them alive."

Sol shook his head, and Vult already knew what he had done. He crossed his arms as he sighed. "Thought I told you to avoid battle, but I guess it can't be helped. Would've been nice to find out who they were."

Sol then pulled out a small sack of orens covered in blood and presented it to Vult.

"Found these on one of them," Sol explained. "These orens are not the cheap kind you find at the fish market, but ones of higher value found only from noble families. And these bandits wouldn't have attacked a village on the main road unless for a good, strategic reason."

"So, what you're saying is someone paid them to burn the village," Vult assumed. "And I'm guessing the motive behind it is either to slow us down or lay an ambush for us."

Sol nodded. "It's a good assumption. I just wonder who would pay them or what their goal is."

Vult grumbled. "Common bandits usually aren't a problem for us. But we got the Princess Knights to escort, so that complicates things. Guess we're making a detour."

Vult then turned to Alicia. "So, my lady, what's our next move?"

She gritted her teeth. She regretted that she could do nothing to save the village, as it had been the fate of many other villages in Eosita. It was a common occurrence during the war, but it still pained her every time, to see the people suffer. But the fact that humans had committed this atrocity, and not aberrants, made her even more angry.

"I know what you're thinking," Sol said to her, "but it's not wise, Arcturus. There's nothing we can do for that village."

It was up to Alicia to decide. She did not like the pressure brought on to her, but she had to do what was best for the sake of her soldiers and the sake of Prim. She hated the injustice and there was nothing she could do about it.

"We'll take the north eastern road," she ordered. "Set up a tight perimeter, and keep a constant change in the night watches. We leave before sunrise."

Everyone had dispersed to do their task, but Sol was stopped by Vult.

"Don't think you can hide that wound, my friend," Vult told him. "Go see Keane, and I mean it."

"And leave incomplete intel on the road ahead of us?" Sol argued. "We need to find out if there are any threats ahead."

Vult shook his head. "You've done enough, Sol. Rest tonight. You can continue your mission first thing in the morning. That's an order."

Sol kept his dead expression, but nodded and left without saying another word. Normally, Vult would never be this lenient towards his men, but he had a soft spot for Sol. After all, he would play a major role in his plan and for Kuroinu's success.

Alicia watched as Sol went to rejoin his kind. She hadn't noticed how committed he was when a task was pointed to him. He certainly had the traits that a knight of the Alliance would have, though there was still his sarcastic nature and cold looking demeanor. She wondered if he truly was as ruthless as he presented himself to be or if there was more beneath his exterior.

"Has Sir Varron returned?"

Prim's sudden appearance nearly startled Alicia. The princess of Ur stood beside her older cousin and watched Sol disappear into the Kuroinu camp.

"He looks wounded," Prim pointed. "I need to perform my Miracles on him."

"I already told you not to-" Alicia started, but then she cut herself off. She had started to think to herself that perhaps she was just a bit overprotective of her younger cousin. She cursed at herself that she was taking advice from the rogue.

"Just be quick about it."

For the first time in a long time, she saw Prim's blue eyes light up as she smiled. Pure joy ran across her face as she saw her older cousin allow her to do something on her own. Alicia smiled in return and watched as Prim left her side, hoping that some semblance of their relationship was restored.

Prim ran to where she had last seen Sol, but he had disappeared into the crowded camp and was nowhere to be seen. As she made her way through the fire camps and tents, she was suddenly stopped by one of the Kuroinu. He was a tall, dark man with a rugged face, a dirty mustache, and pot belly. His breath reeked of alcohol as he stumbled with a bottle in his hand, belching loudly as he approached Prim. His appearance was unsettling like Sol's, but unlike the rogue, this stranger had a more sinister intention. She froze in her tracks and felt a cold chill that gripped her heart.

"My my, a young lady such as yourself shouldn't be here alone," he said to her, his speech slurred from his intoxication. "Perhaps you need some company tonight?"

"I came to see Sir Varron," Prim found the courage to explain. "Please tell me where I can find him."

"Ah, Sol is off to find Keane," the mercenary pointed, smiling sinisterly. "But that bastard will be fine. Come with me instead. I'm feeling rather bored tonight, so I could use some entertainment. And I think you would be perfect for that."

Prim was taken aback as the mercenary stepped forward, inching closer towards Prim when a familiar voice called out to them.

"Enough, Mike," Prim heard Sol's voice. "I wouldn't bother her if I were you."

The mercenary turned to Sol as he appeared, sneering at the rogue who was unfazed as he kept his dead expression, his dull crimson eyes glaring at the man and his red scarf swaying in the slight breeze.

"Oh? What, you think the Princess Knight, Alicia, is gonna hurt me if I touched her younger cousin? That bitch ain't so tough! 'Sides, I'll be gentle with her!"

Sol's voice grew cold as he stepped in front of the mercenary. "No, you're not. Let her go."

The mercenary gave an ugly laugh of defiance. "Ha! Since when did you become such a hero? You ain't no knight in shining armor! You're a bastard like every one of us. Now piss off!"

Sol continued to glare at the mercenary, unfazed by his drunken bravado. "Or?"

The mercenary popped a vein, fumes spewing as anger overcame him. "Or I'll fucking kill you!"

"Go ahead," Sol muttered. "Try."

Prim then noticed the strange mechanical gauntlet on Sol's left arm twitch, a hidden blade appearing from beneath his hand as he gripped it tightly, ready to raise it against his own comrade. She could feel the air around him grow heavy, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Mike!"

Their attention was brought to Hicks calling for the mercenary.

"Quit your damn drinking!" Hicks called. "I told you if you got drunk again, I was gonna kick your ass!"

The mercenary gritted his teeth as he stepped aside, to the relief of Prim, bringing the bottle to his mouth and left. Sol sighed and retracted the blade back into the gauntlet.

"You alright?" Sol asked Prim as he turned to her. She saw he had returned to his usual expression, one that was emotionless but also calm. It was almost reassuring to see it again after witnessing the tense confrontation.

Prim perked up and nodded her head, smiling at Sol as the blue in her eyes regained life.

Hicks came and approached the two. "I thought you were going to go see Keane. Guess the pretty pink lady wants to give you some medical aid, as well? Lucky dog, you attract all the ladies."

Prim flustered at Hick's tease, but Sol simply rolled his eyes as he brushed it off.

"You need to keep a closer eye on Mike," Sol told Hicks. "He's dangerous when intoxicated."

"Bah, that idiot will be fine once he sobers up in the morning," Hicks explained. "Well, if you can't find Keane, maybe the pretty pink lady can help. Just be nice to her, yeah? And don't try anything with her!"

Hicks laughed as he walked away. Sol grumbled in annoyance as Prim simply stared bewildered.

"What a prick," Sol commented. He then turned to Prim. "But why are you here, Lady Fiorire?"

"It's just as your friend said," Prim explained. "I came to help you. You're injured again."

Sol shook his head. "I'll be fine. We've got another medic who can look after me. Besides, your sister might get angry at you again."

"Actually, she let me come," Prim corrected.

Sol was mildly surprised. "Well, that's a first. I rather you didn't waste your time on me, but guessing you'll take no for an answer."

Prim shook her head. "You guessed it."

Sol sighed, mildly annoyed but conceded. "Follow me then."

Prim followed Sol to a crude makeshift tent, one that was far from comfortable to her luxurious carriage. His vast array of tools laid next to the small campfire that he had built, with a small plate of food cooking next to it and a large sack of strawberries next to his belongings, which she found intriguing. She had noticed his camp was quite some distance from the rest of the group.

"Aren't you afraid of being out here alone?" Prim asked.

"No," Sol stated, not elaborating further.

Prim stared at him puzzled. "You don't like company?"

Sol grunted in response. "People are bothersome. You depend on them too much and they don't return the favor."

Prim stood in silence as Sol settled in front of the small campfire, taking out a handful of strawberries from the sack, stuffing them underneath his scarf and eating them.

"Surely, you must have friends within your group?" Prim asked.

Sol thought to himself for a moment. Again, that word 'friend' was something he didn't like to hear.

"I guess Vult is the one I'm closest to. Hicks and Keanne as well, but they are all comrades in arms, nothing more."

Sol took another bite from his strawberries as he stared into the small fire. Prim took a seat next to him, careful not to aggravate him, but he showed no sign of resistance.

"I used to have people I cared for once," Sol continued, keeping his monotone voice, but Prim had noticed a kind of sadness in it.

"But one day, I left them. I thought that if I could make it without them, I'd be better off. Unfortunately, it landed me in many bad predicaments I care not to elaborate on. Needless to say, everything I've done was in vain, and I ended up as a homeless beggar on the streets. Been that way for years, until I stumbled upon Vult and the Kuroinu and they accepted me as one of theirs. Though after all this time, I still do not consider myself one of their one."

Prim nodded. "I see. You left the people you loved because you wanted to prove that you could make it on your own?"

Sol thought to himself for a moment. "That's one way to put it. But all I've proved was that I have done some messed up stuff. Funny how that works, huh?"

Prim wondered what Sol had done that made him regret his past actions. His dead expression and sarcasm was clearly a facade, and she wanted to find a way to comfort him. Unfortunately, she could do nothing but listen and change the subject.

"I'm sorry. But please, show me your wound."

Sol grumbled as he removed his brigandine and revealed the bloodied spot where his wound was. Prim leaned in closer and studied his wound- an arrow had penetrated through and struck his back shoulder. It was shallow, but it still needed to be treated.

"How did you get hurt?" She asked as she performed her Miracle.

Sol explained in a quiet, stern voice. "I scouted the road ahead to make sure it was clear. Came across a village that had recently burned down. I surveyed the area carefully before entering and there I saw it- five men, the kind that are up to no good, surrounding the body of a woman. She was long dead, but they decided to have their own fun with her."

Prim noticed Sol's shift in tone. There was a kind of quiet anger in his voice. His right hand clenched into a fist, though he remained expressionless as ever.

"So I killed them. One by one, slowly picking them off from the shadows. A lot of things went through my mind. I was distracted by my own thoughts, of rage and anger, and it almost cost me my life. One of them was able to land a shot on me. He didn't get away alive, of course, but if it had played out any other way, he would've struck me through the heart."

"Why did you do it?" Prim asked curiously.

"Because I was stupid," Sol answered. "I guess because of what I've done in the past, I could try to make it up with good deeds. What a naive way of thinking."

Prim remained silent as she finished bandaging the wound with wrapping cloth. As she watched Sol put his armor back on, she wondered that maybe Sol wasn't as stoic or cold as he made himself to be.

"I'm sorry," Prim told him gently. "You did your best though. Please don't be so reckless, okay?"

Sol nodded. "Thank you, my lady."

Prim smiled at him, and she imagined he smiled back at her through his scarf.

"Hey hey, what's this now?!"

Sol and Prim quickly turned their attention to three new faces that arrived, one of them a particular face that they had met moments ago, but instead of a bottle in hand, he held a sword. All of them appeared intoxicated and in the mood for trouble.

"See guys?" Mike pointed with his blade, his speech still slurred in his drunken state. "I told ya he's trying to sleep with the Princess Knight. How selfish of him stealing her and not sharing her with any of us!"

The three men stared at Prim with eyes of lust and malicious intent. She found herself frozen in fear, unable to move her body. She then saw Sol stand up and step in front of her, his right hand on the hilt of his arming sword and his left gauntlet at the ready.

"Why is it when there's trouble, it's always with you?" Sol grumbled. "And you brought Bill and Ben down to your level?"

"Mike said you were up to no good with the Princess," one of the new faces stuttered.

"We came here to save her from ya! Show her what a true hero looks like!"

Sol glared at the three men who inched closer towards him, the nerves in his hand itching on his blade, yet his expression remained calm as ever. "You're drunk, all of you. Go back now, or you'll get us all in trouble with Vult."

"We ain't goin' nowhere," Mike stated. "And neither are you."

The two other Kuroinu drew their blades and took another step, surrounding Sol and Prim.

"I never liked you, Sol," Mike grumbled. "None of us do. I don't care what Vult says. I'm gonna put you down like the mad dog you are."

Sol scoffed, his voice filled with killer intent. "Well, come on."

Prim was still gripped by fear, unable to move. The three men continued to encircle them, but Sol held his ground, his hand on his sword hilt and his gauntlet behind, quickly counting his targets.

Three.

In a flash, one of them quickly rushed Sol, shouting wildly with his sword raised, but Sol reacted just as quickly, drawing his sword and cutting the man from waist up, intestines and blood spewing onto the ground.

Two.

The other Kuroinu took the opportunity to close in the gap, but he was not fast enough to avoid the thrust of Sol's blade that pierced through his frontal lobe and was given a quick death.

One.

It was Mike that was able to land an attack, coming from behind and swinging his sword down on Sol, who barely reacted in time by bringing his gauntlet up to deflect the attack. Mike pulled his blade back and struck again, but as Sol brought his blade up, the mercenary feinted his attack, dodging left and struck Sol at his face. The cut was shallow, however, as it nicked his cheek, but it drew blood and forced Sol back to try and put some distance between him. Mike came rushing full front, drunken and enraged, clearly no longer thinking about his own survival and instead engulfed in pure bloodlust.

That's when Sol activated the gauntlet, the hidden chain link inside the wrist springing out at lightning speed, the hooked blade on the end piercing through rib bones and spewing blood everywhere. In one quick motion, the chain retracted, violently bringing in his target, and a swift and clean stroke severed the head that rolled towards Prim and caused her to scream.

Zero.

As Prim scrambled away from the rolling head, she was unsure if what she had witnessed was real or not. The fight lasted mere seconds, but to her, it seemed like an eternity as everything seemed to unfold in slow motion. She saw Sol standing still like a statue, his sword stained with the blood of his own comrades. His crimson eyes were cold and emotionless as he stood amongst the lifeless bodies, how quickly he had dispatched them with such ruthless precision. He then turned to her, his cold gaze meeting hers, and she felt the warmth stolen from her blood. She scrambled, trying to get as far away from him as possible. For once, she was actually terrified of him.

"Prim!"

She heard the voice of Alicia crying for her and looked towards her direction. Alicia appeared and ran past Sol, ignoring him while she ran to Prim and embraced her with a hug, both of them were overwhelmed with relief. Beardsley, Vult, and other Alliance and Kuroinu members shortly followed, and they all gasped, shocked at the scene they had witnessed.

"Sol, what the hell happened here?!" Hicks exclaimed.

Sol only looked at them with indifference as he explained with no emotion in his voice. "I killed Mike. Him and his friends."

Sol did not explain any further, as he felt it was pointless. He already knew he would be in trouble, no matter who had instigated the fight. Hicks and Keane glared at Sol, but it was Vult who stepped in and interrupted.

"I usually don't let things like this slide under normal circumstances, but this war is anything but normal," Vult argued. "Just don't let it happen again, Sol. This is gonna hurt our reputation."

Sol didn't say a word as he took a quick glance at the faces that continued to stare at him in shock and horror. He saw Alicia comforting Prim, the young pink girl clinging to her older cousin and quietly weeping in her arms, terrified for her life. He knew it was a mistake bringing the girl here, and once again, he faced the consequences of his own actions.

Wiping the excess blood from his wounded cheek, he grabbed his tools and belongings and stuffed them into his duffel bag, stacked them onto the horse cart tied to his steed and mounted up.

"Hey, where the hell you think you're going?!" Keane exclaimed.

Sol didn't say a word as he rode off into the night.

Keane turned to Vult. "Vult, you can't let him-"

"Forget it, Keane," Hicks interrupted. "I think it's best if we leave him alone for now."

"Agreed," said Vult. "He'll be back."

Alicia stood Prim up and they walked back to their carriage with their escorts. Vult turned to Red, Gaul and Johan and ordered them to bury the bodies while everyone else returned to camp, giving the three remaining Kuroinu time to talk amongst themselves.

"What a mess," Johan grumbled. "Why are we the ones left to clean this?"

"Be thankful nothing happened, my son," Gaul said. "Our plans have not been ruined yet."

"Sol, though," Johan pointed. "He may yet prove to be troublesome. He's already killed some of the hired guys and he may find out what we're up to."

"Do not worry," Gaul reassured. "In fact, his actions here may prove useful to your plans yet. God uses everyone for his divine plans, so have faith. For now, let us pray for these fallen souls."

Red said nothing as he grabbed a shovel and began to dig a grave, with Johan and Gaul soon following.

It had been a long night and an even longer day for the convoy as they continued on the next day, taking their new route and making their detour that would delay their journey. Alicia wanted to scold Prim, but held her tongue and let her rest inside the safety of their carriage. She didn't know what had happened last night to her, but she knew she shouldn't have let Prim out of her sight. Even if Sol did help during the battle of Halem, he was not to be trusted and she would never let him near Prim ever again. Yet, somewhere inside, she felt something was off about Sol. She herself said that the rogue had some honorable traits, that perhaps he was not who he appeared to be. Behind the dull crimson eyes, the hidden face, and the emotionless expression, there was a hint of compassion, yet there was also regret. And to what debt he owed her was something that piqued her interest.

The Kuroinu were not in high spirits either, with many of them still in shock over what had happened last night. What made things worse was that Sol had not returned, and they had started to fear the worst.

"He's been gone all day," Keane said to Vult as he and Hicks discussed their route towards their destination. They had set up camp for the night, but Sol had yet to return. "Shouldn't we send a scouting party after him?"

"If I know Sol, he's probably out there finishing his reconnaissance," Hicks explained. "Trying to clear his mind while finishing the mission."

"True," Vult said. "The guy is always gone for two or three days before he comes back. And he always brings back solid intel."

"Still, I fear for the worst," said Keane. "I mean, he did kill three of our own guys. How do we know he hasn't deserted to avoid being reprimanded?"

"Sol is loyal," Vult pointed. "He will never turn his back on us."

"You trust him that much?" Hicks asked skeptically.

Vult nodded with a firm, unwavering look on his face. "I do."

Hicks looked on curiously, wondering why Vult would put so much faith in him. Keane was not as convinced as he sighed heavily and adjusted his glasses.

"I guess he hasn't really done anything that shows he will betray us," said Keane. "But Sol is an odd fellow. He's a mercenary like us, yet he tries so hard to uphold morals. He's a walking contraction of all sorts."

Hick laughed. "Yeah. I mean, he acts like Maia when she was still here and-."

Hicks then cut himself off as Vult cast a glare at him. He immediately regretted his words.

"Sorry, boss, it slipped my mouth," Hick apologized.

He expected Vult to lash out, but instead, he stood up and walked away.

"Be sure to let me know when Sol returns," Vult simply stated.

Hicks sighed in relief as Keane shook his head.

"Why do you always have to run your mouth?" Keane asked, mildly annoyed.

Hicks grumbled. "Piss off. Besides, we all knew Maia was too soft anyway. Just afraid Sol might end up the same way."

"And you're just the same," Keane pointed. "That nice attitude of yours- it needs to stop. The boss isn't going to like it."

Hicks frowned. "Yeah. You're probably right. I reckon whatever the boss has got planned, we can't keep being so nice all the time."

As they discussed amongst themselves, no one in the camp had noticed Johan Piers Lorenz had disappeared from their ranks. They had camped inside a dense forest and so he was able to sneak out unnoticed into the night. He had walked some meters away, constantly checking his back and carefully watching his surroundings. It wasn't long until he came to a clearing in the forest and saw a group of ruffians who were armed to the teeth. They had expected him.

"Apologies for not getting here sooner," Johan told the group. "I had to make sure I was not followed."

"We've been waiting here for hours," one of them said. "This had better be worth it."

"Don't worry," Johan reassured. "You'll be getting your coins worth. After all, it is a Princess Knight who we're after."

"How can you be so sure this will work?" another one of them asked.

"They took the detour, thinking this road will be safe," Johan explained. "They will not expect an attack. And another unforeseen factor has come into play, one that we can use to our advantage- Sol has gone rogue, for killing one of our own. They will put the blame on him once they find out the Princess Knight is missing and giving us a clear leeway."

The armed men looked at each other skeptically, wondering how the plan would work.

"Just distract the convoy long enough for me and my comrades to pull the abduction," Johan continued. "We'll all meet up at the rendezvous point and then we can discuss further terms."

"All this just for a little profit," one of the bandits grumbled as he brandished his mace and closed the visor on his helmet. "Well, lads, get to it. Bonus to you for every man you kill, but do not harm the princess."

Prim hadn't slept for the most part. She still had trouble erasing the unsettling sight of Sol that plagued her mind. She had put so much faith and trust in him. She could sense that he did have some compassion in him, that he was someone who was good. Yet, when she saw how ruthless he was, she couldn't shake the feeling of fear and terror from her. Never had she seen such a cold expression behind a hidden face. She wanted to see good in him, but she had begun to doubt her feelings.

Prim's thoughts were broken by the sound of blades clashing. It didn't register at first, but then she saw blood splatter on the windows of her carriage, followed by the sound of bodies falling over. As Prim stood up from her seat to investigate, the door immediately swung open. She gasped in horror as she saw the bodies of two of her guards, soldiers of Feoh who were commanded by her older cousin, fall beneath her feet, their lifeless bodies hitting the ground with a thud. The one responsible for their deaths appeared in front of her, holding his blade that was covered in blood, towering over her, his aged red hair and grizzled face revealing himself to be Red the Stoic. Prim was unable to move, let alone cry for help as she was frozen in fear, though the tall veteran looked at her with cold, empathetic eyes.

"Please come quietly," he said in his hoarse voice. "It will be much easier if you don't resist."

Alicia didn't know how it all started. Everything was quiet at first, and then in an instant, chaos had spread amongst the camp. Armed men numbering in the dozens appeared from out of nowhere, slaughtering all who were caught off guard. She barely had time to defend herself as several armed men attacked her.

"Beardsley!" she called her advisor. "Rally our troops!"

Her knights desperately fought for their lives, trying to regain some ground but they were woefully unprepared for the sudden ambush. Alicia then heard the cry of the Kuroinu charging towards her position, with Vult in the lead, his massive greatsword cleaving through all who were unfortunate to get in his way. The mercenary leader ruthlessly hacked through the assailants by the dozens, and it was easy to see why his prowess in combat could not be matched.

"Fall back!" the ruffians cried as they retreated, clearly seeing that they were outmatched against the Kuroinu, and they quickly disappeared as they had appeared.

Alicia took a moment to assess herself and saw she was not injured. Her soldiers were relatively unharmed as well, though even with a few losses, her already small army was now reduced considerably.

"Are you okay, my lady?" Beardsley asked her.

Alicia nodded. "I'm fine. But who were they? And what did they hope to accomplish by attacking us? They were clearly outnumbered."

"Perhaps they intentionally attacked us," Vult said as he walked up to her. "Distracting us so that we couldn't see what their true goal was."

Vult then presented Alicia the elven crown of Uriade Mirrine, the royal crown that belonged to Prim.

Alicia could not hide her shock. Her heart nearly stopped, and she had almost lost her senses as anger and fear began to rise in her and was overwhelmed with panic.

"Lady Prim is gone," Vult grimly said.