Two days had passed, yet it was still not enough time for Sol as he prepared for his biggest mission yet. To capture the Black Fortress was no small feat, and anyone else would have been excited and nervous to go on this mission. But for Sol, he was aggravated, cursing at himself for agreeing to Celestine's request.

"Just had to open your goddamn mouth," Sol grumbled to himself.

"What was that?" asked Lulu, who was stacking a Grapeshot onto his horse wagon. Sol had visited her workshop to restock on his supply, as per her request. As intolerable as she was, her mechanical knowledge and supply of alchemical weapons was a godsend to him, and he knew he would need it for the mission to come.

"Nothing," Sol replied, inspecting a bomb that Lulu had labeled 'Northern Wind'. "Are you sure I can have these for free?"

"Of course!" she exclaimed. "You just gotta remember to come back and give me a full report on them. You're the only little worm to have utilized them effectively so far, as I've sent other guinea pigs into the field to test them."

"I see," Sol noted. "What happened to them?"

"They died," Lulu answered blatantly. "One worm didn't light the Grapeshot properly, blew him and his buddies into smithereens. Another worm blinded himself using the Samum, scratched his eyes out and screamed like he was possessed. The Northern Wind was hilarious though! Its a bomb that freezes any targets on contact, but this dumb worm dropped it right on top of his crotch and-"

"I get it," Sol interrupted, feeling a sweatdrop. "No wonder the Alliance was so reluctant in using these."

Lulu only grinned as she finished stacking the last Grapeshot onto his horse cart. Including the new supply of bombs, she had also repaired his mechanical gauntlet and gave him an improved variant of his brigandine armor, which was sleeker but more durable, not to mention it also pleased Sol's asthetic taste of black and red. He was also given a new sword forged from a type of metal called Dimeritium, its properties inside the lustrous blue alloy said to hurt even the most powerful of magical beings. Lulu had offered Sol a helmet made from the strongest steel, but he declined, stating he would prefer keeping his scarf. Regardless, he was thankful to have her aid, and even grew to admire her, if only because she was as passionate about weapons as he was.

"Just get the Dark Queen and come back alive!" Lulu grinned. "I know you can do it, little worm!"

Sol winced at his nickname, but was grateful nonetheless as he left to join his band.

Thousands of mercenaries had gathered outside the Kuroinu's guild to sign up and join, all of them eager for a chance of fame and riches. Among the crowds was a peculiar mercenary dressed in an old suit of steel armor, beaten and worn from battle, but still functional. His helmet hid his face, it's rusty visor barely able to lift up and allow him to see. His skinny stature and beaten armor made the other mercenaries eye him, questioning whether he was a capable fighter or not. The wary eyes made him nervous, but it did not waver his determination to join the Kuroinu, as he had a clear goal in mind and was determined to achieve it, no matter what.

The mercenary finally had his chance to arrive at the signing booth and meet Keane, who was unenthusiastic about having to deal with the new recruits and the paperwork.

"Name and birthplace?" Keane asked begrudgingly.

"A-Alex, of Feoh," the mercenary answered nervously.

"Why do you want to join?" Keane yawned, not even bothering to look at him as he continued his paperwork.

The mercenary drew a long breath as he gave his answer in a loud and clear voice. "I want to kill the Dark Queen."

His answer was met with a scoff as Keane waved him off. "How noble. Unfortunately, you don't seem very capable. Next."

"Please wait," Alex begged. "I have sworn an oath to defeat the Dark Queen and bring her justice! I must personally see to it!"

Keane sighed heavily, finally looking up at the mercenary in frustration.

"Look," he explained, fixing his glasses. "We've no need for knight errants, justice warriors or whatever the heck you are. We're not fighting to save the world, we're here to do a job and get paid. And it's not an easy task. Many of us will die, you included. Now get out of here and make room for those worth joining."

Keane went back to focus on his paperwork when Alex suddenly slammed his hand onto the table, slightly shocking the others around him, but aggravating Keane.

"Let me join!" Alex begged. "I have to do this!"

"Keane! You're so quick to turn down this man?"

A voice called out and both Alex and Keane turned to see Vult approaching, his arms folded as he studied the knight, his dark eyes looking up and down maliciously.

"Not anyone can join Kuroinu, kid," Vult explained, his tone becoming sinister. "We don't fight like knights, who think its all about honor and glory. I've seen plenty of guys like you, and frankly, I don't give a damn about your code of chivalry. You wanna be a part of this band? You gotta get mean. You gotta be willing to kill and maim and fuck all that moves. You gotta be willing to do whatever it takes to win!"

At that moment, Vult suddenly drew his massive sword and swung at Alex, who barely drew his sword in time to block the attack, its hilt covered in thick bandages and the blade had an odd rusty color to it. The sheer weight of Vult's greatsword combined with his power sent him back flying as he landed with a thud.

"You wanna join so badly?!" Vult exclaimed, laughing like a madman. "You gotta kill me first!"

Alex stumbled, gripping firmly onto his sword as he steadied himself. Vult grinned widely, impressed that he was still able to move.

He then charged, swinging his massive blade that would've easily cut Alex in two had he not dodged in time. Vult's follow up attacks missed the agile opponent, and he was impressed that this nobody of a knight was not only able to dodge his attack, but also block a direct hit and still survive, a feat almost no one has been able to pull off.

He was then caught off guard when Alex parried his attack in a different direction, then lunged forward with his blade to pierce his chest.

His strike was off, however, as it went underneath Vult's arms and barely grazed him.

Vult knocked him back with the hilt of his sword, the force of impact sending Alex to the ground in a daze. He then placed his foot on his neck, pinning him down as Vult readied his sword for the final blow.

"Weakling," Vult smirked as he watched Alex trying desperately to lift his foot off of him. "You don't deserve to be a Kuroinu."

At that moment, Alex drew the dagger on his waist, quickly thrusting it into the side of Vult's foot, drawing blood and forcing him to stumble back.

He used the opportunity to get back up and lunged in for the kill.

But as Alex swung his sword, it was caught by a chain whip that sprang out of nowhere, catching the blade and pulling it out of his hand.

Alex looked to see Sol appear, retracting the chain back into the mechanical gauntlet, his dull eyes seemingly glowing like fire as he stared at him with murderous intent.

"Relax," Vult called, laughing as he stopped Sol. "This was merely a test."

Sol was baffled at how Vult was so casual. "A test? He nearly killed you."

"Nearly," Vult laughed. "He wouldn't have though, because I held back."

Sol eyed him skeptically, all while keeping the sword pointed at Alex's neck.

Vult was impressed with the recruit. In truth, however, he really did hold back, and anyone who was able to stand toe to toe with him at half strength was already a formidable warrior, though he felt his fighting style was oddly familiar.

Vult grinned as he sheathed his greatsword onto his back. "I've seen enough. I'm satisfied. What's your name, kid?"

"Alex," he stated.

Vult nodded. "Alright, Alex. Consider yourself a Kuroinu. You'll be assigned as an assistant scout to Sol."

"Impossible," Sol objected, clearly not happy with his order. "You know I work alone."

Vult nodded. "Yes, but this time is different. We're going to the Black Fortress, into the heart of the Dark Lands. I don't doubt your capabilities, but there's too many uncertainties. I'm assigning you help."

"But I-."

"Enough, Sol."

Sol gritted his teeth as he sighed in frustration, but reluctantly agreed to his plan.

"Besides," Vult added. "Alex, here, has just proven himself as a capable warrior. I'm sure the two of you will become good friends."

Vult laughed as he walked away, leaving an agitated Sol and a nervous Alex.

"Follow me," he ordered.

Sol didn't utter a word, the long silence making Alex uncomfortable, as they walked to retrieve his horse from the stables. As they prepared, Sol grabbed a few boxes and stacked them onto the back of the horse cart while Alex stood and watched in silence.

"Are you going to help or not?" Sol asked irately, finally speaking.

Alex jumped back a bit before moving in to help stack the remaining boxes, but fumbled and nearly dropped one of them.

"Don't break anything," Sol scolded. "It's bad enough I gotta drag you along. I gotta make this as tolerable as possible for the both of us. So, I got two rules- listen to me, and don't get in my way. Understood?"

Alex nodded nervously, working diligently as if his life depended on it. Something about the new recruit seemed strange to Sol, however, as if he had known him from somewhere before. His presence reminded him of a certain princess knight, but he knew it was a ridiculous notion and brushed it off.

"Master Varron!"

Sol looked and saw Prim running towards him, her face distressed and anxious. She caught him by surprise as she embraced him in a tight hug.

"My lady," Sol uttered. "I don't think you should do that."

"I don't care," Prim said, shaking her head. "I don't want you to get hurt."

Sol scoffed in amusement. "Well, I won't."

"How can you be so sure?" Prim cried, tears welling in her face. "You're headed into the Dark Lands, into the Black Fortress. It's a dangerous mission, and almost no one has ever returned from there."

Sol decided to have fun at her emotional expense. Stepping away from Prim, he knelt down on one knee and placed a hand to his heart, imitating a knight's oath.

"I swear on Prim Fiorire, the Princess Knight of Ur and royal princess of Eostia, that I, Sir Sol Varron, will complete this mission and return alive."

Prim chuckled at Sol's rather silly act. She'd never imagine someone who had such a dead expression and rough exterior act so knightly.

"You're not an official knight though, so it doesn't count," she teased.

Sol shrugged. "Well, many knights were known to not hold their oaths anyway, but it's the thought that counts. Besides, we both know I'm tough to kill."

"You sound so confident," Prim laughed. "But you will come back, won't you?"

Sol nodded, his dull crimson eyes meeting her gentle blue eyes, and she could see them becoming softer and compassionate.

"You have my word," Sol stated, this time having no sarcasm in his tone, but truth and honesty.

It was enough to reassure Prim as she smiled, and for a moment, she thought she could see him smile past his face hidden by his red scarf.

"Lady Prim!" Vera called to her as she rushed to catch up. "Please don't run off on your own like that!"

"I'm fine, Lieutenant Vera," Prim assured. "I was saying farewell to Sol, that's all."

Vera looked at Sol and nodded at him. "Thank you again for saving me back then. Best of luck, and I know you'll return safely."

Sol nodded in return but didn't say a word as he gave Prim one last look before returning to his work.

Prim gazed over at Alex, who had observed the entire scene.

"Mister, you'll look after Sir Varron, won't you?" she called out to him.

Alex stuttered, unable to answer as he froze in fear.

"Don't bother him, Lady Prim, leave him be," Vera told him. "We'd best get back to Beardsley before he gets worried."

Prim reluctantly agreed and left. Vera followed, but glanced over at Alex, the both of them giving each other a silent reassuring nod, before leaving.

"What was that about?" Sol asked, noticing their exchange.

"Nothing," Alex responded. "I'll be right back. I need to fetch some water for the journey."

Sol pondered his response, but quickly brushed it off.

As Alex rushed out of the stables, he took a moment to hide from the rest of the Kuroinu, sighing heavily as he finally removed his helmet, or rather her helmet, and Alicia caught her breath.

"This isn't going to work," she sighed, hanging her head low as she reflected on her choices and the last conversation she had with her lieutenant.

"My lady, please don't be so rash," Vera begged Alicia.

"I must do this," Alicia told her. "The Church will not approve the Alliance moving onto the Black Fortress. So I must go with the Kuroinu. This is my only chance of killing the Dark Queen."

"Surely, there are other ways," Vera pointed. "Besides, you cannot go with the Kuroinu. Lady Celestine, and even Minister Beardsley, will never allow it."

"Then they will never know about it," Alicia said. "Not if I go disguised as a mercenary."

"Then where will Lady Alicia be while she is absent?" asked Vera. "People will suspect something when she is not present at Lady Prim's side. And what does Prim have to say about this?"

"She won't know. No one can. That is why I trust you to keep this secret. If they ask, I will be in Halem to retrieve the rest of our knights stationed there. You will be Prim's bodyguard while Beardsley will be in charge of Feoh until my return."

Vera sighed disapprovingly. "Is this truly what you want? Is vengeance so important that you would deceive everyone just to kill the Dark Queen?"

Alicia tightened her fist as she thought about Vera's words. "This is the only way I will know peace. If I must sacrifice my life or my reputation, so be it. Just be sure you take care of Prim."

Vera sighed as she could only reluctantly agree. "If that is your order. I sure hope you know what you're doing."

Alicia nodded, though her expression was grim. "So do I."

Seven days have passed since the Kuroinu set off from Geofu and into Verrwick, the most northern lands that lie on the borders of the Dark Land. The weather was clear and warm, as Sol and Alicia, under her disguise as 'Alex', lay hidden underneath the shrubbery, observing anything that moved in the wild and desolate land.

Sol sighed wearily as he brought the flask of water under his scarf and drank, glancing over at Alicia, who was exhausted from their watch.

"Stay hydrated," he offered a drink. "You're no good to me if you're lacking water."

"I'll be fine," she stubbornly refused.

"Remember the first thing I told you," Sol pointed. "Listen to me. It isn't an option."

Alicia grunted, looking at the flask for a moment before taking it, lifting her visor up and drinking deeply, the touch of water on her dry lips awakening her thirst, before handing the nearly empty bottle back to him. She realized that her lips had touched the same flask that his lips had, and she blushed slightly at the thought of indirectly kissing him.

Alicia was glad that Sol had not found out who she was yet, despite being together for several days. She could not afford to give herself away, lest her mission would be compromised.

"Alex, look alive," Sol called to her, pointing ahead of him.

Alicia focused her attention and saw several dozen large humanoid figures in the distance, walking parallel from their position.

"Orcs," Alicia observed. "A large patrol. Looks like two-no, three- chieftains among them. Could be more in the surrounding area."

"First patrol we've encountered," Sol remarked. "It's a good sign. Means we're getting closer to the Dark Lands."

"But if we're getting closer, that means there'll be more enemies," pointed Alicia.

"True," Sol nodded. "But that's not what bothers me. Look at the skies."

Alicia looked up. "It's clear."

"Exactly," he pointed. "If we're nearing the Dark Lands, we shouldn't be able to even see the sun. The corruption has spread as far as Verrick, which is why this part of the land is so desolate. Even this shrubbery shouldn't be growing here, as all plant life should be dead."

"So it is true," Alicia remarked. "The Dark Queen has lost her powers. Her hold on the corruption is fading, and the war will soon be over."

"Don't be so optimistic," Sol corrected. "Nothing is over until we capture her."

"Of course," Alicia nodded, afraid in the back of her mind of what she will do once she actually does meet the Dark Queen.

"Go back and report our findings to Vult," Sol ordered. "I'll stay here and continue watching their movements."

"But it's dangerous being here alone," Alicia protested.

Sol glared at her. "Remember what I said- listen to me."

Alicia reluctantly complied as she stood up from her hiding spot and ran back. The rest of the Kuroinu were a few miles behind them so she would have to grab her horse to get back to them. Luckily, they weren't too far from their hiding spot.

But as she ran through the dead forest to reach the spot where she left their horses, she heard them neighing wildly, as if they were being attacked. She quickend her pace, rushing to the noise and stumbled upon two orcs, both of them trying to capture the panicked horses.

Alicia rushed at the brutes, her sword drawn as the blue sapphire in the hilt began to glow even underneath the thick bandages. She had wrapped her hilt and covered the blade in a rust-colored tint to ensure that no one could recognize her blade, though she still used caution wielding the sword's power.

Luckily, she was alone, so she was free to use it at will, slaying the two orcs with minimal effort. The horses were still in distraught, unable to stop neighing in panic, but Alicia drew breath and uttered the elvish chant of peace.

"Valfel calem."

It was a simple incantation, but the chant mixed with the old dialogue created a kind of magic that could tame bewildered minds and calm anxiety, as she had used it to calm the boy from Halem. She learned many skills in combat, but this was the one true spell she truly cared for, as it was the first skill taught to her by her father.

"A warrior strives for peace, for that is their ultimate goal," he once said to her.

After settling the horses, she then realized that if the orcs were this close, there may be others nearby, and it would be a matter of time before they found Sol's hiding spot.

Sol was surrounded. He had paid too much attention to the patrol in the distance and didn't notice the orcs that snuck up on his hiding spot until it was nearly too late, ambushing him as he drew his sword and counted his foes.

Five.

Sol reached into the weapon pouch on his side, pulled out the Puffball, and tossed it into the group. The glass shattered, sending heaps of suffocating clouds around the area. The orcs stumbled, trying to catch their breath as Sol rushed, plunging his sword deep into the underarm of one orc.

Four.

He then leapt high into the air as he came down onto another orc's neck. It struggled to throw Sol off but fell helplessly as it bled out.

Three.

Another orc tried to bring its mace up to defend itself but the suffocating clouds made it too weak to move, and Sol was instantly right on it, thrusting his sword into its grizzled and ugly face.

Two.

The clouds quickly began to wear off, and the surviving orcs bellowed in rage as they regained themselves and focused on Sol. Out of time and out of options, Sol sprang the chain whip from his gauntlet, latching itself onto the nearest orc and restraining its arms, but it used its strength and massive bulk to pull Sol forward. He tried to retract the chain, but the orc's overwhelming strength prevented him from pulling back.

The second orc then rushed in, swinging its club overhead to strike him down. In a desperate moment, he lunged himself straight towards the first orc, barely dodging the incoming attack.

He swung his sword, striking hard at the orc's knees, but it quickly knocked him back with its massive arms, sending him flying into a nearby tree. He stumbled to get up as the two orcs marched on him, ready to deliver the killing blow.

Suddenly, one of them was struck down instantly by Alicia's sudden appearance. The last orc raised its club to defend itself and used it's massive size to push her back, forcing Alicia into a defensive stance. It swung wildly, keeping her at bay and giving her no chance to retaliate.

But while it focused on Alicia, it had no time to pay attention to Sol, who struck behind its knees and caused it to collapse.

Alicia used the opportunity to thrust her blade into its neck, ending the battle.

Sol, bewildered and breathless, and even forgetting to count his enemies, stared at 'Alex', quite impressed that 'he' was able to efficiently fight the orcs. He always figured there was something familiar about him, but his sword was quite peculiar, and he definitely remembered seeing it somewhere before.

"I thought I told you to go back and report to Vult," Sol bluntly said, staggering to stand.

"I just saved your life," Alicia remarked. "I deserve a thank you, at the least."

They were then interrupted by the roars of orcs, as they turned to see that the patrol from before was now charging at them.

"Shit, they must've seen us fighting," Sol cursed.

"Do we run?" asked Alicia in panic.

Sol shook his head. "No point, they'll be on us in seconds. I doubt even your fighting prowess can save us."

Alicia and Sol braced themselves as the orcs charged, hopelessly outnumbered and with no way of winning.

"Volley!"

A cry was ordered as hundreds of arrows suddenly rained down on the orcs, killing a good portion and halting their attack. Sol and Alicia looked to see the Kuroinu charging out from the dead forest, shouting wildly as they clashed against the orcs. Though the brutes were much stronger than an average warrior, they were cowards at heart, and fled as soon as they realized that the tide had turned against them, ending the battle before it even began.

Vult appeared before the both of them, grinning confidently as he held his greatsword.

"You were supposed to report back hours ago," he told them. "Seems like we came just in the nick of time. Told ya Alex was a capable fighter, didn't I?"

Sol frowned behind his red scarf while Alicia blushed underneath her helmet, but both of them were relieved to be alive.

As the day began to unwind, Sol and Alicia returned to the company, who had camped beside a large lake. The Kuroinu were skeptical, at first, of the water's poisonous properties, due to being so close to the Dark Lands, but had found out that the receding corruption had actually purified the waters, making it clean and bathable. The men rejoiced as they removed themselves from their thick armor and musty garments and bathed after what had felt like an eternity to them. The only ones who didn't join were Sol and Alicia, for obvious reasons. Yet the two of them were desperate to clean themselves, and so when it was late at night and everyone was asleep, they would use the cover of darkness, unaware of what would transpire between the two.

Alicia was the first to arrive at the lake. She felt relieved to finally be able to remove the restrictive armor and stuffy helmet, brushing back her long blonde hair that flowed freely with the night breeze and kissing her bare skin and naked body. Carefully testing the water with her feet and feeling its warmth, she plunged herself deep into the lake and allowed herself a moment of happiness.

It was soon interrupted, however, when she heard footsteps near the shore. Terrified of being found out, she submerged herself, keeping her head barely above the water to watch for whoever had arrived.

Her face instantly flushed and she nearly lost her balance in the water as she gasped, seeing Sol bare naked and without his scarf for the first time, though the darkness still obscured much of his face. He slowly dipped himself into the water, sighing heavily as he became lax and closed his eyes. Alicia tried to use the opportunity to escape, slowly and quietly swimming away from him towards the shore.

"Who's there?" Sol frantically called, hearing her movements.

Alicia saw that he had also submerged himself, hiding in the waters and apparently too embarrassed to reveal his face as well, which she found amusing.

"Its me, Alex," Alicia answered, using her moniker.

"Ah, you," Sol remarked, returning to his usual demeanor. "Why didn't you bathe with the others?"

"Same reason you didn't," Alicia answered.

Sol grunted in response. "Guessing you got a reason for wanting to hide yourself. So tell me- what's your deal then?"

Alicia took a moment to come up with an excuse, though she realized it was the first time he had actually taken an interest in her.

"I was once a knight of Feoh. My father was a proud warrior, and I looked up to him. But the Dark Queen killed him, took him away from me. So, I swore an oath to wear this helmet, never to remove it until she is killed by my hands."

Sol scoffed, amused at her answer. "A typical knight's vow. It's all bullshit."

Sol paused for a moment as he sighed heavily. The story Alicia had presented to him as Alex had reminded him all too well of a past he wished to forget.

"I'm sorry though. About your father."

Alicia had never expected him to sympathize. She knew he had a kind side to him however, even if he didn't like to show it.

"What about you?" she asked. "Why hide your face?"

Sol grunted, contemplating his answer. "If I'm being honest, I don't have a reason. Most times, I would come up with some cliche like, 'I hide my scars of my past' or 'my breath is a contagious poison', but it's really just a memento."

"I see," she remarked. "Who's it for, if you don't mind me asking?"

"My mother's," he replied. "It was the last gift she gave me."

Alicia knew what he implied and she felt guilty for having asked. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" asked Sol. "She's not dead. She's still very much alive, my father too."

His answer threw her off, and the instant change of tone made her feel embarrassed. "Oh. Sorry, I thought that-."

Sol gave a slight chuckle, amused at her embarrassment.

"Yes, she lives," Sol explained. "But she's old. Age has taken its toll on her mentality. Lost her memory years ago. Now only my father looks after her."

"Do you miss them?" asked Alicia, curious about his upbringing.

Sol was silent, seemingly hesitant to give an answer. "It wouldn't matter. They're better off without me. No one knows about this. Well, besides you and Lady Prim."

Hearing Prim's name made Alicia miss her, and she wondered how she was faring. In a way, she was glad that Sol had met her, seemingly changing her heart and wondered if he had changed because of her as well.

"You know, you remind me of Arcturus," he said, catching Alicia's attention.

"You share similar stories, dead father and all, you act in a manner that resembles her, and your fighting style is practically identical. Guess it's a trait of all soldiers from Feoh?"

Alicia's stomach tightened, afraid that he may soon discover her identity. "Something like that."

Sol grunted. "Can I ask you something?"

Alicia's ears perked up. "Yes?"

"What's your opinion on her? Arcturus, I mean?"

Alicia thought for a moment, unsure of how she did feel about herself, let alone trying to make it sound like it wasn't her.

"The people seem to admire her. She seems competent and confident. However, I feel as if she's bothered by something, that there is a great burden she carries. She tries hard to be respected, but she feels inadequate."

"Sounds like you're very close to the Princess Knight," Sol remarked, intrigued by 'Alex's' thoughts.

"You could say so," she answered.

Sol grunted, unsatisfied with her answer but accepted it anyway.

"What do you think about her?" she asked, wondering to herself how strange it sounded talking about herself, but also curious about Sol's opinion.

He sighed, thankful that the dark waters and the night hid his somber expression.

"She's a fool. She's naive and prideful. But I admire her for that. She pushes on, even when everything seems hopeless. I also hate to admit that she is beautiful."

Alicia blushed hard upon hearing his compliment. Meanwhile, Sol paused to reflect on the last time he saw her.

"The night of the celebration, I didn't think I'd be left speechless when I saw her. She told me she felt insecure about how she looked and how she dressed, stating how every man there wanted to take her hand in marriage. Can't say I blame them. If I was a nobleman, I would have asked her too. I'd think she'd laugh if she ever heard me say this about her."

Alicia tried her best to keep her composure. She never would have imagined that someone like him would ever give praises of her, but at the same time, she felt a rush of joy in her heart.

"Maybe I'm just as foolish as her," Sol continued. "Or maybe it's because I'm the reason why she carries so much burden. If she ever knew what I did, she would hate me. If I would have known of the consequences that would take place, I would have never committed such an atrocity. But its too late, and nothing can erase my mistake."

Alicia grew curious about Sol's mistake. She recalled that he owed her a debt, but he never elaborated what it was.

"Was it that serious?" she asked. "Could you tell me what happened?"

"No," he answered flatly. "And you wouldn't, either, if you knew how unforgivable your sins were."

Alicia wondered greatly what Sol had done. She knew one thing, that she wasn't the only one who felt the weight of the world was on her shoulders.

"We'll, I would like to think that whatever you did to Alicia, she would still be willing to forgive you," she said, trying to cheer him up. "She may like you, even."

"Unlikely," Sol remarked.

Alicia gave a light smile as she continued. "Regardless of what you've done, your secret is safe with me. As a knight of Feoh, I vow never to tell a soul."

"I said before, knightly vows are bullshit," Sol scoffed, pausing for a moment before continuing. "You know, you fought well today. I'm glad you're a part of the team, Alex."

It was the most awkward conversation for Alicia, to say the least, as she quickly scuttled out the waters, grabbed her belongings and raced to her tent before anyone else could notice her. But as she fell asleep, she dreamt of her father. She dreamt of her journey to march on the Black Fortress and facing the Dark Queen. She was frightened, but she also had newfound confidence, as she appreciated having Sol as her ally.

The skies were black as night, yet it was midday, as indicated by the small rays of light that struggled to pierce through the dark clouds. The Dark Lands were just as foreboding as the stories had described it. The corruption held a strong firm on the barren and desolate lands, where no vegetation grew and the air was thick and heavy. Yet Sol and Alicia remained vigilant as they climbed atop the peak of a small cliff, gazing at the tall, dark tower that loomed over the horizon after hiking the treacherous terrain for several days.

"The Black Fortress," Alicia muttered, staring at its unholy architecture. "It truly is nerve wrecking seeing it this close in person. But it's hard to believe we'd come this far."

"You nervous?" asked Sol.

"No," she lied, but corrected herself. "Well, yes, but… we're so close to ending this war. We cannot falter now."

Sol nodded in agreement, though the both of them knew that it would be no easy task, and that they still had a long way to go before achieving their goal.

They spent the majority of the day surveying the land, writing down the details on their map before heading back to where the rest of the Kuroinu camped.

Upon their return, Vult then gathered his commanding officers, including Hicks, Keane, and Sol, inside the commander's tent to discuss their next plan of action.

"We're less than half a day's march from the enemy's doorstep," Vult explained as he pointed on the map that Sol had detailed from his and Alicia's scouting. "We were fortunate enough to have made it all this way, but the enemy knows that we're coming, and so they've mobilized their forces to set up their defenses. We have access to catapults, siege towers, battering rams, and we have Sol's Grapeshots, but it'll take some time for us to get them set up before mounting our assault. But there's one problem- The Dark Queen still retains some of her power, and as such, the magical barrier protecting the fortress is still active, meaning a frontal assault is futile."

"The keyword is frontal assault," Keane added. "The barrier is a variant of the elvish spell 'Caer'. When I studied as a mage, I learned of this spell and how it works, and I know this- the spell cannot operate without four different mediums to power the barrier and maintain it. The mediums must be scattered outside and around the perimeter. And so, if even one of these mediums was to be destroyed, the spell would be broken and pave the way for our siege."

"So then, we surround the fortress?" Hicks asked. "Find one of those mediums, destroy it, and then we lay waste to the defenses and victory is ours?"

"I'm afraid it's not so simple," Keane explained. "The Dark Queen is highly aware of how vulnerable these mediums would be, and so has gone to extreme measures to make sure that they are well fortified. The closest medium is surrounded by strong walls that encompass the outer perimeters of the fortress, while two others are all the way on the other side of the perimeter. While not heavily guarded, they would delay our assault and give the enemy more time to counterattack, time that we do not have."

"Correct," Vult pointed. "We've come to learn that the enemy has called for reinforcements. A large army of aberrants are marching from the north west, and will arrive by tomorrow. We must take the fortress before then, else we'll be outnumbered and surrounded."

"So, we must destroy one of the mediums to take down the barrier and capture the fortress within a tiny time frame," Hicks summarized. "We know where three of the mediums are, but where is the last one?"

Vult glanced at Sol, who nodded approvingly. The two of them read each other's minds and knew what each of them expected from one another.

"We must find it, for that is our key," Vult proposed. "We'll create a diversion, pulling a feint attack on the closest mediums and keeping the enemy occupied while we send a task force to find the hidden one."

"Seems simple enough," Hicks nodded. "Who will compromise this task force though?"

"Me," Sol stated aloud, and almost instantly.

Keane gave a hearty laugh, amused at how Sol volunteered so easily. "Well, I should've expected no less from you. But you're gonna need my help with this one, seeing that the mediums can only be destroyed by magic."

"I'll come too," Hicks added. "I'll round up some boys and we'll accompany you."

"So then it's settled," Vult stated. "I will take the company and mount a frontal attack, distracting the abberants while Hicks, Keane and Sol will search for the hidden medium and take down the barrier. Once that's complete, we bring in the siege weapons, destroy the walls, storm the fortress and claim victory."

As the meeting concluded and everyone left, Vult called out to Sol.

"A moment," he stopped him. "You know, this is the most dangerous mission we've taken on yet."

"And?" Sol retorted. "Big deal, it's just like any other mission. We follow your orders, and we get the job done."

"You make it sound so simple," Vult paused. "But are you not afraid? Are you terrified of what will happen if we fail?"

Sol shrugged nonchalantly. "You're not afraid. So that means I'm not either."

Vult laughed. "And here I thought I had you all figured out, but you keep surprising me. But I've come to realize how far we've come, how much we've sacrificed. It can't all be for nothing. This is it, Sol. We're so close to achieving our dreams, aren't we? Soon, Kuroinu will become a legend, and you, my friend, will be there to witness it alongside me."

Sol grunted with his usual dead expression. However, he couldn't stop thinking about the words that Johan said as they echoed in his mind.

Did it never occur to you exactly what it is he wants?

"By the way, did you ever figure it out?" Vult asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"What?" Sol retorted.

"What your dreams and desires are," Vult explained. "You told me a while back that you would let me know, so surely, you should've found your answer by now."

Sol grunted, unable to give his answer. There were many things he wanted, but for something that he truly desired, a goal that would complete his life, he could not think of anything.

"Your guilt prevents you from answering, doesn't it?" Vult asked, inquiring about Sol's past. "You want freedom, more than anything, is that it? You want peace of mind and redemption."

Sol shrugged, giving a monotone grunt. "I prefer more tangible things, like money or weapons."

His dense reply was a facade to hide the fact that his commander was right, however. He did want redemption, he did want freedom from his guilt. He could not express it though, and perhaps he had lost his feelings long ago.

Vult simply laughed at his response. "If you insist, Sol. I would have told you my true answer, what my true dreams are, but I'll tell you once you're honest with me."

Sol gave one final grunt before leaving, but Vult stopped him again.

"By the way, how's Alex?" he asked. "Make sure you take him with you. After all, you seem to make a good pair, just like you did with that Princess Knight."

Sol was confused by Vult's cryptic statement, but brushed it off as a tease as he grunted and left.

Dusk began to settle as the corruption made the atmosphere even more ominous. Vult stared at the intimidating structure that compromised the outer walls of the Black Fortress, standing so close to it that he could see the orcs atop the walls, who glared down at his army. The men stood behind him as they huddled together nervously, gripping tightly onto their weapons as they tried to maintain battle formations, the air thick with tension and fear, but Vult was excited, barely able to contain his nerves as he itched for battle.

"Stand strong, men!" he barked. "Everything we have fought for, everything that we have sacrificed and paid with blood, it'll all pay off if we achieve victory here and now! This is where we change our fates and become living legends!"

The abrasive rallying instilled determination and courage into the men, boosting their confidence as they raised their weapons into the air and shouted, their deafening warcry heard throughout their ranks.

"Who's ready for glory?!" Vult shouted, the men imitating barks of dogs.

"Who's ready for blood?!" The men barked louder.

"Who's ready to fuck?!" The men shouted and clamored as Vult looked on proudly, his greatsword drawn and pointed at the wall.

He closed his eyes as he quietly muttered to himself. "Now it's up to you, Sol."

Battle horns were heard in the distance, followed by the thunderous shouting of men as they charged. Sol knew that the battle had begun, and the fate of Eosita would soon be decided.

"Hey!" Hicks' voice interrupted him. "Focus. We got a job to do."

Sol nodded as he joined Hicks, accompanied by Keane and a small group of men making their way around the perimeters of the castle, far away from where the battle was taking place.

"Keep up, Alex," Sol told Alicia, who trailed behind him.

"How do we even know where this medium is?" Alicia asked worriedly.

"We don't," he answered bluntly. "We just do what we normally do as scouts and find information as we go along."

"While Vult and the others are dying?" she asked worriedly.

"It'll be for nothing if we don't succeed," he explained. "Besides, this is Vult we're talking about. He'll survive."

The group vigorously searched the perimeter, trying to find any signs of where the medium was, though they had no idea where it would be or what it even looked like. Keane's vague description was that it resembled a hollowed out rock, but that did little to help their search. Hours had passed, going well into the night, as the group began to panic and doubt gripped their hearts, knowing that time was against them, and they had to find the medium or else it would be too late.

It was then Alicia noticed a peculiar stone arch not far from the barrier that had faded inscriptions written on it.

"Keane, I found something!" she called out.

Everyone rushed to her spot as Keane inspected the old cobbled stone.

"Well well," he muttered. "Seems to me this is a secret passage sealed with magic."

"Can it get us inside the fortress?" asked Sol.

"Perhaps," Keane guessed. "Or perhaps it could lead to a trap. Regardless, no one's used this passage for quite some time. Maybe the Dark Queen has even forgotten it's existence, if we're that lucky."

"How do we even open it?" Hicks asked. "It's not like there's a door handle."

"Don't be simple minded, it's meant to keep out intruders," Keane pointed. "Luckily, I just so happen to know the spell to unlock it."

Pulling out his thick tome, he flipped through several pages before stopping at a passage, reciting it in his mind before closing his eyes.

"Caer Linge, Rhon y linge, raenn geath a torh salaem."

The inscriptions on the wall suddenly glowed brightly before the stones opened up and revealed the passageway. Everyone stood in shock at the magical show, with Keane smirking, proud of his own work.

"Or as the saying goes, 'open sesame'," he said triumphantly as he adjusted his glasses.

Everyone peered inside the passage. It was dark and narrow, a set of stairs led down, and it was hard to see what was inside. Hicks lit a torch to get a better look, but it did little to help the visibility.

"So," Hicks pointed, "who's going first?"

Everyone nervously looked at each other, hesitant to volunteer.

Without saying a word, Alicia then grabbed the torch from Hicks and marched down the stairs.

Sol grunted, amused at her bravado and followed.

"Cocky motherfuckers," Hicks laughed before ordering everyone else to follow.

With Sol and Alicia at the front and the rest following close, they made the trek down the dark, narrow passage. Everything was eerily quiet, save for the marching of their footsteps and the nervous pacing of their breath. They expected the passage to be dusty and dirty, and even though it wasn't entirely clean, there were clear signs that the passage had been used, meaning that it wasn't completely abandoned. All of them were on high alert, keeping an eye out for traps or ambushes.

After waking for what seemed like hours, the passage then opened up into a room that split into three directions, all of them appearing foreboding.

Before they could decide on where they would go, they heard the clamor of footsteps approaching from two of the passages at the front. They drew their weapons and prepared themselves as pale hairless creatures half the size of a man emerged from the dark, their long arms with elongated sharp claws poised to strike. They gleefully laughed before they attacked.

"Nekkers!" Hicks pointed. "Seems we're going in the right direction if these guys are down here!"

The group desperately fought off the pale creatures, fending them off but slowly losing one man after another as the creatures swarmed them.

The Nekkers could smell the scent on Alicia and realizing that she was female, their rage consumed them and they began to surround her. Though she was an agile fighter and cut them down in numbers, they eventually dragged her down, tearing at her armor and nearly removing her helmet.

Her identity would have been revealed if Sol had not stepped in, cutting the creatures down and saving Alicia.

"There's no end to these fuckers!" Hicks cried, stabbing one Nekker that leapt at him.

"We gotta make a run for it," Keane pointed at one of the passages ahead.

Sol saw the desperate situation they were in and realized that they would be surrounded if they didn't get out fast.

He then reached into his weapon pouch, pulling out a small spiked ball. It was a smaller, portable version of the Grapeshot, given to him by Lulu, and he knew the consequences of using it in such a tiny, cramped area.

Lighting the fuse with his flint, he tossed it into the crowd of Nekkers and braced for the worst.

"Run!"

Everyone did just that as they broke rank and fled past the creatures, but several of the men were unable to make it as the Nekkers swarmed them. The Grapeshot then went off, collapsing the tunnel behind them.

Alicia took a moment to catch her breath, trying to get her bearings after having survived the attack. A hand touched her shoulder as she looked and saw Sol, covered in blood, but alive, to her relief.

"You good, Alex?" he asked her.

She nodded. "Thanks for saving me back there."

Sol only grunted before turning his attention to Hicks and Keane. "You two alright?"

"Would be better if you didn't almost blast us to pieces," Hicks groaned, trying to regain his senses.

"Save it, Hicks," Keane told him. "We're lucky to be alive. Unlike some of us."

Alicia looked at the small group of survivors, their numbers reduced considerably now and the remainder of them weary and injured from the battle.

"We need to find a way out," she pointed.

"Alex is right," Hicks agreed. "But we can't move this many wounded guys at once. Keane, stay here and help as many as you can. Sol, Alex and I will scout ahead for an exit."

The three of them continued onward, trekking through the dark, cramped passage that seemed to go on forever. Just as they began to believe they had gone down the wrong tunnel, a flicker of light suddenly loomed ahead.

Alicia rushed forward, trying to reach the light with Sol and Hicks right behind, all of them eager to have finally found an exit.

As they reached the end, they were suddenly in a large room, the floor paved concrete white and long rows of chains hanging from the towering ceiling. A large hole surrounded the room, it's depths unmeasurable as if it led into the abyss itself. In front of them stood a raised altar with a hollowed out stone, the inside of the rock emitting a powerful glow of light.

"Is that the medium?" asked Hicks.

"It would appear so," Sol answered.

"Let's destroy it!" Alicia urged.

Before they could move forward, a deafening roar caught them off guard.

From out of the depths of the hole, a figure flew past them, moving faster than their eyes could track. It landed in front of them, standing guard between them and the medium, and they saw it's figure in full view.

It resembled a lion, but it was more beastly and feral, with it's brown and golden fur sticking out like barbs. It's mane flowed like flames dancing in the wind and it's eyes glowed like coal. It snarled, baring its large fangs as it brought it's stinger-like tail above it's head, which seemed to have a life of its own. It gave a deafening roar, flapping it's large, bat-like wings that shook the chains hanging from the ceiling and nearly throwing Sol, Alicia and Hicks off their feet.

"It's a goddamn manticore!" Hicks shouted.

Alicia was bewildered. "No kidding! I thought they were all wiped out a hundred years ago!"

"Seems this one survived," Sol remarked. "And it's come to wipe us out."

The three of them prepared themselves as the creature took flight, circling above them and waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Sol drew his bow and shot, but the creature was too fast and easily avoided the projectile. It suddenly swooped down, using it's enormous paws to strike at Hicks and Sol, both of them barely managing to dodge.

Alicia tried to use the opportunity to strike, but it moved too fast for her attack as it came around a second time, diving in like a hawk and swiping it's claws at her, denting her armor as she was thrown to the ground. The manticore then pounced on her, raising its tail to inject its stinger. She couldn't move, pinned down by its sheer weight, and even her armor wouldn't protect her from its venomous stinger.

Suddenly, Sol sprang his chain whip, the hooked end piercing through the beast's fur, though it seemed to enrage it then actually hurt. It turned its attention to Sol and sprinted at him. He tried to retract the whip and move, but the monster was too fast and it was instantly on top of him. Alicia watched in horror as it raised it's stinger and pierced through Sol's armor. Pain instantly shot through his body as he was knocked to the ground by the force of the tail's stinger, rendering him unconscious.

"Sol!" Alicia cried, reaching out for him, but unable to move.

"Hang on, Sol!" Hicks cried as he appeared behind the beast and lunged at it with his sword.

His blade connected, but it barely pierced the thick fur of the creature.

The manticore gave one quick swipe of it's giant paws and sent Hicks flying, and he would have fallen off the edge of the room and down into the hole had he not grabbed one of the hanging chains in time.

Alicia was soon back on her feet, taking a defensive stance as the beast now turned its attention to her.

Things did not look good, and Alicia knew she had to end the fight now. She focused, gripping tightly onto her sword, the sapphire covered underneath the wrapped bandages on the hilt suddenly glowing blue and enveloping her sword.

"Come here!" she yelled, taunting the beast.

It responded with a roar as it took to the air once more and dove in.

With newfound strength and confidence, Alicia quickly moved to meet it's attack, swinging her sword and cutting deeply into one of it's wings.

The beast roared in pain as it landed with a thud, but quickly stood back up despite it's wound. It slowly stalked Alicia, waiting for an opportunity to strike, but she stood her ground as she stared the beast down.

It then rushed in, snarling in anger as it bared its fangs. Alicia swung her sword at the beast, but it deflected her attack with lightning fast paws before lunging in, biting deeply into her arm and rendering her unable to use her sword. Her armor protected her from it's bite, but she could not shake it off as it continued to grip firmly on her.

The manticore raised it's tail to strike at Alicia. She tried to move, but the creature held her steadfast, and the attack was unavoidable as she braced herself.

That's when Sol's blade appeared and severed the tail, spewing bright green blood as the beast roared in pain and let go of it's grip on Alicia.

His head was swollen from where he fell as blood dripped down his half-covered face. Yet he was still able to stand, pointing his sword towards the beast. Alicia was surprised that he was still alive, afraid that the manticore's venomous sting had killed him.

The manticore was heavily wounded, with a severed tail and cut wing, yet was still able to stand up and give a defiant roar.

"Damn thing just won't die," Sol grunted. "Hard to believe they were nearly wiped out, given how ferocious they are."

"There's got to be a way to beat it," Alicia said.

Sol then pointed to the chains hanging low from the ceiling. "We'll tie it like ribbons."

Alicia understood and the two of them split up, circling the beast.

It chased Sol, and even though it was now incapable of flight, it was still fast on his heel. Sol quickly ran to one of the hanging chains, grabbing it and hurling it at the beast. It easily dodged it, however, and nearly pounced on Sol had Alicia not grabbed another one of the chains and wrapped it around it's rear leg, pulling it away.

The beast roared in agitation as it turned its focus on Alicia, but was quickly roped around the neck by another chain casted from Sol.

The manticore struggled, trying to free itself, snarling and biting viciously to keep Sol and Alicia at a distance.

"Hey, you dumb animal!" Hicks called out, saving himself from the pitfall and grabbing a third chain from the ceiling.

He casted it out, wrapping the chain around the beast's front legs and causing it to fall. Now tied in three different directions, the manticore was stuck and had no way to move, giving the three time to finally breath.

"You're a tough son of a bitch to kill, you know that?" Hicks told Sol. "You took on a full dose of venom with that sting and walked it off like nothing."

Sol shrugged. "Seems Lady Lulu's armor prevented it from going through. Dwarven smithy is truly something else. Either that, or I am a tough son of a bitch like you said."

Alicia smiled, glad to see that Sol remained witty and deadpanned, despite having a near death experience.

All three of them then turned their attention to the chained manticore, snarling as it struggled to free itself from it's restraints.

"Now, how do we kill this thing?" Hicks asked. "Even if it's tied up, it's still too dangerous to get close to it."

"Could pelt it with arrows," Sol pointed. "But you saw how thick it's fur is. It's even tougher than an orc's hide."

Alicia took a moment to study the beast. It continued snarling, trying desperately to free itself, struggling even as blood seeped out from its deep wounds, where its tail and wing used to be. Looking deeper into its coal eyes, she began to feel pity on the monster. Though it was a beast, it was still a living, breathing thing, just like the orc general that she had spared before, and she hated that she felt this way.

"Wait," Alicia said as she held a hand up, silencing Hicks and Sol. "It's immobile and tied in chains. Let's leave it for now."

Hicks was baffled. "Huh?! Are you insane?! You're suggesting we leave this thing for it to come kill us later?!"

"I'm suggesting we destroy the medium now while we have the chance and move on," Alicia pointed. "Besides, we can't kill it with any of our weapons, and it can't do anything to us either. It'd be a waste of time trying."

"It'd be a waste if we die because you wanted to let that fucking thing live!" Hicks argued. "You sound alot like that bitchy Princess Knight Alicia! The cunt let an orc general go after we fought so damn hard to survive! I am not letting another enemy go!"

Alicia was then caught off guard when Sol suddenly stepped in to defend her.

"That's enough, Hicks," he said, trying to cut the tension. "Plenty of enemies to fight, there's no need to fight ourselves. Alex is right though. We'll deal with the beast after we destroy the medium."

Hicks was baffled that Sol would defend Alex, but he could not argue with their logic. Just as he conceded, Keane instantly appeared, leading the rest of the surviving men.

"I've said before, you can't destroy that medium without magic," he pointed. "Just like this manticore can't be killed by conventional weapons."

At that moment, he then summoned a large fireball in his hand, burning hotter than the brightest furnaces and chucked it at the manticore. It wailed in pain as fire consumed it's body, searing its flesh and giving off an awful stench that made even Sol winch. Watching the monster die in such cruel circumstances almost made him feel pity for it, but there was nothing he could do, and he saw Alicia, or Alex, feel the same way he did.

Alicia saw the hurt and anger in Sol's dull crimson eyes, as if he tried to contain the anger inside of him.

"You okay?" Alicia asked.

Sol nodded, though he kept silent, making Alicia unaware of his true feelings for her.

"Cocky as always," Hicks snorted at Keane. "Well, we didn't find an exit, but fortunately, we did find what we were looking for."

Keane stepped up to the altar and observed the medium for a while, fascinated at it's design and architecture.

"Looking at this, I've a feeling I could replicate it to be a lot more sophisticated," he muttered to himself. "I'm sure it'll come in handy for future events."

"Stop gawking at it," Hicks reminded. "We've a war to win."

Keane sneered at him before returning his attention to the medium. He looked over the thick pages in his tome and recited the spell on his notes.

"Gaeth dein Gaeth dein, vond aei vor'el datre!"

The light inside the hallowed rock slowly began to lose its glow before fading out. They had all anticipated for something to happen, like a trap to activate, but nothing.

"Did we do it?" asked Alicia.

"I would assume," Keane answered. "Now we just gotta figure a way out and-."

He was then interrupted by the thunderous shaking of the room, rattling the hanging chains from the ceiling and throwing everyone to their feet as pieces of the ceiling began to crumble.

"I knew there would be one last trick here!" Hicks shouted begrudgingly.

"What do we do now?!" Alicia asked frantically.

"I can cast a spell to teleport us out of here," Keane suggested. "Though I must warn you, teleportation magic is a relatively new concept that no one has mastered, and as such, the scattered results may add consequential effects to our predicament."

"Meaning?" asked Sol.

"That we may all appear in random places," Keane explained.

"Anywhere is better than getting crushed to death!" Hicks barked. "Get us out of here!"

Keane frantically looked through his tome, coming across a large block of texts on his notes and quickly repeated the incantations as he casted the spell.

"Hen boolde on gaer, hen boolde miure, mire y aevon a'tgahenre!"

Alicia felt herself become lighter as she found herself surrounded by a circle of light, as well as everybody else. Her vision became warped and blackened, and she felt a forceful tug that seemingly pulled her out of existence, escaping the room just as the ceiling came tumbling down.

AN: had this written for a while, but wasn't satisfied with how it came out and revised it multiple times, and even now, I'm not completely sure it's what I want. Regardless, I hoped you enjoyed reading and thank you for your patience.