The Palace of the Sun was quiet, Avad had ordered for the noble's to postpone their visit. A sight that would surely bite him back later.

The gloomy King slouched in his throne, Janeva's voice ringing in his mind constantly.

'A bad guy who left his friend to death'

He could feel a headache form, as he drew his thumbs to the middle of his eyebrows.

"He murdered Kadaman!"

Avad's voice grew hoarse as he screamed in the face of his childhood friend. Rage filled the prince as he brought down a fist. Successfully making contact with the other mans cheek.

Nil could only smile at the raving prince. "Hit me all you want, but is that really going to bring back your dead brother."

Avad's heart grew tight as he reached for his sword and aimed it at the visibly disarmed Nil.

"I'll kill you."

Nil lifted his arms in a baffled manner, "Why are you killing me when you should kill your father?"

Avad's hand shook with all the hatred in his being. He wanted Nil to flinch, to cry, to feel the emotions that coursed through his own self.

"You've been working with my father, you probably plotted my brothers death didn't you!"

Nil could only take in the anger that Avad was pushing on him. They both knew why Kadaman was put to death. His sword drew closer, but Nil made no move to retreat. An action that made Avad feel more disgusted by him.

"Stop creating enemies and search for those who are like you."

The air whistled in both men's ears as blood seeped from Nil's hand as he countered Avad's sword.

His steel eyes matching the glint of the unsharpened blade. Slowly lowering the sword Nil let go of his death grip.

Avad's eyes burned with the threat of tears. Feeling sick to his stomach at the position they were in. He thought of him as his own brother. The trio that were inseparable.

How much Avad admired the man standing in front of him with blood dripping down his fingertips.

The final betrayal began to drench him like another wave. His thoughts devouring him recklessly.

Metal clanged to the floor as Avad once again made contact with his fist. "You aren't my brother anymore, you never were and you never will be."

Nil could taste the metallic of his blood from his cut lip. He pondered if this was the pain that Avad felt. The rejection from his friend hurt him far greater than the pain than those in the palace inflicted on him.

"I have an expedition to Cinnabar Sands tomorrow."

The anger that engulfed Avad simmered as he gave up on his friend. He laughed bitterly as he pushed past Nil. He could not even get an ounce of grief out of him before he started on about his fathers plans.

"I hope there are no survivors."

"Avad."

His eyes fell out of the trance he was in. His vision of the mesa obscured by the huntress in front of him. A sight that made him fall into one of comfort.

"Aloy, I apologize I was off daydreaming."

She crossed her arms and took in the slouched king. "Everyone seems to be daydreaming lately."

"Are you alright? I heard you pushed away the nobles today, something unheard of coming from the great Avad."

Leaning against the guard rail she narrowed her eyes at her friend who obviously seemed distress.

"I guess part of you is rubbing off me."

He offered her a cheeky smile, which in return earned him a raised eyebrow.

Sighing Aloy took in the quiet atmosphere. The usual amount of guards also seemed to reduced at this time of day. A change she barely picked up on.

"The quest you've given me has had no progress whatsoever here, perhaps it's time I set out again?"

The thought of her leaving made his already sulked mood deepen. After so long of waiting for her, she's already setting out to leave from his grasp.

She was like a bird to him.

A beautiful creature that the darker part of him wanted to keep by his side forever. A tragic decision, but ultimately knowing she would have a better life out in the wild.

However he knew it wouldn't stop him from trying. "How far will you go this time?"

Aloy looked down from the guardrail, taking in the bliss feeling of her hair being caressed by the wind. Unknowingly having a secret admirer of it from behind.

"I'll spend a few day's in the Sundom, if I hear anything else I'll travel there if not I'll be back before you know it."

She turned her head around to face him, his earlier distress seemed to fade away.

"Meridian is like a second home to me Avad, the first will always be the wild."

With that she smiled once more at him and slowly made her descend down the palace.

Motioning a guard over he requested to speak with the Blameless Marad. "Tell him to resume the meetings with the nobles."

"What killings must I carry out next?"

The question sounded more like a statement. But the tone of his voice was much more understanding with the old man. Who sat on the ground crushing tea leaves at an ever so slowly pace.

"The real question is must you carry out more killings."

The response did not amuse Nil in the slightest as he stared out the sloppily cut window.

The sound of leaves being grinded came to an abrupt stop. A wrinkled hand gently picked up a pipe and let ablaze the tip. Smoke soon filled the room as he just watched the hunter in front of him lean against the wall.

"An unlucky soul you are."

Nil looked down at the older male, "I'm living the dream life old man."

A small chuckle morphed into a bitter cough as the elder got up. "There is general you must guard, he'll leave Meridian to Sunfall in a few days."

There was a pregnant pause as the only sound in the room came from the elders pipe. Who watched the still hunter under a stern gaze.

"His name is General Kieran, a man on our side." He took in the markings on Nil's face and signature armor. "He'll treat you as a guard and nothing else."

Saying what he had to say, the old man turned to exit out the rundown home.

"I'll need a disguise."

The door creaked open as the hot wind from the desert made its way in. The old man side glanced at his ally, "Then get one."

"Leaving already huntress? And here I thought we were just getting to know one another."

That sultry voice could only belong to one person Aloy thought. Lacing up her boots Aloy threw back a smile at the dark skinned woman.

"Hey Vanasha."

"You sure know how to break the hearts of the men besides you."

Aloy snorted at the absurd statement. She was only leaving for a few days, everyone knew her as the machine tamer. The red haired huntress who travelled the lands.

"Sounds more like you than me Vanasha."

Vanasha swayed around the room, judging how fancier it was than her own. "I don't know about that, I seem to keep every man happy."

Aloy snorted at the remark. "Update me on how things are when I return back."

Vanasha grinned down at her, "On the men or Meridian?"

Pushing past Vanasha Aloy yelled behind her, "Meridian!"