"Looks like we're partners again."

Neclaytia looked up and met Monaco's eyes, petrified by his sudden words, "What?"

"Allegretto wants us to head into Orsha. We are doing some…background work."

She crossed her legs while sitting in her chair and placed her slim hands over her lap politely while biting back the urge to repulsively reject their companionship, "Who are we looking into? We have a lead on Corruption's people?"

"Well, he doesn't know if it involves any people from Corruption, but our target is an influential figure in the Slavery Order's success," he leaned his back on the white wall of the dining room and stared at the small glass chandelier hanging down on the high ceiling—just above the rectangular wooden table Neclaytia sat in front of.

The morning light seeping into the wide room from the grand window at the tail of the table slightly illuminated their faces and a faint warmth stretched over Neclaytia's katana that rested on the table. She stared into his eyes, "Who?"

"I'm sure you've heard of Nestea Milhaud, correct? He is a top-tier aristocrat who was appointed as the ruler of the Arena and a devoted follower to Crowley Hamondale. Our mission is simple. We eavesdrop on his current activity and see if we can get any information out of him from afar. There's to be no contact with him or the Enforcers."

"Is that so?" she raised her slender, arched brow. "Papa is asking for too much of us. There will be conflict regardless. We are walking into the Arena division."

Monaco scratched the back of his head and sighed, "I told 'em; however, I'm sure he understands the severity of the situation if we do have conflict with them. Worst case scenario is that we are drafted as slaves in the market after Nestea imprisons us."

Neclaytia stood and grabbed the body of her raven black sheath that held her katana inside, "Then I'll mind my place. We should get moving while it's still morning. It'll only take us an hour to get there."

"I know how long it takes," Monaco slanted his eyes, clearly annoyed.

She placed her sheath against her left shoulder and allowed the tip to point skyward, "Sorry."

He stared at her silently as she stood there, unmoving and solid as if she were glued to the glossy wooden floor. She looked at him again, but she turned her body directly to him and slowly her lips formed into a tight smile, "Um…let's work hard, partner."

He took a few quick steps forward and stared down a little at her, nearly inches from her body and face. She was about to speak up, but Monaco beat her to it and said, "You don't have to force yourself to like me. It's better that you hate me."

With those words, he turned away from her, but she firmly grabbed his scarf and pulled him close, bearing a determined glare as she proudly said, "I'll understand you, Monaco, and when I do, you'll respect me for my accomplishments. I won't let you down this time."

He managed a small smirk and leaned close to her right ear, "I hope that you do please me."

She released him and stepped back while feeling the remnants of his hot, sweet breath tickle her ear and influence her mind from its invasion through her ability to hear. He hid his mouth with his scarf by sinking his head down and trudged out the dining room and turned into the long hallway leading to the living quarters of the other members of Noblesse, but not before saying, "You'll need to prove a lot of things to me before gaining my whole-hearted trust."

Neclaytia relaxed after relieving her body with a long sigh and slumping her shoulders as she traveled up the steps to the balcony in the dining room; however, her right ear felt extremely tense and her face glowed with excitement. She opened the door at the top of balcony and ventured across the long corridor outside that led to her room while pondering on the actions Monaco pursued whenever around her, and how his breath and voice strapped her existence and oddly tortured her heart. He was a mystery and without a doubt a profound young man who has the potential of being an incredible ally. Although Neclaytia only portrayed his flaws and exposed herself to his pessimistic lectures that surely held sound and attention to detail while she presented herself as a gaudy leader who has yet to lead anyone. She ran her fingers through her hair and leaned on the silver railing that was at the edge of the corridor while gazing out at the morning setting. It was all prepossessing from the craggy mountains to the opened field that resided due north of her home that was placed on a cliff.

"Mama," she whispered silently to the air. "I'm finally moving forward. I'm sorry…for the wait."

Neclaytia and Monaco walked together through the dimly lit forest with strict caution, for they had encountered a swarm of Weavers at one of their nests nearby their home. Monaco had dispatched the army of twelve single-handedly and Neclaytia stood and watched his movements as he did so. She imagined him as a swift fighter who took the initiative when the moment was right. With his daggers, he carved forward and quickly darted from targeted to targeted, as if he were a foreign dancer amidst the battlefield. He only gained a scratch; however, he wasn't poisoned by the simple wound since the Weavers, which were spider-like creatures with bobbing dark heads, an oozing green body, and keen shards of teeth, only inflicted their infamous poison by spitting.

Monaco stopped at the base of an oak tree once they were out of the thick section of the Woods of the Linked Bridges. The forest was a mix between civilization and wildlife because every now and then they would come across individuals who lived in stone or wood houses. There were families, but mostly parties of two who were specialized in protecting themselves. Neclaytia disapproved of them living out in the wild, but she had no say in the matter and the silvers needed to maintain a stable lifestyle within Orsha's walls was beyond the grasp of those struggling for a job. The economy had deteriorated once Queen Inesa had plummeted into her comatose state, leaving only her brother, Crowley Hamondale and a few of his retainers to circulate the money flow and business. They controlled everything within the city; however, they controlled less over the entire kingdom. They served to dominate the home of Orsha and flesh out the weary bones of the civilians who are occasionally on the border of becoming slaves. It was their intention to make them suffer so that they could result to the life of a slave. Everyone in Orsha knew of this tactic and fought against it, but those who go against Crowley Hamondale meet a very dreadful ending by rotting in prison for treason or slain for their questionable ignorance.

"We should be close to Orsha now," Monaco said as he jogged up the hill nearby the oak tree he stood by.

Neclaytia followed after him and together, they gazed out at the astronomically-sized city that was impaled with a few long buildings stacked with rows of windows and paved with endless cobblestone roads that was invaded by the locals. Neclaytia stared silently while analyzing the city's famous landmark with interest. At the very core of the city was the Sword of Dawn. It was another relic bestowed upon the humans like the Shield of Dawn located in Klaipeda. The ancient sword was similar to a skyscraper as the faintly glowing golden blade jarred open the city floor while the grip and hilt touched the clouds. It was a monument for the deceased and a symbol of Orsha's strength and pride. Dievas had given the relic to the first king, Ordain Hamondale, for his bravery in assisting in the war between the Crimson Knights and the Shade.

Monaco broke the silence as he pointed at the source of the sudden burst of rambunctious shouting that echoed over the land, "It seems that there is a match going on at the Arena."

Neclaytia narrowed her gaze at the circular establishment that contained thousands of people and she sensed an unfitting degree of evil intent coming from the coliseum-like building. It rested in a separate section from the heart of city that was walled off in a straight line. It was composed of aristocrats and thriving businesses that gained many attractions, including the home of Crowley and Inesa Hamondale.

The city was split into four groups. The main city, which was barred off from the rest of city by a thick wall was called Noble's Division. On the left of the Noble's Division was the Emporium, which was a mixture of residential houses and markets. Way south of the Emporium is Nightfall, which was a sector of low-rate houses and even had a large cemetery that was all made underneath the stretching ancient cliff that towers over that area. It was hardly graced with the light of the sun and was often deemed as the outcast society that usually birthed slaves. Then finally, on the right of Noble's Division is the Bargainer's Society that held many places such as the Arena, which was the main attraction and it amused most of the aristocrats, for they betted on slaves who are compelled to fight in order to live another day for silvers.

"I guess we're off to the Bargainer's Society then," Neclaytia said as she slowly descended the hill, but stopped once she noticed the attentive eyes of a man who stood by the nearest oak tree, "Oh?"

Monaco looked back at her and noticed the man as well, "Do you have business with us?"

"Oh, just two kids, eh? I'm just passing through," the man's eyes blazed as he spoke. "Don't mind me."

"Are you heading into Orsha?" Neclaytia asked while running her eyes over his crimson hair that resembled a scorching sea as it touched against his firm cheeks and nearly swept over his looming gale irises.

He answered quickly, "I am. I have business there."

Monaco passed Neclaytia and said, "Come on, Neclaytia. We need to do what we came here for."

Neclaytia walked after Monaco, "Um, nice seeing you, mister! H-Hey, wait for me, Monaco!"

Monaco turned on his heels suddenly and Neclaytia ran into him unintentionally. He wrapped his arms around her and together, they slammed against the ground. Monaco popped his head up and glowered at the man who edged closer to them. The tattered dark cloak he was dressed in swept violently to the foul air that surrounded him and by doing so, it revealed the darkness that consumed a partially amount of his body. Neclaytia stared at the man carefully as the hungry shadow eating his skin snuck up his neck, but stopped once it was over his slanting chin. Monaco glanced back at the invisible tree that was evaporated in a single instant and back towards the man, "Who are you and what do you want from us?"

"Neclaytia and Monaco, was it?" the man's smile was corrupted by strife and the influence which toyed with his emotions. "You two are a part of Noblesse, correct?"

Neclaytia moved herself into a crouching form and clutched the grip of her katana, "Who's asking? Are you an Enforcer?"

"Enforcer? What the hell is that?" the man's brows furrowed. "I asked you two a question and I expect an answer."

"We don't have to—"

"Yes, we're with Noblesse," Neclaytia said without hesitation, but had to settle with the burning gaze of Monaco for her blurting an answer. "You are?"

"Kids these days are impolite to their elders," the man sighed and ruffled his hair. "The name's Kuroi. We're allies. I just had to make sure you were the real deal."

"Allies? What if we were civilians?!" Monaco stared harshly.

"Then R.I.P. to them," Kuroi grinned sinisterly. "There's no place for weaklings in this messed up world."

"You said we were allies, correct?" Neclaytia stood. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, that's right," he pressed his balled hand against his chin, as if thinking thoughtfully about something significant. "You two weren't filled in on the whole process of eliminating the Slavery Order. It has been a few days since that job you had in Lema if I'm correct, and the following day, my comrades and I met with Allegretto. You see, we are here to help end the Slavery Order as well. We were called on by the leader of Singularity who is rebelling against the system. He is a fellow revelator like myself and my friends, and we want to get rid of it before it spreads over the continent."

"R-Revelators?!" Neclaytia gasped. "You are…one of the heroes of the continent."

He questioned her sparkling eyes that scanned over him, "I'm guessing we're cool now? You got a weird girlfriend, bro."

"I'm not his girlfriend!" Neclaytia snapped.

Kuroi smirked slyly as she gazed hotly at him, "That's more like it. You should be hating me. Now, we should get going, noobs."

"Noobs?" Neclaytia's eyes popped open. "Is that some type of revelator slang? Sounds awesome~!"

"It's not. I say that because I'm the expert here and you guys are more so my pupils," Kuroi mocked her with a simple smile and ruffled her hair.

"Ooh~. I'm the pupil to a hero now!" her face glowed brightly.

Monaco stepped between them, "Hands off."

Kuroi's eyes gleamed with excitement and his mouth formed oddly into a leering smile, "Oh~. You don't like that, do you?"

"No fighting," Neclaytia pressed her arm against Monaco, forcing him away from Kuroi.

"How can we just trust him? Revelator or no, he just tried to kill us."

Kuroi scratched the back of his head and waved his other hand, that was still plagued with darkness, dismissively, "You didn't even see where I was aiming. You're a drama queen, man. Loosen up and follow suit like your girlfriend here…or do I need to knock you down some?"

Monaco glared while gritting his teeth, "Watch who you're—"

Neclaytia grabbed his cheeks with her hand and it silenced him immediately. She smiled politely at Kuroi, "Don't mind him, Kuroi. We must get moving. Shall we?"

"I see who the leader is here," Kuroi chuckled and walked past them, heading further down the sloping hill that connected with the sea of trees. "Let's go, noobs, we're losing daylight."

Neclaytia released Monaco's cheeks, "You have a really bad temper."

"Says the girl who can't lead anyone."

Neclaytia brushed off his insult, "You'll have to do more than that now, Monaco. I don't bend so easily like you."

"I liked you better when you hated me," he sighed.

"Oho~. Finally confessing I see," she winked at him and playfully stabbed his ribs with her balled hand.

He clenched his teeth to the sharp pain and glowered at her back once she ran off after Kuroi, "Damn girls. I swear, I get stuck with the annoying ones."

He trudged off after them, but his eyes softened once he stared up at the gentle clouds that stretched and molded together, "I wonder what she would think of me now that I'm going against the Slavery Order. It would have been better if I had rebelled sooner."