Water droplets splashed into a large basin as Leona washed the streaks of grime and dirt from her face and the rest of her body. Stepping out of the small compartment that served as her bath, she dried her sore body and redressed herself in clothes less warlike than the armor she donned during combat. Dressing in a tunic and a set of loose pants, Leona opened the door that lead from the small bath section of her modest dwelling and walked slowly to her bed. Slowly, she laid her exhausted body among the covers.

The Rite of Rakkor was tomorrow. Finally, the day had come in which she would have to make the most of the years of training with Pantheon. The day in which she would have to temporarily forsake her very own ideals by shedding the blood one of her own tribesmen. She could not help but feel doubt arise in her mind whenever she thought about carrying out the deed. Though Pantheon had given her a very grave warning about the importance to compromise her values solely for this occasion several days ago, she could not help but feel nervous and conflicted. On one hand, the realistic side of her knew that the Rakkorian elders would, without a doubt, put her to death should she refuse to follow the traditions of the Rite. Pantheon had confirmed it and she had already heard enough from her parents to know it would be a gruesome fate to suffer. The age-old Rakkorian traditions would not be broken so easily.

But she could not help but feel a glimmer of hopefulness about a possible change. She was, after all, considered to be one of the most well versed Rakkor in combat for several generations, right behind Pantheon. Would the elders really destroy such talent that rarely appeared? Wouldn't such destruction violate the mantra of preserving the best students who mastered the art of war?

Leona groaned and rubbed her temples.

There were simply just too many questions running through her head right now. It certainly would not do her any good to ponder them now; she would deal with her problems as they arose. But right now, she simply needed sleep to refocus her mind. Shaking her head to clear the images from her mind, Leona extinguished the candle by her bedside and closed her eyes, slowly falling into a peaceful slumber.

But as she slept, an image of a bright sun shimmering proudly among the peaks of Mount Targon would not leave her mind. A large bird extended its expanse wings, catching the expanse of the sunlight among its plumage. With each moment, its rays shone brighter and brighter until she could see nothing at all…

Pantheon watched the light go out in Leona's hut from a distance. Wrapped in a dark cloak, he gazed a moment longer at the small building in the distance before silently turning away, the gravel crunching beneath his feet. He walked in the general direction of his own hut but stopped to gaze at the silken night sky, admiring the stars that shimmered through the blanket of darkness. He drew in a deep breath of the cold mountain air, filling his lungs with very needed oxygen, sighing as he exhaled.

"Can't sleep my boy?"

Pantheon turned to the voice. From the shadows a man emerged, also shrouded in a dark cloak and the shadows from the mountain tops. Yet unlike Pantheon, this man carried himself with the step of one who had seen and experienced many suns of war rather than one of an ambitious and aspiring warrior.

"Elder Aurelius" Pantheon bowed respectfully, "It is good to see you. Though, it is strange to for you to be out among the tribesmen this late at night."

Aurelius chuckled lightly, "The same could easily be said for you young one. Are you not participating in the Rite tomorrow? You should be resting and preparing for it no? Though, I do have a feeling you will not encounter too much trouble."

Pantheon shifted uncomfortably, casting a quick glance at Leona's dark hut in the distant background. "Well...it is not my own fate that has kept me awake and about," He began apprehensively, "The customs performed in the Rite of Kor do not bother me. I am confident that I can defeat any who are opposed to me. But rather, I worry about another who I fear will not survive the trial."

Elder Aurelius looked questioningly towards the hut in which Pantheon had placed his gaze. "Is it that fellow Rakkorian that you fear for? If I do recall, that young woman's name who resides there is Leona, a fearsome fighter even among ourselves. I've even heard rumors that her prowess was equal to yours; certainly no easy feat to achieve. Why would you be worried abou-"

Suddenly, understanding dawned on the elder's face, "I see now. She is the one that all of the other elders have informed me about. The one who often refuses to seriously wound her own comrades, even in the face of her own degradation. The one who would rather raise her shield than throw a spear. She is interestingly unique and strong in her ideals, something that I can certainly respect. She is also one of your only close companions is she not?"

Pantheon nodded slowly. Elder Aurelius was one of the few Rakkorian mentors who had never critiqued Leona for her diverging ideas among the tribe. In fact, he had often quietly applauded Leona's bravery and conviction to stand by her different ideals. Aurelius was unafraid to recognize the bravery among her choice to dissent, even if the recognition was very unpopular among the other elders. It was for this reason that Pantheon often talked to and confided in Aurelius rather than the other leaders of the Rakkor. For Pantheon, Elder Aurelius often served as a beacon of reason and understanding among the midst of the occasional madness that combat brought down upon him. He always willing to listen to Pantheon as a human rather than a paragon of war. Though Aurelius could resort to combat just as well as the any Rakkorian, he often took to reasoning with others rather than draw arms.

Aurelius turned quietly to look at the arena where the Rite was to take place tomorrow. A tribe-wide spectacle, many would come to see the birthing and recognition of the Rakkor's strongest warriors.

"I can understand your concern. And you believe she intends to purposely forfeit the fight in order to uphold the creed of her beliefs?"

Pantheon grunted in confirmation. "I've already given her a deep of a warning as I could. Leona seemed to understand then, but it's doubtful she would truly act on those words." Pantheon fingered his sword worriedly, looking at the Rakkorian elder directly in the eye, crimson eyes meeting dark ones.

"Leona may be hopeful, but I am able to see the reality of the situation as it is. The other elders will uphold the tradition of death for those who refuse to finish their opponents. I cannot and will not let her die such a cruel death, Elder Aurelius. Her parents may and her so called comrades may abide by the tradition, but I will not stand idly by as she is cut down like an animal. If they would end her life, they would have to take the brunt of my fury first."

Pantheon's clenched his jaw tightly, his teeth grinding together as his words jumbled to a stop. He did not understand why he suddenly felt so strongly about Leona's fate. She was his companion of course, but he was a symbol of Rakkor tradition. Pantheon was supposed to be a model figure for many elite warriors among the tribe. Would he break the very rules that molded him and made him what he was simply for her sake? If he did, it could create pandemonium among the other warriors as well, which in turn could lead to chaos and disorder. Additionally, Pantheon had always believed that the strongest would survive and the weak would die; such was the natural belief of things among many Rakkor. If Leona died in the trial, wouldn't that mean she was not strong enough to deserve life? But for some strange reason, Pantheon had a deep sensation that this was a completely different circumstance altogether. Though he was unable to exactly pinpoint the reason for his belief, he knew it was of great importance for him to follow it. It was fine if he did not know the reason for it now; that could come later. For now, it was vital for him to embrace the impulses that resonated.

Elder Aurelius stroked his beard thoughtfully at Pantheon's outburst.

Such a strange occurrence for such a normally calm warrior. Truly, it seems that their companionship could blossom into so much more. Though, it is somewhat early for either of them to truly identify it the causes of it.

He hid a small smile at the thought. Returning his mind to the issue at hand, Aurelius placed a gentle hand on the young man's shoulder.

"Very well Pantheon, I understand the severity of your position. What would you have me do to assist you? It certainly would not be beneficial to have you fighting members of the Rakkor. You are, after all, slated to be a leader among our people."

Pantheon slowly relaxed, the tension in his jaw slowly eased as he pondered for a moment, then quietly asked, "I do have faith in Leona that she will carry out and complete her trial. But the possibility still exists she would not. If that situation occurs, I have one thing to ask of you."

Pantheon paused and glanced warily at the elder. What he was about to ask was going to sound very insane. It was likely that Aurelius would reject what he had to ask of him. But regardless, Pantheon pushed forward with this request.

He took a breath to steady himself.

"If that situation should happen, would you be willing to use your power to stop the other elders from carrying out the execution of Leona?"

Aurelius's gray brows furrowed deeply at the question. It was, without a doubt, a very demanding request. Elders had always upheld the tradition, and dissent was unheard of in the entire history of the Rakkorian elders during the Rite. It had never ever been done before. It was likely that no one would even know what to do if Aurelius did dissent; simply because no one had even bothered to address that part of Rakkorian regulations. But, if he did push against the norms of the Rite, there was a chance that it could be successful. He was an influential leader among many of the Rakkor and he wielded substantial political power. And there could always be a first time for everything. Besides, risking confusion among tradition to save these two great generational warriors seemed worthy of the risk.

"Very well," Aurelius conceded after several tense minutes, "I shall protect your companion should the need arise. I believe I can persuade the other elders to behold reason in my argument. No need to fret, your companion will be safe my boy."

Ina rare gesture of deep gratitude, a very humbled and somewhat surprised Pantheon bowed his head deeply.

"Thank you for your assurance and assistance Elder Aurelius. I recognize that it is difficult to make a decision such as the one you have made so easily for me right now. I will never forget what you have done for me on this night. Your reason has once again come to my aid. You shall have my loyalty and my respect for a lifetime."

The elder chuckled once more, "Very well Pantheon, I shall keep that in mind. But you should give your abiding loyalty only when I have fulfilled my promise no? No need to be too rash. But that is beside the point. It is quite late. It's important to return home and rest for the battle tomorrow, even for one as skilled as you."

Pantheon stood and nodded. "Very well. I shall see you tomorrow at the Rite."

He turned to leave, the gravel crunching once more underneath his sandals. As he distanced himself from the elder, he heard the elder call his name once more.

"Oh, and Pantheon."

Pantheon turned towards the elder once more. Aurelius looked at him with a look of what could be nearly described as amusement.

"You've realized it haven't you? Or is it still beyond your sight?"

Pantheon frowned in confusion, "What are you talking about Elder Aurelius?"

The old man smiled broadly to himself as he turned away and gazed the dark sky, but spoke just loudly enough for the warrior to hear him.

"Why do you think you struggle so much to secure Leona's future but no one else's? Why do you go such lengths, risking your own being for her? I would assume someone such as yourself would be clever enough to know what is happening to you. Isn't is obvious my boy?"

"I…I still don't understand. What are you saying?"

Aurelius could not repress his smile at Pantheon's obliviousness.

"Don't you see? You're in love with her Pantheon."

He froze, shock at the Elder's words paralyzing his body, the normally level headed warrior's face lighting ablaze as words stuck uselessly to his tongue.

What?!

He could only watch in a confused daze as he Aurelius disappeared into the shadows of the night.

I'm in…love? What in Targon does he mean by that?!

Pantheon lay quietly in the darkness of his quarters. He gazed absentmindedly at the dents and scratches on the sword and shield that leaned against the wall near the foot of his bed. Tomorrow, one way or another, he would decide his course of fate during the Rite and the honors that would be bestowed upon him.

But other things laid heavy on his mind. He could not stop himself from replaying the Elder's words in his head over and over again. It was as if the very act of speaking those words had etched themselves into the core of his mind.

"Don't you see? You're in love."

"In love Pantheon"

He shook his head. Bah. Elder Aurelius does not make any sense. Love? Between me and her? Perhaps the Elder has truly gone senile. There is no so called "love" exchanged between us. Besides, I am only a training companion to her. Someone to assist her in honing her skills as a warrior. Nothing more. Nothing less.

For some reason, the very thought pricked at him, and a surge of strangely unexpected dissatisfaction welled in his chest at the things that ran through his mind. The thoughts ate at him, causing turmoil among the things jumbled in his head.

Enough was enough. Pantheon pulled the covers above his head and successfully shook away the thoughts that the elder had planted within him. For now, he should focus on the task at hand; a task that was becoming a reality with every passing minute, unlike the new situation which he had encountered. Tomorrow, he would find whether or not that task would present itself to him. Leona's time of reckoning was quickly approaching; and he would see to it that she came of out of it with the glory and honor that she deserved.

But as Pantheon slept, he could not shake a feeling of foreboding, as if something or someone was slowly emerging from an unknown place. It was like the cold breeze in the winter that often sifted among the cracks in his armor and chilled his bones to their very being. It was slow, yet it was relentless, slowly moving among every weakness until it found the perfect point to penetrate. The thing moved inhumanly, light shining upon its exterior, yet Pantheon could sense a undeniable presence of malice behind the facade. He heard the familiar clashing of blades around him, and the sound of the defeated being vanquished underneath the force of the metal. Then, there was nothing but silence and an all consuming blackness around him. But as a slumber enveloped Pantheon in its embrace, he heard an unmistakable cry rip through the sphere of silence.

Leona...

Author's Headcanons and Notes:

Pantheon might be one hell of a warrior, but we all know he's clueless when it comes to defining and recognizing relationships among his peers. I mean c'mon, he spends all of his time training. Leona would be similar as well ,though she is more attuned to the feelings of those around her given her ideals. And of course, Aurelius is the cool old mentor all great main characters need!

Please leave a review to et me know if you are enjoying the story so far or have something you want to say! I would love to know what you think and the feedback is great.

A thank you to those who have come to support me so far :). It's great motivation for me to know that you guys really enjoy my story. I appreciate you guys and your reviews from the bottom of my heart.

-Until next time,

C. Geng