That Smile...

The next day...

Tigreal along with his subordinates embarked on a journey to the Enchanted Forest to find the tribe where the Dawn Maiden is living. It was a very bright day and the skies were so clear. Joy and happiness filled the corners of the land as the rays of the sun beamed among the clouds with great glory and honor.

The trees were waving timidly as the northern winds blew among them and as every leaf falling from the trees brushes on Leomord's pale cheeks, it was the kiss of nature itself. Walking amidst of the tress and grasses, Leomord also had been looking for the Dawn Maiden at the same forest. Awakened by his own realization, he seeks to find his own balance expecting that he could gain some hint of the truth about the extent power inside him when he could meet the Dawn Maiden. Walking for an hour through the grasses, Leomord saw a small village ahead. He felt the presence of the intense chaotic and light energy struggling to engulf one another, this must be the Dawn Maiden's power, but not certain though. He continued to walk towards the village. As Leomord gets closer, the energy inside him fluctuates leading him to a nearly unconscious state of mind and entirely losing all of his senses. Walking unevenly, every fiber of his being yearned to sacrifice everything just to grasp that enormous power drawing him, enticing him, killing him. He peeked through the bushes and saw a very beautiful young maiden with a short-golden-black hair and glamouring eyes, her smile attracting everyone that visualizes it and a kissable lips, red and fresh.

Leomord could not contain the beauty of the young maiden, he is slowly losing his sense of reality, captivated by her aura, left standing and astonished. The young maiden turned around noticing him standing, she flips her short-golden-black hair and smiled at him. "A good day to you, sir!" The young maiden said and smiled knowingly.

"Is-is this a-a dream?! Am I dreaming?!" Leomord has been completely devoured by the strong aura of the beautiful young maiden. The young maiden walks closer towards Leomord and places her hand on his chest. "I can sense, strong will from you sir! What must be thy reason for you being here?" The young maiden asks as she feels both of their energy colliding with each other. Strings are coiled, a fiery flame from the heavens have been boiled, melting the rotten flesh in his heart, tying the straws of life and hope and forever will not part. A moment later, the Moniyans appeared. Tigreal's probing eyes and sensibility to auras, he felt the presence of Leomord and the Dawn Maiden and he ordered his troops to separate ways for inspection.

Leomord touches the face of the Dawn Maiden, it was so smooth and silky, a face of an angel! Yes, it is. She smiles, kill me with that smile, I'm all yours! A goddess you are! Leomord was about to draw his lips towards her lips, closes his eyes. The Dawn Maiden's cheeks turned red and close her eyes, she never felt anything like this before! It is just like a dream! A sweet dream. In a sudden moment, the ferocious Tigreal leaped, swung his shield, and pummeled Leomord on the side. Leomord flew out of balance and crashes on the ground from a devastating blow. The young maiden falls on her knees in shock. "Stay away from him! He's the hell knight that everyone's talking about! He'll kill you!" shouted Tigreal and throws Leomord a strong strike with his sword but Leomord manages to dodge it but still, Leomord is at the point of a disadvantage since he is mentally and physically unable to carry the fullness of his body. Tigreal's slash knocked him, bouncing off the ground hitting his head hard on a rock. The petrified young maiden shook her head and yelled, "Stop! Please!" But Tigreal wouldn't mind her shouting. "At last we meet again! Now I'll take this day as a chance to kill you with my own bare hands and to avenge my fallen comrades!" Tigreal spoke with a fierce look.

Leomord's still unconscious and is difficult to stand on its knees. The power of light surging on Tigreal's sword, his eyes filled with the flames of vengeance. When he was about to strike Leomord, an elvish demon appeared very fast and strikes him first but Tigreal manages to block and dodge the demon's attack with his shield but the impact of the strike pushes him back a few meters slightly scarring his shield. The demon elf picked up Leomord and leaped away leaving Tigreal and the young maiden unharmed.

"Are you alright?" Tigreal asked the young maiden. "Yes!" the young maiden, losing that chance turned into sadness, playing in her eyes. "Is this somewhat they call Love? I can feel my body dazing in happiness as I've felt that moment! My heart was pumping fast and I couldn't move as he slowly draws his lips towards mine." The young maiden blushed. Her pale white cheeks slowly turning into red "What just happened to you milady?" Tigreal kneeling down asking the young maiden. "Nothing!" She chuckled.

Leomord while on their escape with the elf demon, keeps on mumbling, "That smile... That smile..." then closes his eyes thinking of that beautiful moment. Parting is such sweet sorrow. His dead heart has been awakened by such strong incomprehensible energy. "My heart... this happiness... that smile gave me this everlasting happiness!", Leomord mumbled. "Your sword's really heavy! I'll be dropping us for a while so that we can take some rest." The elf demon growled while leaping among the trees. They crashed on a nearby river surrounded by big withered trees and dark-scorched grass. Both got up and rested at the riverside. "The water flows from the river of the Swan Castle onto the river of the Dark Abyss. The water here is not what you think it is though! It is poison. Anyone who drinks water from here will eventually die, withered." The demon elf explained. Leomord sulking in the corner of a stone, still thinking deeply, "I never seen this place before." Leomord replied. Looking somewhere out of the dark trees. "It all started with the first great war. The river from Swan Lake served as the medium of transportation for the Moniyan Empire to the Oasis. I was, not really what you think I am those days. My elders told me that it was armageddon! The Lord of the Light and The Lord of the Dark Abyss fought each other and destroyed half of the Land including Swan Lake. A deus ex machina intervened and stopped both the Lords by draining their powers. Fearing of getting all of their powers devoured, both Lords retreated. But claiming half of the Land. Boundaries were set and all of that happened." the elf demon turned and saw Leomord mumbling on its own, she got angry. "Hey! Are you listening!?" the demon elf shouted. Suddenly, Leomord drops to the ground unconscious. "Darn it you—" sighed, she carried Leomord and his sword, "Selena by the way." the demon elf gazes at Leomord's face and smiles.