Chapter 2: Preparations before the trip

Two weeks passed since the attack at the end of the banquet, things in the family palace were hectic. From what I heard many heads rolled, however most were simply disposable pawns.

The accident was not openly reported, but people realized that something happened because the Grand Duchy knights and Imperial Knights roamed the streets and questioned many people with influence in the slums.

Obviously it was discovered that the culprit was from the crown prince's faction, and their goal was to kill me or if they had the chance kidnap me.

The spy who escaped into the labyrinth was caught by the lady who was in charge of training me to defend myself (although I already suspected it, she turned out to be an assassin under the direct command of my father), he was hiding inside the territories of a marquis. Both heads rolled after the interrogation and the marquis' family lost their name, causing them to become simple commoners.

This upset the crown prince's faction, because my father mercilessly cut off the marquis' head when what he had to do was to bring him to trial for sentencing. The complaints were for abuse of power, and that someone who killed so easily could not have such a high position in society. However, with the support of the emperor, he made the complaints cease.

Giving an audience in the palace with the people of the Imperial Court my father declared: "Anyone who tries to harm my daughter will die by my hands, be it a prince or the pope himself" was an obvious threat to the crown prince.

And with this he only caused more controversy, yet I felt that he was doing all this for a deeper reason than just provoking his rivals.

***

Looking out of one of the windows of the main dining room (where my father and I eat) I was lost in my thoughts.

I had murdered three people, but try as I might I can't generate any emotion from that moment, whenever I think about it something more disturbing comes to my mind.

The cawing of crows.

Had I misheard? Or perhaps some had come from deep in the forest?

I still don't tell my father about what I heard, although I think he should have heard it too, but maybe he doesn't want to talk to me about it because I'm young.

For as long as I can remember I dream about crows at least once a month, when I was younger I told my father about it and he said it was normal for me to dream about crows, because of that I didn't give it any more importance. But as I grew up I realized that people are too afraid of crows, because of a certain witch that devastated the east of the continent, people's fear of crows was such that they were practically driven to extinction.

However, some people claim to have seen them, although perhaps they were confused because they only knew them from old stories or something like that. The last sighting of a raven in the empire was more than forty years ago and it was one that had been bought by a nobleman, unfortunately for him his lands were confiscated and he was imprisoned for six years. Just for having a raven.

While I was lost in my thoughts the door opened and my father walked in. He had a very tired face, he has been like this for several days.

-Good morning father, I hope you were able to rest last night," I say as I look at him with sincere concern.

-Good morning Desi, I have," it was obviously a blatant lie but I wasn't going to question it. He sits down and we begin to eat in silence. After a while he speaks again - Do you know why the Athanatos are so strong?

An unexpected question, however that's what I was taught -It's because the church blessed the family for helping to end... - noticing my doubt my father speaks.

-With Korákia Mágissa. -My father sighs and looks at his hands that were on the table -that is what we are taught and what people who investigate can get to know, however do you know the real reason? you don't need to hold back.

Hesitating a little, I decide to say everything I know.

-The real reason is that the Church cursed us with the "blessing of exchange" of the God Ignis granting us more strength, speed, intuition, and all kinds of ability that can be used to kill in exchange for having a leash tied to the Emperor and the Pope of the religion of Ignis but the "blessing of exchange" disappeared along with the religion of Ignis thanks to Korákia Mágissa.

This information was something I had been told by the lady who is in charge of teaching me, she said that I had to know the truth so that I can make decisions of my own free will.

The fact that the Empire of Gigantas had an agreement with the Religion of Ignis never came out to the public, the Empire funded the Church's research in exchange for the Church being able to get a soldier who is blindly loyal to the Emperor and invincible in battle. It took over a hundred years to be able to create such a monster who was trained by the Church and then delivered to the Gigantas Empire as a noble from another continent coming to settle in the Empire.

-Exactly, every time an Athanatos kills someone the temptation to do it every time he has the chance is too great, that's why our family had many incidents in trainings.

-I still didn't feel it.

-It's because you don't have a sword in your hands. The family sword was blessed by the Religion of Theos, so it not only takes away my need to kill, but also lets me think reasonable when I am close to the Emperor.

-Father couldn't control his thoughts when he was near the Emperor?

-That's right, I guess it didn't happen to you when after killing the assassins we went to say goodbye to the Emperor... it's like she said.

-She?

-Desi, do you know who your mother is?

I look at him in surprise, an abrupt change of subject and something my father never talked about in my seven years of life. Although I asked him about her many times, he never told me, and anyone who talked to me did not even hint about her, it was a taboo in the whole kingdom.

Hesitantly I answer him -I think her name was Arketa, but nothing more.

-So you found out her name in spite of everything -he says with a tired smile- she passed away when you were born, I... was really sad, I even wanted to hate you for that... -while he spoke I looked down, I could not see anywhere the greatness that always radiated the matchless Grand Duke Theikos -I loved her more than anyone, I would be able to give up everything for her, however we humans die... -he kept looking towards the same window I was looking at before.

I remained silent waiting for him to speak again, about five minutes passed in silence, after a sigh he spoke again.

-Her name was Arketa of Eléftheros, seventh princess of the Mageía Kingdom. -My mother was a princess of another kingdom, I did not expect that, especially because I never received a birthday present from a foreign kingdom... or else my father hid it, it would not be difficult for him to do it.

-Although it was a wedding arranged by the Emperor and the King of Mageia, we could only live four years together before she.... -my father looks at me for the first time- now I am so happy to have you with me, without you I would have fallen apart.

I avert my gaze unconsciously, I could feel my cheeks blushing. Despite that I realized that my father was acting strange.

-In six months we will go to the Kingdom of Mageia, you will meet your grandparents and I will do some business, the trip will take us about two and a half months, we will stay another two months, so if there are no problems along the way it will take less than six months.

With so much information in a short time I start to look confused at my father, he stands up and rubs my hair while smiling, then leaves the room.

In the end he didn't tell me what my mother told him.

But now I was sure, something was going to happen.

***

It had been five months since my father told me we were going to travel which meant there was a week left before we left, I was having tea with Neomi when I started thinking about all the training I went through.

My father was strict with me, too strict, he didn't allow me to fail, I managed to do things in weeks that the average person would take years to accomplish.

I learned how to dominate the atmosphere in a battle, how to instill fear in my opponents when it was necessary, how to look weak when you had to deceive, I was learning by leaps and bounds. And one day my father told me something that made me feel like the strongest person in the world.

He said "You are the most talented Athanatos ever born into the family."

Thanks to those words I can now see the difference between talented and untalented people.

He also told me that I shouldn't let my ego blind me, but that wasn't going to happen since as Athanatos I had to keep all my senses under control.

-Eeh... Desi, you're making a scary smile -with those words Neomi pulls me out of my thoughts.

With a throat clearing I look at Neomi who is watching me scared -Sorry Neomi, I was lost in my thoughts -I turn my head, I felt myself blushing because of the embarrassing image I shouldn't have seen.

-By the way Desi... is something bothering you? -she asks doubtfully.

-No, I was considering telling you today," I say as I turn to look at her, letting out a sigh I speak, "to tell you the truth I have to go on a trip with my father in a few days and it will take me about six months to come back.

-That... is very sudden -she says with a sad look -I'm going to miss you -she put her hand on mine that was on the table.

*Thump* you are so sweet Neomi -I will miss you too Neomi -I say while giving her a smile.

***

When the trumpets sounded it was time for us to get up to start with the routine we have.

-You too Defterévon," I hear my superior come in suddenly and with a bucket of water he throws it to an idiot who was still lying down, exactly, he threw the bucket with water, not only the water. -Today is an important day!

Rubbing the place where the bucket had hit me, I look at him in surprise.

-The Grand Duke Theikos will personally come to visit us, he didn't tell us specifically what for, so I want everyone presentable -the commotion didn't take long to start, even I got up in a hurry and put on the cleanest clothes I had, I only had two changes of clothes so I chose the one they made us wash yesterday, it wasn't a big dilemma.

As I left the barracks I noticed that there was no sign of the sun coming up, they made us get up about two hours earlier than normal.

-Form up! You are going to stay in formation until the Grand Duke arrives, that will be for another three hours -leaving those words the Chief of the guard returned to the barracks, I'm sure he is going to sleep, you lazy shit.

If someone hears my thoughts they will surely not only give me a penance for my disrespect towards my superior, but no one can read minds... I think.

The three hours passed quickly, when I opened my eyes the sun was clearly visible, to tell the truth it dazzled me, and I certainly wasn't sleeping standing still, I just closed my eyes for three hours and let time flow, yes, that's what I did.

More high ranking soldiers who were in other Athanatos family quarters also arrived, I could make out some very high ranking ones, there was even the second in command of the Palace security, a scary guy.

*A walking trash*, or rather Gustav Chazos, an idiot who presumes to be part of the Athanatos family because his grandmother was, however she had renounced her last name in order to marry a Chazos who was a lower house, he has some talent but his arrogance overshadows it.

I saw that the Chief Guard was also present and looking towards the place from where a squadron of the Grand Ducal Knights, the elite among the elite of the Empire, was coming from.

Leading that squad came the most terrifying person I know Ezzio Galinios, the head of the Grand Ducal Knights and the Grand Duke's second in command when they were in the Notos war... unfortunately my personal trainer.... however something did not fit with this scene so scary, something that Ezzio was holding, a parasol, very nice to tell the truth, it was light pink and although I just noticed it also came to his side a girl dressed in pants and long boots, she had jet hair that reached the middle of her back, she walked confidently in front of the knights and yet that was not the most striking thing. What was most striking were her eyes... the white eyes of the firstborn of Athanatos.

Although I had never seen her before, I recognized her immediately, she was the famous heiress of the Grand Duchy of Athanatos; Desine Fra Athanatos, daughter of a living legend.

-Good afternoon Sir Ezzio and... Lady Desine? -asks the head guard nervously.

-You are right," says Lady Desine without looking at the head guard, she was looking at where we were, a smile appeared on her face when we crossed glances that disappeared without a trace when she looked at the person she was talking to, "so these are the rookies that started a few years ago.

-That's right my Lady... by the way, will your father be here soon? -He hesitantly asks as he looks sideways towards Ezzio who is standing silently, shielding Lady Desine from the sun. Anyone who knew this assassin in the form of a man would doubt the reality if they saw this scene.

-No, I'm the only one who came," he says while raising an eyebrow, "Why do you ask?

-It's just that the letter we received had the Grand Duke's seal on it... -he is uncomfortable, how funny.

-It's the family seal, and I happen to be part of that family -obviously it's part of the family -Nonsense aside, I want the five worst qualifiers to sign up for a mock showdown.

-Why? -asks the head guard. Lady Desine looks at him in annoyance.

-They are my father's orders, please obey," she says in a monotonous voice, as if she were reading.

-Y-yes my Lady -coming towards us, he calls the boys who are worse off and makes them get ready, actually they were already ready, since about... I don't know, three hours ago? and coincidentally those five are my closest comrades. The fact that the five worst qualified are close to me means something, or I do it unconsciously to look stronger than I am, something like the typical trick of hanging out with ugly people to look more attractive, that makes me a shit? It's certainly something I would do, but it wasn't my intention this time.

-They are ready my Lady, what work does the Grand Duke have for them? -for some reason the head guard highlighted the rank of Lady Desine's father, is he upset that she came and ordered as if she owned the place -does he really want to argue with a child?

-Pff hehe -Lady Desine laughs, she has a nice laugh by the way -sorry, now... -she says while making a carefree face and starts stretching -the five of them will face me at the same time.

That surprised me, Lady Desine is not even eight years old and the five she is going up against are between sixteen and eighteen, that's twice her age, I know, I'm good at math.

Everyone was looking puzzled, even the high ranks who came from the other barracks. Although you may have noticed that she was standing attentively observing the surroundings and looked completely confident, yet the guys she had to deal with were taller and stronger than her, she also had a daunting numerical disadvantage. Conclusion, if she had nothing special she would have no chance of winning.

-My lady, if you hurt yourself the Grand Duke -was interrupted by nothing in particular but something we could all feel, as I grabbed the sword the coldness ran through the surroundings and the air became thicker, the bloodlust coming from the girl was something terrifying.

Unconsciously I put my hand on my waist looking for the sword that I didn't have with me. From fear I could feel a smile form on my face, a monster had appeared in our humble barracks.

-Don't worry, I've killed more people than these young men," he says while passing to the head guard who was stunned, "so guys, don't hold back and try to kill me with everything you have, I'll just leave you unconscious," a beautiful smile appears on his face.

***

Drawing my sword I prepare to fight against the five young men, at the moment I saw them standing in battle position I had already imagined more than forty ways to kill them, about fifteen to neutralize them and more than three hundred mistakes that would lead me to defeat.

They are about fifteen meters away.

Taking a sigh I get into combat position, the six of us were using real swords, we were ready to kill each other, or not, I'm just going to neutralize them.

-Come after me -as I finish my words two of them approach from the front two others separate and come from one side each, and the last one disappears from my field of vision, which means that he is behind one of the other four -fufu what fun.

I dig my foot into the ground and then take four steps backwards and three steps to the right, by doing this I am more unprotected from behind but it gives me a chance to get rid of one before the five surround me.

I take a breath and lower my center of gravity which leaves me many openings but compensates by giving me extraordinary mobility.

When the one coming from the right steps near the place where the mark I had made when I stuck my foot in the ground, I take six steps as fast as I can move, staying in front of the young man with an idiot face. He couldn't react, I was too fast, he was still looking at the place where I was before. Then when he finally realized he looked down and....

My sword went through his mouth coming out of the back of his neck, then I twist it making the blade face upwards and then I raise the sword opening his head in half... or that's the movement that appeared in my mind. It was so easy to kill him that it was too difficult for me not to do it, I felt the need to cut his head off and bathe in his blood... however being able to control my dangerous thoughts I hit him with the handle of the sword in the hundred, making him unconscious with my first attack.

To my left had been two, no, three, the one that had escaped my line of sight was also there.

Turning on my heels I lower my center of gravity again, I dodge the blow from the handle of his sword that was aimed at my head, I stretch my right leg sweeping his left leg with the one I was about to step on making him lose his balance, my sword was about to cut his stomach when I realize that I almost killed him on reflex, I get angry and hit him with the fist that held the sword in the jaw.

When I knock him out I focus my senses on the two closest to me.

I throw a kick from below to the jaw with my left leg to the young man who was closest to me, with his left hand he tries to protect himself from my foot that was about to hit him, however when my foot was about to hit him I abruptly change direction and hit his right hand in which he had his sword making him drop it. With the rebound of the kick and adding my own strength I hit his jaw with my heel making him fall unconscious.

Grabbing in the air the sword of my newly defeated enemy I put it diagonally a little above my head and my own sword I put it in front of my face with my arm extended, in that same instant my left arm trembled due to the impact behind me (it was the guy who went to the left) and when the attack of the enemy in front of me also impacted I lost my balance.

I could feel how the smile I was making was getting bigger and bigger, the adrenaline of having made such a dangerous move made me happy.

Taking advantage of the impact of the attack of the two I use my imbalance to be able to roll forward without giving them the opportunity to attack, recovering quickly from the previous attack I lower my posture and I decide to finish the thinner one first, leaving the big guy for the end.

I throw a handful of dirt towards where the bigger guy is and one of my swords towards the thinner one, seeing that I had thrown my sword at him the young man got nervous and tried to hit the sword but seeing that I was quickly running towards him he leaned to the right giving me the freedom to sweep his feet with my left leg and make him fall.

He threw my other sword towards the big guy so I could gain a small time lapse which I used to drive a downward kick into the head of my fallen opponent.

It was just me and the big guy, he had a sword and I had empty hands, however I was the one who made the first move.

I nailed my foot to the ground and lifted it hard causing the dust to rise, I take four quick steps to stay close to him, I feint towards his jaw with my left fist while also making another one by feigning to sweep his left foot.

Due to my movements his guard had an opening which I used to hit him with all my strength on his jaw, however, I have small hands and it's not like I'm super strong either, so not only did I not do anything but he grabbed my right arm. If I squeezed my arm any harder I think it might break.

With my left hand I grab his pinky finger and pull it down hard. Moving a little to the side I put his elbow on my shoulder and with my left foot I strike the back of his right knee, causing him to lose his balance and letting his own weight do the work.

*Track*

His arm broke, he fell to the ground screaming in pain and I take the opportunity to kick him in the face, causing him to fall backwards. I grab his sword that a moment ago was in his left hand and with the handle I start to hit him in the face, after about twenty hits I stop feeling the pleasure of using the sword so I throw it away and start hitting him with my fists.

***

Lady Desine was sitting on top of Bort and kept hitting him, his face was practically shapeless, but she was smiling beautifully, although her actions were not beautiful, she was like a demon in a girl's body.

We were all watching the scene with dismayed faces, even though she was facing the worst qualified of the barracks these guys were not weak, there was just a lot of competition, if they were in an army barracks of the empire they would surely be among the best.

However one girl defeated five of them easily, without killing them, without being wounded and in less than thirty seconds.

I reiterate, she is a monster.

-Lady Desine, you have already won," Ezzio puts a hand on Lady Desine's shoulder telling her to stop hitting Bort.

With a murderous look she watches him over her shoulder, her breathing was agitated and her smile disappeared. Ezzio doesn't flinch, his face showed no emotion.

-I'm sorry... I lost control for a moment -she says while she accepts the hand Ezzio held out to her and stands up -this wasn't part of the job, I just came to look for someone.

She starts walking towards where we were, the low rank ones. She stands in front of me and looks to the sides *I guess she is looking for the person she had said before* just kidding, I know it's me, everyone is looking at me, I certainly knew they were going to get me out of here, but I didn't think Lady Desine would be the one to do it.

-From today you, Defterévon, will be my personal knight, you will live and kill for me," he says showing his nobility and authority. He certainly said it in a very arrogant way, but I like it.

Bending on one knee I take his hand full of cuts and covered with his and Bort's blood, he kissed it softly -Your wishes are orders that I will fulfill at the cost of my life if necessary.