Legia and Ariyu

The departure of Casey's group is not the last group to leave Arcadia. 

A week later, the next group will also leave. The group consists of two squads of military: Squad Three, also known as the Dark Squad, and Squad Five, known as the Sky Squad.

The Dark Squad is led by Captain Legia, while the Sky Squad is led by a man named Ariyu. 

Ariyu is a man in his early forties with short silver hair and yellow eyes. He has a tan complexion and a well-built body. Previously, Ariyu was the leader of Niles' security company from Ashur.

Ariyu was responsible for the safety of Niles and his group when they traveled from Ashur to Death Valley. 

Unfortunately, while helping Jamie in Marina, Ariyu had to swallow a bitter pill as the person he was supposed to protect got injured instead.

This made Ariyu deeply regret his actions. However, Niles' final words made him lift his head again. His words justified that his actions did indeed save the people of Marina.

The results of his work in Marina can be seen from the residents who were saved at that time and have now moved to Arcadia. They live peacefully with the cursed monsters in Death Valley.

Ariyu always wonders whether what he did back then was right or not? Humanity or responsibility? 

During his time in Arcadia, Ariyu continues to ponder. Sitting in front of Niles' grave, he still doubts his actions. Saving those in need at the cost of his own master's life.

Unfortunately, Ariyu cannot continue to brood. Reiss has given him an order to move. 

Currently, Ariyu has assumed the position of Squad Captain, whose majority of squad members are the guards of Niles' company.

Ariyu and Legia will go with their squad to Marina. They will reclaim the city due to the anticipation of a new attack from Abyss.

"Abyss!"

Ariyu instantly recalls the incident that occurred in Marina yesterday. They were surrounded by demons, resulting in the death of his master.

"Calm yourself, Ariyu."

Cien, who is currently briefing the departing group, notices that one of his Squad Captains has taken on a dark and menacing expression. It's as if buried vengeance is now crawling back out.

"Your Majesty…"

"I know you have a grudge against Abyss. But it's not good for you to lose yourself in seeking revenge. It's not just you who has been hurt. Niles was my friend, Sienna's father. Do you think Sienna isn't mourning? Look at her all this time in Arcadia; she's been fighting to reduce the number of casualties during this chaotic period.

"And look at yourself with that ugly face. Don't you feel ashamed that you can only remain silent and regret the past? I don't think Niles would be happy to see you like this."

Hearing that, Ariyu falls silent immediately. The same goes for his squad members who are standing behind their Captain.

Seeing that both the squad members and the leader of the Sky Squad have appeared calm without any signs of vengeance on their faces, Cien continues with the mission that both squads must undertake

The mission was simple: to aid the Marina and Huntara forces in repelling the Abyss or Ethyria invasion. 

In the case of Ethyria, it would only come to pass if Luis's efforts failed, and the First Prince of Huntara's Lumiere troops were defeated.

For now, Cien still believed that the likelihood of this scenario was very slim, but not impossible. This meant that both Legia and Ariyu had to prepare to face fellow humans in battle.

Especially Legia. Cien observed the composed and resolute expression on the woman's face, but he knew that deep within her heart, she was conflicted.

How could she not be? Fighting against Ethyria would be seen by Legia as an act of betrayal. 

Legia had been a member of the Ethyria Garrison for years. Then, during her leave, she suddenly had to defect to Arcadia.

Cien was certain that Legia was under immense pressure at the moment.

Initially, Cien had never thought that Legia would join Arcadia. 

He had even prepared some gifts for Legia to take back to Westya. Those gifts were meant to show appreciation for Legia's hard work during the war in Marina.

But just two weeks after Arcadia's establishment—when Legia was supposed to return home—the woman had instead expressed her desire to join Arcadia.

  Not because she wanted to defect from Westya or follow Kirana.

It was because Legia didn't want to sit idly by. She wanted to fight the Abyss during this tumultuous period. 

She chose Arcadia because it was a small place, and Cien had a significant chance of becoming a key or important person in the war against the demon race.

As for Westya, let alone Ethyria, truth be told, when she heard about the takeover of Farnodt territory, it was as if they already knew the invasion was coming. Legia felt disappointed and disgusted. 

It meant that Ethyria, which was actually prepared, had simply let the people of Farnodt be slaughtered when the Abyss invaded.

Legia had witnessed scenes akin to hell over the past few months. 

Whether it was Blackwinter, Marina, or even in Arcadia itself, she had seen survivors from Marina who, upon their arrival, had lost hope in their eyes.

As if the world had crumbled, they had come to Death Valley only to surrender their lives to the Bringer of Death.

Legia was disgusted by Ethyria's attitude because she knew the pain of merely watching from the sidelines of the battlefield without being able to help. 

When in Blackwinter, She could only send messages and watch as thousands of lives fell on the blood-soaked ground.

Since then, Legia had always felt rotten inside. Just watching the weak being hurt and killed without doing anything, even though she had the power to help. This made Legia feel like she was no different from the demons themselves.

Silence is golden. Legia had heard this saying from one of the adventurers when she was a child. But now, she felt that silence was a crime.

Legia knew that joining Arcadia was an act of betrayal. But she felt that being in Ethyria would eat away at her very being.

"Legia, I think you've misunderstood. I didn't create Arcadia to fight Abyss; on the contrary, it's a place for those who have lost after battling Abyss," Cien said at the time when Legia was considering joining.

Legia responded with a shake of her head and replied, "Every Abyss invasion, Lord Millard is always there, thwarting their plans. I believe this will continue in the future. I just want to be one of Lord Millard's forces to confront this issue in the future."

"Legia, do you know that all of that might just be coincidental?"

"Even if it is a coincidence, then it's a coincidence orchestrated by those above. Perhaps the Wind Goddess is guiding your destiny, Lord Millard."

'Damn it!'

Cien couldn't respond to Legia's words at that moment because he himself knew that what she said was true. 

However, what guided him wasn't the Wind Goddess but his mysterious phone. Though Cien couldn't deny the possibility that the Wind Goddess might be one of the figures behind his phone.

That's why Cien couldn't argue that the likelihood of his involvement in Kastia's future conflicts was very high. 

Cien couldn't change Legia's mind, which led him to accept her into Arcadia. 

As a token of gratitude, when representatives from the Guild Federation came to meet Cien in Arcadia to establish a new branch in his kingdom, Cien set one condition that had to be met by the Federation: to make Legia's father the Guild Master in Arcadia.

With this condition, Cien hoped to alleviate some of the burdens on Legia's heart. 

Unfortunately, up to the point when Legia's departure to Marina arrived, about three weeks had passed since the Federation representatives returned. 

They hadn't provided any news about whether Cien's condition would be met.

"Legia, I apologize that you have to leave before hearing the Federation's decision," Cien said.

"It's alright, Your Majesty. I understand. Besides, I've left a message with Captain Kirana to deliver to my family in Rostgard. I believe they will understand my choice to stay here."

Cien sighed softly. "Will you be okay? Fighting against your friends if they do come."

"Maybe. It's a consequence of war and my own choice. And besides..." Legia looked sadly at him, "If Ethyria does attack Marina, there's no denying it anymore. They are indeed in cahoots with the Abyss. I will put a stop to my friends who have become puppets in this foul game," Legia declared.

Seeing Legia's unwavering determination, Cien couldn't help but feel a sense of envy. 

He felt that he didn't possess the same sense of justice that Legia did. 

Cien might prefer hiding and watching the war from a distance rather than actively participating in it.

However, when he witnessed thousands of people die before his eyes in Lumiere and lost Niles due to his delay, Cien began to question whether staying away from the conflict would truly yield the best results for himself and his loved ones.

Cien didn't know for sure, but he did know that there was a burden weighing on him after the Farnodt Invasion had concluded.

"Ariyu." 

Cien said, turning to the silver-haired man. He then tossed two black knives with a green gleam towards Ariyu.

"These?"

"Your weapons. I apologize for the delay, but as Squad Captain, you have a great responsibility to safeguard the lives of your members."

The weapons Cien gave Ariyu were his latest creations, a unique pair of knives called Twinster.

Of course, Cien didn't create these weapons for free. He received payment from Luis, who used kingdom funds.

With the distribution of these weapons, all five Squad Captains of Arcadia now had their own unique weapons:

Kirana with Moonice.

Terrion with Blackferno.

Legia with Crimsonagin.

Jamie with Rupture.

Ariyu with Twinster.

With this, Cien felt that the entire Arcadia Squad was now complete. Now, it was only a matter of seeing what impact they would make on the land of Kastia.