CHAPTER 4

The distant tolling of a bell, the chirping of birds, and the crisp morning air did little to dispel the somber mood that hung over the village. Grief and sorrow seemed to cling to every breath. Dia sat beside Killian's lifeless body, her fingers intertwining with his, tracing the rough calluses on his palm. A solitary tear escaped her eye as she wrapped her hands around his, reluctant to let go. With one final glance at his peaceful face, she gently laid his hand to rest and covered him with a simple linen shroud.

A small procession made its way to the burial site, with the bearers carrying Killian's body at the forefront. Dia's expression remained impassive, her face a mask of calm, even as she watched him being laid to rest. Killian's passing had stirred up painful memories, but it had also steeled her determination to track down The Red Hand and bring them to justice.

Standing before Killian's freshly dug grave, Dia placed a single flower upon the earth, a quiet tribute to the man who had been lost. Nolan stood beside Dia, breaking the silence after a moment. "He was a good man," he said quietly. "He didn't deserve this."

Dia remained still, her hands at her sides. "Nobody knows who killed him," Nolan added, sighing.

"I do," Dia finally replied, her voice flat.

Nolan turned to her, shocked. "You do?" he asked incredulously, his tone laced with surprise.

Dia's expression remained impassive, her eyes fixed on some point in the distance. Nolan's question hung in the air, awaiting a response that never came.

"Then why didn't you say anything?" Nolan pressed, his frustration growing. "He could have been found and brought to justice."

Dia's silence was her only response. She walked away from him, not wanting to hear any more of his questions or concerns. Nolan threw his head back, letting out a groan of frustration, and followed her.

" Dia! Dia! Wait!" he called out, grabbing her hand in an attempt to stop her.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way," he said, his voice laced with apology. "All I'm saying is you should have said something—"

Dia's anger flared, and she snatched her hand away from his. "And risk the entire village being slaughtered?" she snapped, her voice low and deadly.

Nolan's confusion was evident. "What do you mean?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.

Dia's eyes locked onto his, her gaze piercing. "It was the Red Hand," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Nolan's jaw dropped, his eyes wide with shock. "The Red Hand?..They were here?...The gods have mercy—" he stammered, his voice trailing off.

Dia's laughter was cold and mirthless. "Mercy?!" she scoffed. "The gods can't do anything. They watched me suffer all these years and still took my one happiness."

Her anger boiled over, and she ran her tongue across her teeth. "The gods can rot for all I care!" she seethed, her voice dripping with venom.

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Nolan standing alone, stunned by her words. This time, he did not follow her.

Dia sat by the fireplace, her knees tucked under her chin, as she gazed intensely at the flames. The fire's warmth seemed to burn within her eyes, and she gasped as she tore her gaze away. Rising abruptly, she walked to the bed and sat down, her eyes wandering the room with a sense of melancholy. Even the table reminded her of Killian.

As her eyes scanned the room, they landed on something wrapped in linen under the table. She retrieved the object, and as she unwrapped it, she revealed a sword - the one Killian had given her before his passing. With the sword in hand, Dia stood up, admiring its silver sheen. She ran her fingers along the blade's edge, cutting herself in the process, but she didn't flinch. The wound healed quickly, a familiar sensation for her.

After wiping the sword clean, Dia swung it, testing its weight. In that moment, she knew what she had to do - take down the Red Hand - and she had to do it as soon as possible.

Nolan's pov

Later that night, Nolan stood outside Dia's house, hesitant to knock. The look in her eyes the previous earlier had unsettled him. He understood the pain she felt, the anger but she wouldn't let him sympathize with her. He took in a deep breath and exhaled.

As he summoned the courage to knock, the door swung open, revealing Dia with a transformed appearance. Her hair was now shorter, barely grazing her shoulders, and she wore a sword at her hip, a sling bag across her body, and a dagger hidden in her boot.

Nolan was taken aback by her new look. "Dia, what's going on?" he asked, trying to hide his concern.

Dia's voice held a hint irritation "Nothing that's out of the ordinary"

Nolan's eyes widened as he took in her appearance. "What did you do to your hair?" he asked, looking mortified.

Dia's response was matter-of-fact. "I cut it."

Nolan's gaze fell upon the sword at her hip. "Where are you going?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Everia," Dia replied, her voice firm.

Nolan's eyes narrowed. "You're going after the Red Hand."

Dia's expression remained resolute. "Yes, and don't try to talk me out of it."

Nolan's fear for her safety grew. "You're going to get killed, Dia."

Dia's response was calm but firm. "I would die happily, but trust me, I won't die easily not before I end every single one of them."

As Dia turned to leave, Nolan declared, "I'm coming with you."

Dia refused, her back still turned. "No, Nolan, you stay in Oakbrook. I'm doing this alone."

Nolan's concern turned to desperation. "I'm not letting you do this alone."

Dia's faced him, her expression turned stern. "I don't want to lose anyone else. I don't want to lose you."

Nolan realized that arguing with Dia would be futile. "Everia is very far, I don't think you can make it on foot. You'll need a horse. Still it would take you two months to reach there, almost three months on foot"

"It's worth it" She replied

He let out a deep sigh. "In two weeks, you should arrive in Vylonia, a town, much larger than Oakbrook. From there, your path is uncertain, but I know that once you reach the Valley of Nefaria, it will take four days to reach the kingdom of Everia." His words were a gentle way of saying goodbye.

Dia's eyes welled up with tears as she whispered, "Thank you."

Nolan's voice was barely above a whisper. "At least let me hold you before you go."

Dia's laughter and sobs intertwined as she walked into his open arms. They held each other tightly, both aware that their reunion might never happen again.

As they parted, Nolan handed her his leather jacket.

"Keep this," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "I knew you loved it."

Dia smiled, a faint glimmer of her former self. "Thank you, Nolan. I'll never forget you."

"Nor will I"

She took slow backwards steps away from him. "Take care Nolan"

Nolan called out."Take care. Stay safe."

Dia nodded, turned, and disappeared into the darkness, out of his sight.