Dark Whispers

In the hidden quarters of the queen's mansion, a group of beaten up Orks slowly trodden into the room and collapsed to the floor. 

Their battle with the masked man had proven to be a futile attempt, resulting to in their current state. No one had died but their egos as well as their bodies had taken quite the beating. 

"Why are you back so early— what happened?" A voice came from deeper into the room. 

The captain stiffened, cold sweat running down the side of his face. His breathing became unsteady and he involuntarily got ready to run. 

The last time someone had failed… he had lost his head. 

Galius had a wife,he loved and a family he would very much like to return to them.

He swallowed saliva and fell to his knees. "I'm sorry!"

The others followed suit, fearing for their heads when they heard a scoff. 

"Get up, I'm not the queen you fools."

Galius lifted his head to see the person who had emerged from darkness. Immediately his eyes locked on her, relief flooded his heart and he sat down on his butt. 

It was their newly appointed leader—Tyris.

"My goodness, my heart can't take this much pressure! I should have just joined the city guard instead!"

Tyris' gaze was hard as she watched the man. "You forget it's my head that is next in line?! What the hell happened? How are you so beaten up?"

Galius composed himself and reteriated everything that had happened to Tyris. 

"A masked man called Primus…" She knew no one bearing that name.

A human capable of beating fifteen highly trained Orks was no laughing matter.

"What about the target? Apart for the mess it left, have there been any other traces?"

Galius shook his head. "We've searched the entire city, it's as though it simply disappeared."

Tyris smiled darkly, clicking her dark nails on the wall in an anxious manner. The way things were going, she would end up fighting the queen before they even laid eyes on the target. 

She was strong but she was nothing compared to the queen… Still, she wasn't going to offer her head on a platter like the last guy. 

Tyris let out a tired breath, her eyebrows drawing into a scowl. "Get out, all of you!"

The Orks tiredly rose to their feet and began to leave the room. But before Galius could leave, she then said, "I'll personally train you all after my business next tomorrow."

The man gulped, knowing how severe her training could be, and then he left the room, closing the door with a soft click. 

Tyris looked out of her window, staring out at the full moon. Strangely, rhis night it felt far more ominous than ever before. 

Unless she found that demon soon, her days were numbered.

There was no denying that at this point. 

***

The sun crept up from behind the horizon, bathing the word in a bright white glow. 

The obnoxious chickens were singing their merry tune, the birds were chirping and the trees were swaying slightly in the air as though to celebrate the birth of a new day. 

Steaks of light tore through the wooden windows, Wise had closed shut, slipping through them only to land directly on his face. 

He blinked for a second before opening his eyes, revealing dragonic sapphire orbs with oval pupils and shimmering gradients. 

He blinked once more and his eyes morphed, returning back to a more human-like appearance. 

"Morning already?" Wise grumbled, due to the events of last night he had not gotten much sleep.

He yawned and was about to stretch his hands when he felt warm fingers wrapped around his forearm. 

Wise almost jumped, he shifted back suddenly only to hit his back against the edge of the table at the side of the room. 

He winced as the sharp edge dug into his back but stopped himself from screaming, instead he held onto it with both hands and cursed. 

At the side of the room Rosalind stirred and sat up, stretching her hands above her head, and then she let out a quiet cat-like yawn. 

Her wavy grey hair was tousled, some strands clinging onto the sides of her greyish skin and as she stared at Wise, her dark grey eyes shone with a tingle of excitement. 

"Good morning!" She said, her voice cheery. 

Wise stared at the bed, the place where she was meant to be sleeping, just to see the blanket falling down from the top…

'She fell down… but didn't wake up?'

Rosalind seemed to just be noticing this because she looked around, confused expression on her face. "Huh… how did I get down?" 

"You seem to have slept well."

Rosalind nodded shyly and rose up to fold the blankets. Now that he saw her in the day, he realized that his earlier prediction of her age was off by a few years. now that she was less anxious, Rosa looked a few years younger than he had guessed. 

'19, 18?' Maybe even younger. 

He rose to his feet as well and went straight to the bathroom, thankfully, his room came with one which was often rare. 

Today was the day of the Semi finals, more of the warriors would be shaved off, and those left will all compete in one last battle at the finals before proceeding to challenge the princess. 

He entered the bathroom and quickly took his bath, putting on a fresh set of clothing and bundling her old ones away for obvious reasons. 

Once he was done he walked back into the room and asked,"Hungry?"

Wise noticed that apart from her earlier greeting, the girl rarely spoke except when spoken to, which was strange since it looked like she always had a lot to say. 

She nodded. "Yes… but I don't want to bother you! I'll manage." She hurried said. 

Wise walked up to the door and pried it open, "You won't be bothering me. I'll go down to get you something. In the meantime, stay inside, don't let anyone see you okay?"

The girl nodded and wise closed the door behind him. 

'Shit, I'm late.'

He ran down the staircase and weaved his way past all those who were on the ground floor of the inn until he got to the kitchen.

After quickly paying for a tray of food, Wise repeated his earlier actions up until he got back to the front door. 

He then took a deep breath and organized himself. He was running late but didn't want the clearly traumatized girl to feel bad. 

Wise pushed the door open and entered with the tray in his hands. 

Rosa's eyes widened in surprise.

"What?" Wise asked.

"Oh nothing, you were just really fast." 

Wise waved his hands dismissively. "The kitchen isn't that far." He set the food in front of the girl and her eyes brightened up at the sight of the feast. 

Rosalind was skinny to an unhealthy extent, it was so bad that Wise suspected that she lived in abject poverty prior to their meeting. 

After handing her the food, Wise stood in the center of the room and waved his hands in the air while focusing on the space around them. A few seconds later, he stopped and let out a sigh. 

'The barrier should be a bit tougher now.'

"I have somewhere to be, don't open the door for anyone, don't even respond. You'll be safe as long as you remain in this room okay?"

Rosa glanced around the room and nodded. "Yes, I'll stay here till you return." 

With that, Wise left her alone, shutting the door behind him. 

Rosa turned her attention to her meal, silently thanking wise for the feast. 

There were grapes mixed up with sliced fruit, a glass of milk, white roasted bread and poached eggs, as well as other food arranged beautifully on the tray. 

She first picked up a piece of bread, about to bite into it when—

Knock Knock… 

"Wise?"

"…"

The only response that greeted her was a cold silence. Wise had left not too long ago, was he back already?

Rosa dropped the bread, walked up to the door and placed her hand on the door knob. She was about to pull it open when she suddenly stopped. 

'No, Wise said I shouldn't answer.' 

Letting the door go, Rosa took a step back, and then suddenly, the door swung open of its own accord. 

She gasped.

At the door was a large demon, one so tall that it had to bend down to peer through the door. 

Its skin was black with a faint red tint and its knees were twisted backward in an awkward angle. 

Two massive scaly wings were at its back and its glowing red eyes were locked on her and her alone. 

Its massive frame stood just behind the door post, as though unable to step a foot into the house. 

Rosa tried to run, but her feet were not cooperating with her, she tried to scream but no matter how much she did, the words would not leave her throat. 

And so she stood and stared at the demon, and the demon at her. 

The demon opened its mouth, raving rows of serrated teeth and then it spoke in a twisted voice. "R-rosa—lind… come."

Its words were commanding, spoken with an authority that could not be challenged. 

Rosa's expression suddenly turned blank as though emotionless and then she took a step forward. 

With tears streaming down her eyes, Rosalind moved towards the demon— and stepped out of the safety of the barrier.