The First

Today is a nice day. The weather is good and the temperature is refreshing. The sky was so blue without any single clouds, the wind breeze nicely, and the day runs peacefully. Yet, seems no one care about how their surrounding is, as their stiff cold expressions are on their faces. With splash blood all over their skin, with their sword covered with fleshes and fresh blood. Dead bodies lay down all over the peaceful forest near the border of the Imperial Kingdom of Fahir and the famous Oculis Knight drew their bloody sword.

It is as they do not care about what is in front of them, as they do not find the one that they have sliced is begging for forgiveness. They swiftly wield their sword as fast as the bird can fly. Then, as they know, their work is done, they put their swords back Into their sheaths. Then salute in unison as the man with his handsomeness, charisma, and elegance gallop his brave horse into the mess. With his silver hair and red bright eyes. The cold gaze he has in his expression, giving shiver to everyone who sees him. No one dared to speak to the famous Duke of the Imperial Kingdom of Fahir. The merciless, emotionless, inhuman with his death stared. Not to mention the power that he has as he was born to be the descendant of the God of the blue fire, Oculis.

" Clean this mess," he said in a very deep voice as he then galloped his horseback into the forest.

Then, the man in his back salute him as he said. " As your wish, Your Grace."

The duke just then goes back to his tent, as they are now in their long expedition ordered by the king to inspect the border. The dukedom of Oculis always known as the sword and the shield of the North and they are the ones who produced the best knight of the imperial. As for the Oculis Knight, is the best from the best who is under the lead of the famous duke himself.

" Greeting, Your Grace. May the god of Oculis bless your fire." said the man before, as he salute the duke who is sitting at his desk. " We are done cleaning up the bodies."

And without even looking at him, the duke said. ".. so? What is that?"

" Their identity is unknown, Your Grace," he said. " So, I assumed they came from the same enemy who once attacked you."

It was already the third time this sudden attack happening. Others looked like a typical bandit group but the skill was too good and they fight too neatly. The other one was faked mercenary and now it is the elite assassin. Clearly, they were ordered to murder the duke while the duke was ordered to a long expedition... as this coincidence was too suspicious to be a mere coincidence.

The man who stands in front of the duke, named Arkan, who is known as his personal guard which also the leader of the first division of the Oculis Knight knew that the duke already know who is the culprit behind all of it, yet... he still could not understand why he could be as calm as he is now, as anything that happened before was nothing.

"... Let's just wrap this thing fast. I just want to finish all this shit." He said.

And he nodded. " As your will, Your Grace."

Then, the troop continues their expedition as they also got near to their home back to the north. But, in their last checkpoint of inspection, there is an ambush. So many smoke grenades were thrown at them and blinded them.

The duke burst the blue fire that then vanished the smoke. Yet, a sudden arrow is shot right to his left chest.

" PROTECT HIS GRACE!" Arkan screamed as they surrounded the duke who swayed. He frowned as he know the duke will not lose with that kind of arrow, but then his eyes widen as he see a blue liquid in it. "... EVACUATE!" he said but then, a bunch of elite assassins attacked them as smoke bombs were thrown at them. It become a hellish war field that's lasted for almost three days yet, even after they cool down... the duke is nowhere to be found.

***

" Duh! Watch'e out you fool!" said the old man to his son in their big carriage. " That whole big damned stone, your'es Eyes blinded?" with the strange accent from the southern area. " We put our life just for coming here'e and you want to **** up our goods?"

" Oh come on, Pop'e! I avoid that, key?" he said.

" Humph, this rebel son of mine'e! Just stay focused here, that once caravan told as its near war field."

" The Oculis Knight, right pop'e?"

" Ya ya, they surely monster. So be extra careful, we will go near'e theirs" he said.

And the son just gulped. " But, do you heard'e about the myth here?"

" What myth? Ah... you mean'e the black lady?"

" Yaps, they said that if someone died here'e, the black lady will get the dead," he said. " Some men once said that he once met the lady, he said that he once stared the pitch dark eyes of her and looking at her long black-haired, it was terrifying as he passed out and be found'e near the gate a village." he said.

" Why you talking'e about creepy thing in this middle damned night forest'e you fool!"

" It's a myth! You believe'ed it?"

And the old man just look at his son's eyes deeply. "... keep this word'e son. Myth keeps the truth." as he lit his cigarette and blow away the smoke. Then they just passed the road night of the forest without realizing the missing duke leaning to the tree not far from them. With the arrow that stuck into his body. He breathes heavily as the sweat ran through his pale skin. He then tore his clothes as he sees blue color spreading from the point the arrow stuck.

Then he twitches, as he picks his sword again and swiftly wields it to a human shadow that coming to him. He knows there's someone coming.

" Ow, you sure have much energy don't you?" and a sweet voice comes as the shadow shows its true shape. It is a lady that has black long hair and black eyes wearing short pants with a dagger and sword on her thigh. Then she smiles softly, as she looks at the arrow that is stuck in his body. " Ah, the Oculis that being poisoned by the blue water? Ironic is not it?" she said. As she then slowly come to him calmly as she does not care he aimed his sword at her. " It is good folklore I could say, the god blessed the son of Regis yet created the blue water to curse them. Ironic, is not it?"

" Back off, or I will kill you," he said.

" Go ahead, better die together than alone, is not it? I am okay dying with someone as handsome as you... My Lord." she said as she brushes his sword calmly and kneels in front of him. They both stare at each other deeply when the woman then touches his chest. "... its been four hours. You did great holding it back," she said as she take off her shirt and leave only her underwear. Then casually tear the shirt into a long cloth with her dagger. "... I will take it out, then suppress the bleeding with this cloth," she said while staring at him.

Then, he either does not care anymore or just he believed in her- he just let his sword go and lean his body, as she then takes the arrow out and presses the wound with her hand. Then, give her a cloth to be bitten by the duke so that she can wrap it around his body. The body touches as she has to hug him while doing so, and the duke just watches her with his cold gaze.

"... done," she said as she stands and whistle with her clean hand and looks at him. " My house is not that far. I will treat you there, want to come?" asked her with a smile as a white horse come to her and pet her head to her.

The duke watches the black lady that her hair and eyes shine as the moonlight shines, then he grabs her hand as they then, riding the horse in the middle of the night.

***

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