Ayexev and Devasti were pleased that the summit ended without too much conflict from the other rulers. King Syridor was grateful that all the rulers wanted to end this quickly. The monarchs immediately prepared to ride home and inform their armies of what is to come. However, Ayexev had decided to stay a while longer and will be leaving the task of information to Sigurd, once she has recovered.

"I apologize for this King Syridor, but may I search in the library for some answers?" Ayexev asked.

The king immediately looked at the empress and examined her closely. He only found a very curious and protective look. "You have my permission to do so. Use the library as long as you need to, Empress Algenteria."

Ayexev was very relieved. Normally, only the king himself and the high scholars were granted access to Syridor's library of arcane text. The library is not only the biggest in the land but some texts could be dated back to nearly twelve thousand years ago. Devasti could feel herself shudder… days in a stale old library did not sound like a good plan.

"Don't worry, love. You'll just help me look for books and you can do whatever you wish until I'm done with the set you've given me." Ayexev tried to comfort the taller girl.

"Ahahahaha… Funny how that works…" Devasti laughed nervously.

~xXoXx~

Sigurd didn't notice that she fell asleep just a minute after she learned the mercenary's name. She could've sworn she felt victorious after. It was the first time in two weeks that she slept soundly, ever since the attack. Sigurd was surprised when she found Alexis simply sitting on the opposite bed, silently maintaining her bow.

"I thought you said you'd leave." Sigurd chuckled, noticing that her body was less sore than it was earlier.

"I was about to. Then I noticed that your employers left money for me to take care of you." Alexis replied, checking the string of her bow.

"Ahh…" Sigurd realized. Really though… they shouldn't have. "Until when will I be in your care?"

"It said until you've met up with your employers again. I am presuming that this will be longer since your employer has given me one thousand gold coins for the job. They should stop investing on my retirement." Alexis sighed.

Sigurd could only meet this explanation with wide eyes. Then she found herself chuckling at Devasti and Ayexev for hiring Alexis' services once again. "Then I am in your debt once more, Alexis."

"The contract also stated that you will delivering this to your kingdom's Empress as soon as you are fit to travel." Alexis says, raising an envelope. "… Or whenever you want to deliver this."

Sigurd had almost forgotten that Ayexev assigned regent Helena to represent her in courts so it's as if that she had never left the country. As of now, Helena was Empress Ayexev. "You read my mind. We'll take horses this evening so that we can reach Castle Algenteria as soon as possible."

"All right. You'll be resting and I'll take care of everything else. I want you to be as close as possible to the word 'well' by tonight." Alexis replied.

~xXoXx~

Devasti once again exuded a cheery aura when she and Ayexev left the inn with the instructions. Ayexev couldn't help but chuckle at the taller girl. "Are you doing this because Sigurd reminds you so much of yourself?" Ayexev asks.

"Partly. It's mostly because I find the other girl too stiff though." Devasti grinned.

Ayexev just shook her head and settled with "You're just too annoyingly cute sometimes." for a reply.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Devasti questioned.

"Do you really want to find out?" Ayexev asks in a very, very, velvety voice.

It was almost as if Devasti's ears had perked up. "Sure do."

"Then let's go to the library." Ayexev giggles.

Devasti immediately slumped and pouted. It was going to be a very long day for her especially since she knows Ayexev means business whenever she will drown herself in books. Ayexev couldn't help but chuckle at the taller woman. Devasti mentally began to prepare for the horror that's about to come.

The taller woman realized that she would need to beg for her love to even take a break from reading these books. Her devotion hasn't changed. – Thought Devasti.

~xXoXx~

Night time has come for the land of Fiess. Sigurd and Alexis have come to their last preparations before they depart for their journey to Castle Algenteria. Sigurd had finished honing her sword and Alexis was making the last three arrows for her quiver. Alexis noticed Sigurd stowing away another blade as they packed but she paid no mind to it. Sigurd on the other hand, waved the sword she honed to hear it sing on its incisiveness, and finally sheathed it.

"Are you ready?" Sigurd asked.

Alexis had not been one for small talk, but she definitely was normal enough to reply, "Yes."

"Let's go." Sigurd says, as she galloped her horse.

Sigurd's right eye had slowly begun throbbing as they began speeding towards the east. She was worried that a particular spell had been removed along with the dark matter that settled within her. She sighed; it would have to be revealed soon anyway.

~xXoXx~

Ayexev and Devasti had lost count of the hours they had stayed inside the library, without breaks. Devasti was starting to slump due to starvation and fatigue but… Ayexev was a completely different story, it was as if she was getting more and more addicted to reading these texts.

"Did you find anything yet, love?" Devasti asked.

"No… not yet… I keep using father's book as a reference but… I can't seem to find any form of answers to our current quest—" Ayexev tried to reply but she was effectively cut off by Devasti.

Devasti hated seeing Ayexev look like a mad lunatic in search of something that cannot and will not be found. She knew that Ayexev will need some sleep to rinse off the fatigue at the very least. "Love, you need to rest. A few hours of sleep will help you. Besides, there are still plenty of books in here that need to be read. Don't think that this library will come up empty so easily."

Ayexev had opened her mouth to protest but when she saw Devasti's pained look she simply gave in to the taller girl's decision. Ayexev, admittedly was feeling signs of fatigue as well and her eyes were starting to hurt. "I suppose sleeping will help us."

Devasti had thanked the heavens that Ayexev was willing to rest… else she would have had to use more provocative measures to get her to rest. The two immediately headed for the inn they were staying in.

Once they had arrived they were notified by the inn keeper that their two companions had checked out just a few minutes ago and had already left. The two were happy that Sigurd would still think of her duties as the Empress' Confidante. Devasti beamed at the word "companions" because it meant that the mercenary really did accompany Sigurd on this journey and that would mean until they had met each other again.

"It looks like our room remains, 'Xev. Do you want to sleep on different beds or…?" Devasti trailed, teasing the smaller girl.

"Of course I'd like to sleep with you, love." Ayexev cooed in reply to Devasti.

Devasti happily accepted and they both headed for their room. Their hands never letting go of each other until they both came to an embrace and slept comfortably in each other's arms.

~xXoXx~

Alexis had noticed the change in Sigurd's right eye since they settled in the campfire. Sigurd had noticed that the throbbing had passed and sighed.

"You notice it, don't you?" Sigurd finally said.

"I was not going to mention it." Alexis replied.

"It's a… trait I got from my mother or so I was told many years ago." Sigurd shrugged.

"I see. What drove you to hide it?" Alexis truly wasn't one for conversations but she couldn't help but wonder.

"… I simply wished to hide it. It seemed like a trait that would garner unnecessary attention as it is." Sigurd had obviously lied but it wasn't entirely false either.

"I see." Alexis replied coolly, not needing to reply more.

"We'll take turns as watch tonight… I suppose you'll insist to go first?" Sigurd chuckled.

Alexis nodded.

"Then I'll be taking over in a few hours." Sigurd yawned, then settled onto her mat.

Alexis was a little surprised by her willingness to interact with Sigurd. At the very least she spent her watch thinking about the shorter woman and wondering why she welcomed the interaction.

~xXoXx~

In the cold, deserted wastelands of the north, two figures ovserved their army of undeath. They both had planned to spread chaos and undeath to the land of Fiess and they both grew impatient and wanted to unleash their armies against those who would oppose them. Tonight was a different story… the two turned to a portal to welcome who would arrive. A man in dark robes, slicked back white hair, and eyes that were as black as night stepped through it.

"Master." The two figures said in unison.

"Rise, Grendle and Agatha." The robed man ordered.

The two did as instructed and awaited word from their master. Soon they would triumph over this land and make it succumb to the darkness.

"How fares the army?" The robed man asked.

"The number multiplies daily, master. Soon we will have more than enough to conquer this land." Grendle replied.

"Good. Good. How goes the hunt for the ancient power?"

"We've already located it, master. We've given Empress Algenteria a fair warning as to what to choose." Agatha said proudly.

The robed man clapped his hands together. "I expected no less from my two apprentices. Now, I need you two to ready yourselves until our armies are ready. You are free to do as you wish."

Grendle and Agatha immediately dispersed and minded their own business. The robed man who remained had simply smiled to himself.

Soon. – He mused.

~xXoXx~

When Ayexev returned to the library she found something rather interesting in the pile of books that Devasti had brought to her. She found information regarding an ancient power that the goddesses decided to bestow Argent family.

"Where have I heard 'Argent' before…" Ayexev muttered to herself.

"Isn't that your old family's name before Emperor Algenteria had changed it nearly five hundred years ago?" Devasti replied, racking up her memory a bit.

Ayexev snapped her fingers. "Exactly… then that means this book is talking about my earliest ancestors…"

"Afraid so, 'Xev." Devasti replied.

Ayexev immediately sat on her chair and began reading the book bit by bit, examining each detail thoroughly as she did so. Devasti simply looked for more books that would interest Ayexev in the long run… but as she was about to leave Ayexev immediately reacted, "No way…"

Interest immediately stirred upon Devasti. "What did you find, love?"

"It's a… prophecy of sorts… is a good guess of mine." Ayexev sighed.

"Well… let's hear it."

"A threat will loom from the north. Four will gather to fight against pride's forces. The one with power shall decide… the fate of this world." Ayexev finished.

Devasti felt Ayexev buckle at the last sentence.

Author's Note:

Well... I said I would PR this... but apparently I was BS-ing myself LOL. My beta is a bit tight on schedule when I gave her this document... so this is all once again unbeta-ed, all mistakes are mine (_ _)m. I once again thank L Lawliet for the honest review... and once again, this turned to be shorter than I had but hmm... I wonder who the third is? Because I haven't a clue as of now hahahaha 8D. Anyway, enjoy this fluffy(I think) chapter and please leave reviews because they are awesome and I like constructive crit. (/o_o)/

-Doc