The council members stood nervously as they hear the tapping sound of the king's finger on the armrest of his throne. They glanced at the young yet terrifying king. His cheek is resting on the knuckles of his hand and they could see on his face how his patience is almost reaching its limits.

"He's not here yet?" tanong ng hari. His voice is cold and demanding.

One soldier spoke up, "General Zenlhoir hasn't arrived yet, your majety."

The king clicked his tongue, "Damn that Zenlhoir. It's been ten days since I sent him there for the arrangements that needs to be done and he still hasn't finished yet?" his eyes sharpened, "How tardy."

Tumayo ang hari at nagsimulang maglakad patungo sa pinto ng throne room. The door opened and he continued walking. Feniel, a general as well, followed behind him. The king spoke, "Any sign of movements?"

"None, your majesty. Shaera still has not made any kinds of actions."

The king squinted his eyes, "How suspicious." he then asked a different question, "How about the witches? Have you sent them the letter?"

"Yes, your majesty. One of our men is already on his way to deliver the letter."

The king's jaw clenched, "I can't believe I'm relying on another country's information."

They received information three weeks ago from Westernia through a letter. It says there that Shaera wants the books that has been passed down to every royal families of each kingdoms. The king didn't believe it at first because the kingdoms have no good relationships with each other in the first place. It could be a trap. But ten days ago, Zenlhoir reported about the incident that happened and they found out that they were Shaera's subordinates. They collected blood from him to revive the Hevrion clan. That's why the king started to believe the letter even though it's against his will.

--

Muling humigop ng kape mula sa hawak na tasa si Sinbad at nagpatuloy sa pagtingin sa labas ng bintana ng café na kinaroroonan nila. Hinawakan naman ni Rui ang tasa na may lamang mainit na tsokolate gamit ang dalawang kamay at marahan itong ininom.

Ang ibang mga taong nasa loob ng café ay minsang mapapatingin sa kanilang direksyon. The two of them can feel how cautious they are towards them. Pero umakto sila na tila ba wala silang napapansin.

Sinbad squinted his eyes at the soldier that just walked pass the store they are in. Dumako ang kaniyang mga mata sa bewang nito at nakita ang isang kahina-hinalang bagay. Hindi siya pamilyar sa bagay na iyon ngunit noong nakita ito Ero, napansin niya ang saglit na pagbabago ng ekspresyon nito. Mas mabuti ng tanungin na lamang ang lalaki mamaya sa kanilang pagbalik. Muling bumalik ang kaniyang paningin sa kaniyang tasa at uminom ulit.

"Narinig mo ba ang balita? Hindi pa raw bumabalik si Heneral Zenlhoir kahit sampung araw na ang nakakalipas mula noong nagtungo siya sa pabrika."

Sinbad acted normal when he heard the conversation of the two men behind him. They were whispering but Sinbad was able to hear them. He knows the name they mentioned. As far as he knows, Zenlhoir is a general of Northernium and he also heard that he is a very skilled soldier. But what got his attention is the factory that he is talking about.

"Baka naman nagkaroon lang ng pagbabago sa schedule."

"Siguro nga pero may kumakalat na haka-haka na may planong gumawa si Heneral ng bagong produkto."

"Shh! 'Wag muna nating pag-usapan 'yan dito."

Naramdaman nina Sinbad ang pagtingin ng mga ito sa kanilang direksyon. Naubos naman na nila ang kanilang mga inumin at nagsimula na silang maglakad papalabas ng pinto. Sinbad walked out first and the moment he got out, he felt a presence on his side that was about to bump into him but it was too late to avoid it. But his eyes widen when the person jumped and rotated his body midair as he holds his knees to his chest then he landed safely on Sinbad's other side.

"Muntikan na 'yon..! Sorry 'bout that.." ngunit noong mapatingin ang lalaki sa kanila ay bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata nito at tinalikuran na lamang sila nang malamang mga kriminal sila.

Sinbad wore a confused expression. How come a middle aged man have reflexes and agility like that?

Asta continued following the suspicious man that she saw earlier as she walk around town. Alam na niya agad na ang taong sinusundan niya ay isa ring kriminal at mukhang mas matagal na itong nandito. She can get informations from him.

Nagtaka na lamang siya noong makita kung gaano nito nilalayuan ang mga nakakasalubong na residente na tila ba may mga sungay at pangil ito na hindi niya nakikita. Lumiko ito sa isang eskinita at mabilis naman itong sinundan ni Asta.

She grabbed the man's shoulder at nagulat na lamang siya noong bigla nitong itinaas ang kaniyang mga kamay at nagsimulang manginig, "Wala akong ginawa! Wala akong ninakaw! 'Wag niyo akong--"

"Woah, woah. Relax ka lang." lumingon naman sa kanya ang lalaki, "'Wag kang mag-alala. Kriminal rin ako." Asta guessed and it seems that they were the right words to say dahil tila ba naubusan ng lakas ang lalaki at napaupo na lamang sa kartong gawa sa kahoy.

"Akala ko..."

Asta didn't hear what he whispered but she continued talking nevertheless, "Bago lang ako dito at kailangan ko ng impormasyon. Either you talk or I'll force it out of you--"

"Nagpunta kami rito sa kaisipang marami kaming mananakaw. Marami kaming nagpunta rito pero ako na lang ang natira," saad nito at inilagay ang kaniyang mukha sa kaniyang mga palad. Medyo nagulat si Asta sa mabilisang pagsuko nito pero hinayaan na lamang niya itong magsalita. "Pagkakuha na pagkakuha namin sa mga alahas, nahuli agad ang mga kasama ko. Maswerte na akong nakatakas mula sa gulo pero dinala ang mga kasama ko sa palasyo at pagkatapos parusahan ay narinig kong dinala sila sa isang pabrika para pwersahang magtrabaho."

Mabilis naman itong pinutol ni Asta, "Teka, teka, teka. Pagkakuha na pagkakuha? Ganon ba kabilis ang mga sundalo--"

"Hindi sila ang humuli sa kanila!" Asta's eyes widen by the sudden rise of his voice. Napalitan ito ng pagtataka noong marinig ang kaniyang sinabi. Halata ang takot sa ekspresyon at boses ng lalaki. The man glanced at the people walking pass the narrow space they are in, "Hindi normal ang mga residente ng bansang 'to."

--

Shane continued roaming his eyes around the town that is covered in snow. He looked inside a store through the glass window and his eyes shone when he saw the delicious breads and cakes they are selling. He opened the door and the moment he did, a sound of a chime resonated in the comfortable room.

He approached the lady behind the counter. Tinuro niya ang mga gusto niyang bilhin at ngumiti naman ang babae at tumango ng isang beses. Shane wondered when the woman's gaze at him turned sharp as she get the cake and breads that Shane ordered but Shane shook it off. Thinking that it might have been just his imagination.

Binayaran na niya ito nang nakuha na niya ang kaniyang mga binili. Lumabas siya ng tindahan at muling naglakad-lakad.

He stopped walking when he saw a woman not far from where he is standing. She is wearing a very classy dress and just by her posture you can tell that she's from a very wealthy family, a Patrician perhaps.

The woman is looking inside a store through the glass window as she hold her expensive-looking purse in her hand.

"You hear me? Stand down."

But Shane just snickered when he remembered what Sinbad told them. "A little wouldn't hurt."

He continued walking. When he walked pass the lady, he immediately grabbed her purse and was about to run away with a smile on his face but his eyes widen when someone grabbed his wrist from behind, twisted his arm that made him yell in pain then that person pushed his body down on the snowy ground. Ang isa niyang kamay ay hawak nito at nasa kaniyang likuran. Dahil sa nangyari, natanggal rin ang pagkakatakip ng hood ng kaniyang cloak sa kaniyang mukha.

He glanced at the person behind him who is pinning him down successfully on the ground in just a matter of seconds. His eyes widen when he saw the same woman he stole from looking down at him with her sharp eyes.

Shane couldn't believe it. The woman actually looked weak and defenseless. May katandaan na rin ito but she was able to catch him before he could even run away.

Shane stared at the woman's sharp eyes as she speak, "So young but a thief."

Shane couldn't help but to feel fear in his system. The aura that she's emitting is quite similar to Zai and Shane trembled to feel it from a person he doesn't know.