"You have no idea what you're getting yourself into," the man replied without moving a muscle.

"I've already heard that one, now let it go," she ordered again.

The guard sighed before letting go of his pole-blade, but at the same moment he grabbed Lyria's ankle and yanked her, causing her to fall to the ground, then propelled himself back with the little girl in his hand and elbowed Lyria to the stomach which ejected all the air from her lungs, the sudden movement started the crying of the infant.

As Lyria writhed on the ground trying to breathe, the royal guard placed the baby on the ground carefully, then pushed Lyria onto her stomach and pinned her arms behind her back. She struggled trying to break free but the man's strength was simply superior.

"Who do you think...?" he asked as he removed the woman's hood, noticing a mark just where the hairline ended, etched into the flesh like a scar "Edhra'zi..."

"Let go!" Lyria exclaimed, trying to kick and even scratch him.

"What's a concubine doing outside her temple?" asked the royal guard.

"What is a royal guard doing with a newborn on the banks of the Bara'halum?" Lyria answered "If you don't let me go I'm going to scream until someone comes," she threatened.

"You think I'm a fool?" he asked "You tried to kill me quietly, you don't want anyone to come," he said, revealing Lyria's empty threat.

"All I think is that you're a monster," she answered "Taking the life of an innocent one," she continued with disgust "The goddesses have punishments for bastards like you!".

At that moment Lyria felt how the guard's grip weakened, enough for her to free her hand and turn to knee him in the groin, moans of pain instantly emerging.

Lyria crawled away from him, took his blade and stood up, noting that it was actually quite heavy, but ignoring the weight as best she could she aimed the blade's edge at his face.

Even with suffering on his face from the blow to his manhood, the truth is that he did not react to the edge of the weapon, he stared into space.

"By the goddesses..." he let out still with his lost look, from one second to another he turned and dragged himself to the riverbank, desperately removed his helmet and began to return everything that was in his stomach "I almost..." he tried to speak before throwing up again, the guilt finally getting to him.

Lyria was really surprised at his reaction, the regret he saw was real, the man sat looking at the full moon, then at the little girl wrapped in linen, who was still crying because of the altercation.

"Not the image I expected of a Royal Guard..." Lyria said, still holding the pole-blade "You didn't want to kill her, did you?"

"I..." he blurted out after wiping his face with river water. "These were orders..." answered as he got up, Lyria realized he was two heads taller than her at least and she could see the notorious beard that was hidden under the helmet, his rustic features with a scar that crossed his lips and the hair cut almost completely "But I can't..."

Slowly Lyria lowered the weapon.

"Who would order you to do such a thing?"

The question made him frown, it was to be expected, the Hegtai were chosen mainly for their loyalty, maybe he wasn't capable of killing a baby, but he was still trained to obey.

Lyria then looked at the moon, it had moved, she wasted time, if he wasn't going to do anything to her, she had no reason to stay there.

"Damn..." she muttered, dropping the halberd and getting ready to run away from there.

"Wait!" exclaimed the guard, for some reason Lyria stopped, cursing her morality under her breath. "You are an Edhra'zi right?"

The mere mention of that word made her blood boil.

"Listen, I'm glad you have enough humanity," she said. But I have my own issues to resolve, no one wants more attention from us than necessary, so let's pretend we never saw each other, for everyone's sake" then pointed to the infant who was now back in the guard's arms.

"I'll help you," he blurted out without a shred of hesitation.

"What?"

"You being here is a sign from the goddesses," he said "A sign that she deserves to live."

"I think you're exaggerating..."

"Please, she can't stay in Urmayan, if I help you, I just ask you to take her to a safe place," the man begged. "I don't care what your goal is, if you help her, I'll help you."

Lyria took a deep breath.

"What's stopping me from leaving now?" she asked, trying to give herself a reason.

"The same thing that forced you to interfere and save her life," the man answered with certainty. "And surely my soul... please Edhra'zi"

"Don't call me that!" Lyria demanded, surprising the guard a little, the truth was that if he had been ordered to get rid of the baby, disobeying a direct order showed that he would be trusted, and the presence of a royal guard is always useful. "Okay, I'll take her to a safe place, after you help me."

"Anything," he said as he delivered the girl into Lyria's arms, she took her gently and without hesitation, showing that it wasn't the first time she had held something so fragile.

"Very well, I need medicine, a very specific one and I'm sure the alchemists have it," she explained as she rocked the little girl. "You will help me steal it."

The soldier was speechless at the request, the truth was that he did not imagine that this would be his request, but he observed the little girl in his arms, then he took his helmet and put it back on safely by lowering the mask that resembled the beak of a bird on his face.

"We don't have much time then," he stated as he rested his weapon on solid ground, befitting the discipline of a royal guard.

Lyria rolled her eyes in exasperation.

"The temple of the alchemists is nearby," he said.

"Lead the way," she answered as they began to walk. "I'm... Rya, by the way."

"Solen, Hegtai protector of the great Narthe'Ali"

Lyria couldn't help showing surprise on her face, she knew it was a Hegtai, but she didn't know it was someone who worked directly for her.

"So you serve Vesta directly."

"Vesta?" Solen asked,  "No, Queen Vesta passed away thirteen moons ago, I serve under her heiress, Narthe'Ali Ekali".

"Has it really been that long?..." she asked herself.

"How can you not know of the queen's death?" Solen asked, clearly wanting to know more about her newfound ally.

"The less you know about me, the better it will guarantee her safety," she said, pointing to the little girl, something that he noticed was a deviation from the question, but the message was clear.

Solen walked purposefully through the streets with Lyria following him, his armor causing enough noise for some curious eyes to turn to look at them, but the presence of a royal guard was enough to turn their eyes away.

"You must be desperate to want to take something from the alchemists," Solen commented as she walked, without taking her eyes off the front.

"I am".

"It must be someone important."

"It is," Lyria answered coldly again "You talk a lot for a royal guard..."

"You consider two sentences talking too much?" he asked this time looking at her from his shoulder.

"You are trained to brandish your weapons, obey and ask no questions," she answered. "Don't you?"

Solen fell silent, then looked up at the sky watching the full moon.

"Yes, we do."

Lyria heard the melancholy in his voice, which was to be expected considering that it had gone against his upbringing and creed, something they both had in common.

"Well, you did well this time," she commented, receiving a confused look from Solen. "Asking questions... believe me, it's worth it," she said before looking at the baby in her arms, Solen looked at her too, without a hint of regret.

"Now I know"

The moon had barely moved from its place in the night sky when the duo arrived at a large structure, quite simple but imposing, the great pillared walls supporting several balconies housing the lore of the Narthum.

"Wishing to break into the temple of the alchemists..." Solen whispered. "What is your plan?"

"Well..."

"You don't have a plan."

"As I said, time is not on my side, I've improvised everything so far," she answered.

"By the goddesses..."

Lyria looked at the structure, the balconies were a possible entrance, but she had no way to climb up to them, the main entrance was a way in.

"Can't you just ask the alchemists?" Lyria asked. "Show your seal of Hegtai, puff up your chest, and make your authority known."

"As Hegtai, I follow orders from the queen, I would need an official decree," Solen replied "Sealed with the royal symbol... Can't you just go in and look for it yourself?" He asked "After all you're Ed..."

"I would prefer to avoid the risk of being discovered in one of the most private places in Urmayan," she explained, interrupting him with genuine hatred before finishing the sentence. "Anyone can enter the library but the lower floors are heavily guarded and there are few entrances."

"It's quite late, the alchemists must be in their chambers," Sole added "Also, as arrogant as they are, I'm sure they don't expect someone to try to steal from them"

"True... I have an idea."

"Open up!" Desperate screams echoed in the halls, combined with loud knocks on the front door. "Open now!"

The cries for help managed to disturb the sleep of more than one of the residents of the temple, several hastened still wearing their night clothes, simple linen robes.

They opened the heavy main entrance between several, pushing the gates that were twice the size of an adult.

"I come in the name of the Narthe'Ali Ekali," declared the great man in Hegtai armor, pushing his way through the moment the doors opened.

"But what kind of interruption is this?" an old man asked, coming up from among the younger disciples. "What could these...?"

The old man was interrupted by the clash of his pole-blade's handle hitting the ground.

"You answer to the Narthe'Ali whether the sky shows the sun or the moon!" the soldier bellowed with authority, causing the assembled alchemists to lower their heads in both respect and fear. "Is it understood!?"

"Y-yes," the old man stammered. "Whatever the great Narthe'Ali Ekali needs..." he said, keeping his head down.

Solen felt a shadow move across the still-open doorway as attention remained on him.

"Very well, the queen requires information."

Lyria hurried while Solen distracted the alchemists, she walked between the shelves with scrolls and papyrus rolled and meticulously stored, the alchemists' library kept all the knowledge of the Narthum and anyone could access it, at least the knowledge that is on that first floor, since the others were of exclusive access to alchemists.

Even if she hadn't set foot in this place in years, Lyria had memories of where the stairs that led to its storerooms and secret rooms.

Experiments of all kinds were carried out in that temple, medicines, obtaining precious metals and even tools for war happened within those walls.

Rushing down the spiral stairs, past any corridor other than the healers' corridor, touching a plaque next to each entrance and feeling small dots on it, he could identify each room, a method alchemists used to maintain their knowledge.

Down dozens of steps to find the medicine store, as he imagined, the door was closed and locked.

"If it wasn't like this, it wouldn't be fun..." Lyria whispered in frustration, she took the dagger and shoved it into the lock, she didn't have time for niceties.

"Damn Hegtai," he heard the echo of a voice, someone was approaching. "They believe they have the authority to go where they want and ask for what they want."

"Technically they go where the queen wants and ask for whatever she wants."

"Not the point"

The voices grew closer, Lyria began to pick the lock, moving the dagger blade up and down to break the inner seals. Even closer, Lyia broke each latch as fast as she could, one by one the clicks. they sounded inside the lock.

The footsteps were getting louder.

"Come on..." Lyria whispered.

The last latch clicked open, instantly Lyria opened the door and slid in the instant she had enough room, closing it again as quietly as possible, she heard the approaching alchemists pass in front of the door and walking away, she sighed in relief.

Now she had to get the medicine and get out of there as fast as possible.

The room was illuminated with some oil lamps, shelves with dozens of clay jars, different plants, mortars of different sizes and small bags of powders of all kinds, and several work tables where the alchemists experimented with everything they found, looking for new medicines.

One that scared Lyria for a moment, a beast's head was on one of the tables, fresh, not yet beginning to decompose, it was the head of one of Ooram's most feared predators, she watched as the feline with fangs like spears had been reduced almost to a trophy, although the fangs had been cut, surely to grind them into medicinal powder, the eyes were closed, but deep down Lyria feared that at some point he would wake up.

She shook her head coming back to reality, the medicine for Jaren must be there, mold that glowed in the dark, if she found the ingredient she could find it.

She began to check the jars, bags and drawers, finding everything from colored powders to animal organs, until an empty jar, its borders had luminous remains the color of algae accumulated on the water.

"Deep-root mold..." She read the inscription on the clay, found it, and if it was empty it means they had used it to make the medicine.

She moved closer to the work tables, keeping an eye out for any signs of mold.

One of them had traces of mold and a pot next to it, Lyria uncorked the pot, the strong smell of fermented mold and roots penetrated Lyria's nose, as if it were liquor made of mud and leaves, she couldn't help but cough for this, she covered the vessel again and hid it as well as possible under her cloak.

It was time to go.

She immediately went to the door, couldn't waste any more time.

"What the...?" was the only thing Lyria heard when she opened the door, to her right, an alchemist had just passed by the door and heard her.

Lyria felt as if everything around her stopped, her heart pounded so hard she could feel the blood running from her chest to her fingertips, once again she had lowered her guard, and this time it could cost her her life.

She couldn't allow it.

An instinct she hadn't felt in too many moons took hold of her, as the alchemist's head snapped around, her hand emerged from her cloak and struck the man's neck with her fingertips right in the windpipe, instantly. Unable to breathe, Lyria grabbed his head, pulling him with all her strength and slamming him against the wall of the stairs.

The alchemist fell to the ground unconscious instantly, that's when Lyria assimilated what she did, her breathing hitched and her hands began to shake.

"Why am I being tested like this?" she asked herself as she dragged the alchemist's body into the room and placed it under one of the work tables, then looked at the spear-toothed head, heightening the feeling that she was being watched.

This time after making sure that no one was there, she left the room and went up the stairs as fast as possible, holding on tight to the pot with the medicine.

Upon reaching the bottom of the stairs, she could see Solen in front of one of the shelves, accompanied by two alchemists, the three of them were talking about a scroll in Solen's hands, Lyria looked at the doors, still open, she didn't stop to wait for the Hegtai to sense her presence, like a shadow she slipped head down to the exit, a few more steps and she had accomplished the mission.

"It's done, now disappear" ideas ran through Lyria's mind on the edge of the exit, ideas of leaving the Hegtai behind, she didn't know him or owe him anything.

Despite that, the idea of ​​abandoning an innocent girl like that caused a knot in her chest, in a way, she was glad to know that the guilt would devour her if she broke her promise.

Once through the portal and away from the temple gates and blending into the shadows of the nearest alley, she pressed her palms together, catching air between her hands, pressed her lips to the opening between her thumbs and blew delicately, a harmonious whistle emerged from her hands, the signal for Solen to stop distracting the alchemists.

Lyria approached an abandoned box on that street, removing the top cover, at the bottom, the little girl wrapped in leather was resting, she wondered how she was able to sleep so peacefully, Jaren's first days had been crying uncontrollably.

A few seconds passed when he heard the metallic thump of the Hegtai's armor.

"You got it?" Solen asked, Lyria carefully carrying the baby, tossed aside her cloak, revealing the vessel attached to her belt.

"Got it," he answered.

Solen smiled.

"Perfect, let's go before they notice that its are missing"

"And before you notice the unconscious body..." Lyria said as she stepped forward.

"The what?"

"Let's go, quickly"

The two headed east, to the edge of Urmayan with the great sand sea, where the mounts were kept and cared for.

"The stables are this way, I'll get you a mount to go," Solen said as they both hurried forward.

Lyria walked looking over her shoulder every few steps, scanning every corner, every shadow, the feeling of an enemy gaze on the back of her neck already becoming irritating.

"By the way..." Solen's voice brought his concentration forward. "Distracting the Alchemists, I asked them for information of the first thing that came to my mind and..."

Lyria knew where this was going.

"You asked about the Edhra'zi," she interrupted.

"Yeah..." Solen admitted. "Information on their operations is normally secret, but a Hegtai saying he was under the queen's command was enough."

Lyria stopped dead, for some reason unable to look up.

"Say what you want," she blurted out. "I lived through hell under the service of your great Narthe'Ali, we did his dirty work, we stole what was necessary, we killed whoever ordered us and..."

The weight of Solen's hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"They are trained to give all they are for the good of the Narthum," Solen commented. "Chosen as children... orphaned or given away by their families, trained as spies, assassins even, in the name of the goddesses..."

Lyria held back tears as memories flooded her mind.

"I swore I would never be... this again," she sobbed. "But the moment I step foot in this place I went back to..."

"The protector of an innocent," Solen finished. "The moment you stepped on Urmayan, you saved a life and changed another Rya," he stated "My mentor once told me that while we're capable of doing things like that, it's how we use it that defines us, and I think you did an honorable thing."

She looked up.

"What do the Hegtai know about this?"

Solen smiled as he looked down at the little girl in his arms.

"We are chosen as children, orphaned or given away by our families, trained as soldiers, assassins even, in the name of the goddesses," he repeated, Lyria couldn't help but feel a certain calm at his words. "I told you this was a sign." Then he turned to follow the path.

Lyria began to consider that perhaps she was right.

"Lyria," she confessed as she fell in step with him. "My real name is Lyria."

"Ha!" Solen blurted out. "That never crossed my mind."

"What are you talking about?"

"I knew you gave me a fake name and I was trying to guess what the real one was, I never would have guessed."

"Surely you would have thought of it in time."

Arriving at the edge of the city, Lyria could recognize the smell of the desert, and the sound of sand rustling in the wind, Solen explained that he would take her to the stables, give her a mount with which she can return home, and that the worst had passed, as well as for the little girl in her arms.

"Can you ride?" Solen asked as they approached the stables, the smell of animals and their waste was present, Lyria could see the fence that surrounded the large space of land where the animals could walk when they were not resting in their kennels.

"I've taken camels before, it's not that hard."

"Camels?" he asked now in an incredulous tone. "If you use a camel whoever needs that medicine will be dead before you get there."

"Then what's your plan...?" Lyria stopped when she realized what Solen was talking about. "No" she said firmly just before they passed the wooden fence.

"I didn't know you were in a position to deny help," he said as he opened the fence, gesturing for Lyria to enter.

"I don't consider this to be helpful..." Lyria commented before walking past, the ground a combination of dirt and trampled hay.

Solen approached one of the stalls and rested his halberd against one of the posts that supported the roof, they were all secured, and their saddles rested on each door, though they were basically straps that held the rider in place, she could hear the deep breathing animals, Lyria kept a safe distance.

"Wake up precious," the Hegtai said as he took his safety harness and removed the small metal bar that kept the door closed, then he walked a few steps back, Lyria noticed that despite the almost fatherly tone with which he spoke, he was alert, Solen gave a short, sharp whistle, instantly something was heard moving on the hay in the shed, followed by the sound that Lyria identified as one stone hitting another.

Then Solen whistled again, again short and sharp, at that moment the huge jashi emerged from its nest, letting out light caws as it advanced with each step, Lyria had underestimated the size of those terror birds, Solen's looked like a child in comparison, its muscular legs ending in thick claws the size of his hands, not to mention the huge beak that ended in a hook ideal for ripping meat.

"Here, with me" said Solen indicating the animal, since its eyes were covered by a special leather mask, Lyria had heard that this method allowed the Hegtai to mount them better at the time of a battle, preventing the jashi from being distracted by Whatever happens around, the mask was attached to the back of the skull and had domes over the eyes to protect them, one would think that ornaments were not necessary when the sunset-colored plumage around its body and neck already made a great impression.

The jashi snapped its beak as it approached Solen, just as Lyria thought, like two stones colliding, the bird leveled its head to match Solen's height even though she wasn't able to see it, at that moment Solen relaxed and stroked the beak of his mount.

"You'll have a long walk, beautiful," he said as he began to scratch the bird's neck, which seemed to be to its liking considering the sharp calls it was making, at the same time Solen secured the reins on the mask, he also pushed aside the dense plumage Revealing a full harness on the bird's torso, he took the saddle and placed it on its back, securing it to the harness firmly.

Lyria noted Solen's undeniable fondness for the animal.

"I don't like this," she said. "They say that the jashi bird of a Hegtai are stubborn"

"She's a sweetie once she gets to know you."

"I prefer a camel..."

"Now who's the stubborn one?" Solen scoffed, receiving absolutely nothing from Lyria, he sighed as he took the reins of his jashi and guided her to his side.

"You will not find a faster animal in Urmayan Lyria," he explained. "It is the only option."

Still in denial, Lyria walked to the side of the bird, Solen still holding the reins.

"Now, one foot in the stirrup," Solen instructed, and Lyria complied and placed her foot. "And up" he said, taking her firmly by the waist and lifting her over the bird, even with the little one in her arms she managed to stabilize herself, but the animal was not so happy, sudden movements and squawks made it known that she was not comfortable with whoever was riding her.

"Soo," Solen tried to calm her down.

Lyria took the reins, and pulled them hard so that the animal understood that her orders had to be followed, she managed to accommodate her legs under the useless wings of the bird, the jashi let out one last squawk before obeying her new rider.

"I think you'll get along well..." Solen affirmed now with a melancholy tone, looking at the little girl in Lyria's arms. "I hope you have a good life... both of you." He finished now looking at Lyria.

"You did the right thing, Hegtai Solen," she said, smiling at him. "Never doubt it."

The soldier could barely contain his smile, but he immediately looked away.

"Come to think of it, you never told me her name," Lyria commented referring to the baby.

"She..." Solen blurted out, unable to answer "He doesn't own one yet."

"...Do you want to name her?"

"Me?"

"You practically gave her life, it's your right," Lyria affirmed, leaning so that Solen could see her clearly one last time.

"Hamsra," Solen said, Lyria smiled.

"It's beautiful... Is that the name of your...?"

"Very well, you have someone important to go with," Solen interrupted. "Daik!" he exclaimed as he hit the back of his jashi, the bird began to run instantly, Lyria had to hold the reins tightly to prevent it from colliding with something, she directed it to the open door.

"How am I supposed to return it!?" she yelled after leaving the stables as she walked away.

"Take the blindfold off and she'll come home!" Solen answered, watching as they disappeared into the night landscape outside of Urmayan, the sound of her mount's legs hitting the ground slowly receding until it disappeared over the desert horizon.

He sighed heavily, still absorbing what had happened that night, he had broken his oath as Hegtai, manipulated the name of the great Narthe'Ali for his own benefit, and endangered the resources of the Narthum.

And still, he felt proud.