[i]It was ten years ago. So long ago that I didn’t think I would remember, but I remember it all like a vivid dream. It was just hours before I was set to marry Vincent Darcone. He was the younger brother of Jackson, someone who I had admired for years. I thought Jackson was going to be my husband as our families were close, but apparently there was a different plan. My father had made a deal with Emperor Simon Darcone. In exchange for amnesty for Glacier Village, my father agreed to sell me off to the Darcone family. I was barely a teen, but he sold me off like some slave. His own daughter had been sold off.

I thought it was going to be okay. I knew it would because I had my guardian angel. Well, okay not exactly my guardian angel. He was more like an uncle to me. He was my father’s old war buddy. Both of them had served in a hunter’s guild back in the day. His name was Glacier Frost. He was now a rising general for the Archadian Army. He was poised to be Simon’s top general, surpassing the current general, Suijin Glacie, Savayna’s older brother. He was a man that she looked up to.

Somewhere down the line, maybe a couple more years, Suijin succumbed to a mysterious assassination. He was poisoned by an arrow. I remember it well. He was a great warrior and had the respect of many. I looked up to him for most of my life. He was seven years older than I was. When he died, my Uncle Glacier, or rather General Frost now, took his slot. I was proud for him, of course. How could I not be? He had earned it. SEveral years under service, and he finally became the General he had vied for since he enlisted after his hunter days. It was a glorious day, even Leviathan was happy for him. She was just one year older than I was, but already she had made Captain, and was well on her way to becoming the fifth judge, replacing Vincent because Vincent himself was going to take a place by his father’s side as his top advisor. To gain experience for the day he would take his father’s place as Emperor since Jackson was too busy with Operation Ifrit, a secret, classified project commissioned by a secret, third-party organization with interests in warships.

It was all perfect. And yet, I remember it being nothing but a facade. It was..[/i]

“[color=lightblue][b]IT’S A TRAP! FATHER NOOO![/b][/color]” Savayna shouted, her voice like screeching nails on a rusty chalkboard. She looked around, seeing that she was inside a tent, a fire lit aflame nearby. She winced as she felt a surge of pain go through her shoulders. She saw Grant near her, looking at her with those eyes of his. “[color=lightblue][b]Where am I? Last I remember..[/b][/color]” 

Savayna recalled. Was that a dream? No, I most certainly was telling him about someone, but who?
[hr]
Amid the tour and the moment that he and Lorenzo were having, the thought of Archadia had completely slipped Jaakuna’s mind. It had to have been a couple of hours at the very least. Surely word would have gotten to Roman by now. Even if he was busy with the responsibilities of being Emperor of Archadia, he should have heard back from him by now. It was extremely diserning.

Jaakuna mulled on that thought, appearing broody, which would have been obvious. He  then looked to Lorenzo, and said, “[color=ed1c24][b]Should still be a couple of more hours, but let me check with Iris.[/b][/color]” Jaakuna looked up, “[color=ed1c24][b]Iris, has Roman got back to you yet?[/b][/color]”

Silence for a moment, then Iris said, “[color=7ea7d8][b]According to my logs, he hasn’t responded yet. Shall I sent another message?[/b][/color]” She asked.

“[color=ed1c24][b]No, it’s fine. I’ll call him myself from my personal quarters,[/b][/color]” Jaakuna said, concerned.

As he would ponder once more, Jaakuna felt something deep in his gut that felt familar. Every time something bad happened, it’s like he had a premonition of sorts. Or like a consistent gut feeling that told him only bad things awaited him on his journey. It happened when he fought Aloa and Vlyn in Bhujerba. It also happened last night on the beach with Lola. So it definitely wasn’t a good sign.

“[color=ed1c24][b]Lorenzo, I’m sorry, but I need tend to some things. Iris will show you to the barracks. Maybe go check on REia. She did seem to be tired, so I’m sure some company could help.[/b][/color]” Jaakuna was lying obviously, but he wanted to make sure he wasn’t going to be interrupted.