Cier’s frosted face, although fridgid, burned red from the turmoil in his heart. Droplets of ice shattered to the stone bricking beneath him. 

It was just when he found himself having destroyed the rest of his bedroom that a familiar knocking came from the entrance to interrupt any progression. A tired huff escaped the troubled man’s quivering lips as his breath became visible in the frozen air. Unfortunately this wasn’t someone to ignore. He already knew who stood behind the door. The sound of her knuckles tapping the mahogany was something Cier had become accustomed to for a few years now, and upon undoing the latch, his adviser was revealed. Tall and elegant she was, with hair nearing white as snow. Just as striking in appearance as the man she aided. Yet she was not old as one might think from a distant glance. Not at all as there was not a wrinkle to her bronze skin. 

“My lord, I’m afraid Sir Jerelk has spotted visitors lurking about the perimeter.” She informed with nothing but a calm decorum, her scarlet eyes hiding behind an emerald fan embroidered in pure threads of gold. Though fearless of this fact, believing that the sheer power the dark emperor possessed couldn’t possibly become overshadowed, there was not a smidge of worry within her. Of course, not would any amount of men stand against him and the icy, whirling, thunderstorm that drowned Seanate and every land he staked claim.

“Bless you, Neviessa.” These words he uttered, not even bothering to look the women in the eyes as he once would have. His face was shielded in too much darkness for her to even attempt to meet the royal’s gaze just yet. Cier could not bring himself to admit that deeply, he was ashamed by the emotions he couldn’t stop from bleeding through his weakening front. Reminding himself he had no time to dwell in the suffering of loss and near meaningless existence - because he would not allow himself to surrender.

To her, although her presence practically cast aside, she knew this this man like the back of her hand. It was an understatement to say that Cier was distressed, she could see it merely by the hunch of his silhouette, however, within a split second of announcing enemy arrival, the pain embedded in his appearance dissolved into solely frustration. Gritting teeth, he already started his stride towards the outer gate, soon his frown grew into a wide grin.  Meanwhile, Neviessa looked on at the demigod from the mess he left, staring blankly from where she stood in the hall behind him. 

Cier soon burst out from the mighty structure. Following him was a posse of hundreds of knights. As if he even needed them, there was much more where they came from. As they moved out to search for their  guests, the wind picked up dramatically with the rage that rolled in the emperor’s exhausted eyes.

“Show yourselves!” His voice boomed, echoing throughout the mountain range. 

“We are aware you are here.”