THE RISE OF EXILE

TWO PERSONS

Far away, outside the capital, facing South, stood a thousand years old gigantic tree in glorious. Spring is near to come.  Sumire standing in magnificence at the utmost part of the tree wearing her long dark red lacey gown, flaunting her skin as white as snow,  silently watching the breathtaking scenery can be seen below her, vividly. The meadows were filled with cattles and sheeps resting at the Northside, ranges of mountains majestically rising towards the sky at the Westside, the seagulls kissing the vast ocean, the chirping lovely birds give off a wonderful sight. Sumire, with no traces of fear can be seen in her beautiful face, her depressing dark eyes were fixed, admiring the alluring scene witnessing the sun setting slowly over the Eastern horizon. The cold breeze gently blew the strands of her long black straight hair beautifully, she's like a living mortal goddess that just descended to the earth.

"How'd you find me here?..." Sumire asked in an annoying tone.

The butler bow as a sign of respect. "Signorina Sumire, milady, I deeply apologize for rudely barging in without your permission, but your presence is highly needed in the Manor.." The butler said apologetically.

Sumire has known already how she was found even the butler does not have the guts to say it to her. It was Narco. She gracefully lands on the ground, frowning. By then, without a word, she left the butler and make her way to see her long best friend Narco.

*Flashback*

It was a gloomy night 15 years ago, at the edge where the sky meets the sea, the full moon shines so brightly. A well-known château stands proudly on the cliff facing the serene ocean, hosted a party exclusively for the elites clan. The sound of the breeze is soothing as the wild fireflies light up the whole place. Sumire, at 6 years of age, sitting on the golden terrace watching the panoramic views while sipping her glass of juice. Her rosy cheeks glow at night, her eyes were emotionless matching her long wavy eyelashes, wearing her adorable dress with sandals, she's just like a walking living doll. Suddenly, a mysterious kid around her age wearing an elegant suit caught her attention. His presence shrouded in mystery. He was alone and no one seemed to accompany him. He was about to cast off from the place, but his name was written in the invitation list. The guardsmen start asking about his family origin yet he just answered them with a creepy smile, devoid of emotions. His ancestor is quite unknown.

He walked in, like there is nothing that just happened, approaching Sumire slowly with a big smile painted on his face.

"The moon sure is beautiful tonight... I can smell death around it." Narco said jovially.

"Yeah, stunning.." Sumire answered unemotionally while looking up the vast cosmos.

"Have you ever being nice to a stranger?.." Narco curiously looked at her.

"I'm being nice to you, have I stabbed you? No." Sumire answered uninterestingly.

"I have candy, I stole it from the toddler when I was on my way here. I saw his face shifted from smiling to crying...and it was beautiful.." Narco said like a sort of psycho.

Sumire just stared right into his soul, long enough to make him feel uncomfortable. She accepted the candy and later on eat it like she didn't bother if it was coming from a thief. Narco was surprised knowing that there would be someone who didn't bother to ask where he came from and unexpectedly, accepted his gift without any hesitation even after knowing it was a stolen candy. By then, Narco believed that this little doll can be his PLAYMATE for tonight. On the other hand, Sumire didn't even care if who she be with, as long as he vibes with her nothing else that matters.

The two became comfortable with each other. Like they found each other's a twin. They ended up their night by spending much talking.

"Narco is my name...can you be my girl-friend, Ms. Doll?.." He said

"Sumire...Sure! ". She said without any reluctance and shake their hands like they have an accord.

*Present*

After arriving at the Palace Library, her eyes immediately scan the huge shelves occupying almost the whole place looking for the specific person. And there, near the window, she saw Narco sitting and calmly reading a book. She quickly fled towards him and pinch his right ear. He was taken aback. Knowing his attitude, Narco was the only person who knows her that much even her hiding place, so he surely the one who told the butler. What could the butler have given to him so that he would spill out where she was hiding?. Sumire began to wonder,  knowing that Narco would not say anything without having something in return.

"You didn't even go on ranking day and here you are spilling my place that supposed to be a secret! How co--". Sumire's furious voice echoing every inch of the corner. People around them were afraid, starting to leave the place.

Narco raised a quizzical eyebrow. He did not let her finished what she was about to say, looking at her intently. He was serious this time.

"I know you may misunderstand me..." Narco paused a little, facing Sumire this time with his solemn manner.  "...I did tell him where you were hiding because I know where exactly it is, but not because he gave me this rare wine... ", showing the wine out of nowhere. "I'm a man of morals, you know.." Narco sits comfortably in the broken chair where he fell off, while continuously scanning the book he was holding.

"Traitor!.." Sumire hissed angrily towards him while holding herself not to destroy the whole place.

Narco sighed heavily while looking at her helplessly. " You must clarify the agreement with your family, not all the time you can escape away from them..."

Sumire looked at him apathetically, the fire in her blood embers in her eyes. Her aura became even more darkened as she stood calmly in front of him.

"Escape, huh?. What about you my dearest friend, how long do you plan to run away from everything? How long will you be playing like that? Hiding like a scaredy feline for the rest of your life?...pathetic...".

Narco slammed the book shut as if he did not like what Sumire had said. Sumire felt his irritation through his smile, she knows she hit him real hard. A two-faced person like him is easy to trigger knowing that it would be the last thing he would like to hear from anyone.  Narco slowly rose and face her, smiling psychotically.

The earth beneath the place began to tremble, shocks climbing towards above the ground. The sky outside started to dim and become misty cold. The clashes of auras light up the whole place. Narco's black Tyrian purple and Sumire's sullen dark-crimson blood auras terrifyingly radiate the whole Palace Library. Large files of books went flying and scattered around them. The lights were off and all broken. The gravitation pulled more causing debris to fall. The wind blows wickedly, creating chaos inside the library. Narco stood, smiling towards Sumire's emotionless stare.

"Did I hit the Achilles' heel, am I?...". Sumire smirked, looking at him pathetically.

Narco stood still wearing a smile full of irritation. "You're getting more and more nasty, I like it...".

As things got more serious,  the head of the librarian approached and drove them away to avoid any more commotion and havoc. As the two-step out the library, the rumbling stopped, the sun slightly come to shine as the thick mist covered the place gradually disappeared. Everything went back to normal. Someone from the empire summoned Sumire, the current General of Exile, named General ALISAR.

Sumire makes her way to the empire which 5 kilometers away from the Palace Library, wearing her unusual attire, with her cold-blooded looks, she gracefully walked like a devil queen at the surface of the earth and Hell is her home. Her intimidating aura makes people bend down their knees to the ground. Her authority is way much stronger than men. Sumire discerned a figure approaching through the fog, silently following her all the way from the library.

" Why did you follow me all the way up here?..", Sumire stopped while her lifeless eyes-rolling.

No matter how much Narco wanted to conceal his presence from her, Sumire can always sense him even without looking at him directly. Sumire believed that she is way more powerful than him when it comes to magic, but there is something about him offs, an ability that enables him to conceal his presence and magic into nothingness. Only her among the top 10 elite sorcerers can perceive his ability even if her eyes were closed. Narco suddenly appeared out of nowhere, smiled at her creepily.

"Aren't you gonna tell me why the hell you are following me?...if you denied it, why do you still have to conceal your presence...tsss...". Sumire just hissed.

"I just want to ruin your day even more.." Narco whistles into the thin air like a scumbag. He completely aware that he cannot hide away from her, he just wants to annoy her to death. "....kidding..". He continued.

"I wanna make up for what I did, so am here to help on your mission.." Narco sincerely approached her.

Sumire just looked at him, frowning. "Whatever! Make yourself useful then, do not be a burden to us..". Narco walked beside her and they headed together to the Palace like nothing seriously happened back at the Palace Library.

CASTELLON DE VANIA

They arrive at the grandiose meeting hall. Sumire and Narco went in. The palace is extravagant. Huge chandeliers were hanging at every corner. Golden stairways were seen at the entrance. Seven thick, square towers piercing the sky and are connected by fairly low, thick walls made of bluestone.

Tall windows are scattered generously across the walls in an asymmetric pattern where the rays of the sun genuinely light the rooms. A vast gate with great metal doors, a regular bridge, and large crenellations guards the only easy way across the river and it's the only way in, at least without taking down the castle walls. The fort of stone-built on blood and bone could talk, beg for vengeance. The whispers of ages heard, tales of lives lost and deaths of agony no one should ever feel. The ghost of the past remains at the heart of the castle.

Trees grow close to the castle gates and provide it with valuable wood for all sorts of purposes. This castle has clearly stood the test of time and its inhabitants are intended on making sure it stays that way for ages to come. 

 In the huge hall, Sumire opens the door as she calmly walks towards the table where the high-ranking officials of Exile Empire gathered together to talk about the m******e of the nearby village.

"Sumire, I want you and your troops to deal with the crisis that happened at Morye Village, one day ago....", General Alisar looked at her with full of authority. "...according to the report, the village was attacked by some group of unknown bandits and brutally kills most of the people in the middle of the night. Find and murder them, leave no one alive...that's an order!.". The General said in a serious tone.

"I will, sire!...". Sumire said, her eyes and voice were void of emotions.

Narco, after hearing the mission where Sumire is in charge, left the place without a word. He went back to his old, abandoned mansion, a manor that cannot be called someone's home.

Each top 10 elite force has its troops. Sumire, summons her comrades, a  group of 5 skilled assassins' with normal magic ability, but excels in the field of combat fighting. Their group was named X-troop. Sumire and her cohorts began to prepare to depart.

.......

On the other side. Narco silently read the Forbidden book around the corner, right-hand thrust in the pocket,  sitting near the cold hearth. Living such grand and empty, dank with small windows, surrounded by its filth. The mansion gloomily stood in the middle of nowhere with glamorous yet deadly plants enticing gloriously around it. It was someone's home but later was abandoned by the owner. Narco currently occupying the mansion out of shattered stone, ever since he was banished from his own home.

As he was reading the book suddenly,  something fell out of the room. Narco didn't have the time to react when his vision started losing his sight, wanders in the darkness, and at the same time, he failed to use his magic. He heard footsteps slowly approaching him.

"Who are you?..". Narco asked stood still, never seems to be afraid. No one answered.

"Who the hell are you?.." Narco asked once again. Only the sound of footsteps echoing the place. Not less than a minute he was hanging into the air, someone was choking him tightly. "Is it a vampire?" Narco's instinct tells him.

He was dragged out of the room by an unknown force. He was brutally beaten like death were almost on his palm. Heavy punches tear most of his limbs into pieces, a metallic smell of blood lingers in the air. The garden of wild flora is painted with crimson blood.

"I think I have overdone it. I forgot you were weak...". A deep lovely voice whispered into his ear.

"You filthy bastard, what do you want from me...". Narco's fainting voice was almost not be heard.

"Do not dare go with her.". A mysterious lady said and disappeared as if nothing happened, he was left there bathe with blood.

What is going on...

To be continued...

Note:

CASTELLON DE VANIA - a palace  where most important events such as meetings, selections, executions and many more were held.