Chapter 1: Homefront

Alexis Veres sat alone in the dark, warm enough not to shiver, but too cold to be comfortable. Her arms were bound in iron shackles, hurting her wrists, and the stale air of the dungeon made her nauseous. She was seated in a chair with uneven legs, at a table that had been made from the roughest wood available and would give a splinter with every touch. A heavy door, locked tight, stood at the end of the small stone room.

As uncomfortable as she was, she appreciated the quiet. It gave her time to process everything she had just seen. It was Knight’s Day, and just hours ago, she had watched Noah defeat Prince Seraph in battle, then proceed to torture him until he attempted suicide. Soon after the fight ended and Noah disappeared, Alexis was arrested, and she feared Sophia had been as well.

Interrupting her thoughts, the door to the room opened, and an old dwarf entered with a lit candle. “Lady Veres, do you know who I am?”

“Sir Marcus Berholm, Royal Adjudicator,” Alexis replied, trying to keep her voice steady and her fear in check.

“That is correct. When the king needs to know things, I am the one who finds them out. Right now, the king needs to know everything you know about Sir Noah. In a just world, you and I would be enjoying this day, celebrating with our fellow knights, but instead, you and Lady Rosege are locked in here, and I have the task of acquiring every truth and secret you hold. Were Sir Gradius still in charge of interrogations, the two of you would have lost your fingernails already, but I do not believe in such draconian measures.”

He then reached into his robes and pulled out a small glass bottle. “This is a potion you wouldn’t have learned about at the academy, as we no longer have the means to produce it. It is a truth serum. A few drops of this would have you spilling every secret you keep buried in the depths of your soul. I have been authorized to use this on you and Lady Rosege should you fail to give me what I want, and any other methods I see fit to get my answers.”

The mentioning of Sophia sent a tremor of fear through her, but Alexis steadied herself. “You won’t need it,” she said softly, with tired eyes.

“Oh?”

“He knew this would happen. He knew that someday we would be questioned like this. He even mentioned a truth serum being used on me. He saw it all coming.”

“Sir Noah, you mean?”

Alexis nodded. “He made me and Sophia swear that we would never reveal his secrets, not to anyone, but he offered an exception. He told us to sell him out if it guaranteed our freedom and safety. He said he didn’t want to force us to choose between him and each other.”

“So he knew that you would inevitably be questioned for the things he did. Did you know what it would be for?”

“No. Sophia and I had no idea what he planned to do to the princes and their friends. He kept us in the dark about a lot of things.”

“Do you know what he did to Henryk Schtern, or the whereabouts of Mark Saveat?”

“He looked me dead in the eye and told me he had nothing to do with them. I guess I was a fool to believe him.”

“I want you to start at the beginning. Tell me how you two met.”

“We met last year on a ship heading down the Paleon Channel from a town named Took. At the time, I was tracking a pack of ogres that had ransacked my family’s territory. The ogres attacked us, and we ended up fighting side-by-side. His skill was incredible. It took everything I had just to keep up with him. We ended up exterminating the whole pack together, then separated after that. He continued on his way to Colbrand, and I had to return home.

We met again several days later, enrolling into the academy.” She gave a dry chuckle. “We became friends out of mutual respect for each other on the battlefield, and because neither of us had anyone else to talk to. We were stuck together like that for the whole year.”

“What did he tell you about himself?”

“Very little, unfortunately. He was quiet; we both were. The things he initially told me about his life, I later found out were all lies. He claimed to be the son of a mighty adventurer and told me what it was like growing up, about his family, but none of it was true.”

“But you knew that for a while, didn’t you?”

“I had my suspicions. I could tell that there was something strange about Noah. I sensed there was so much he wasn’t telling me. Even now, I’m still trying to figure out the truth from the lies.”

“I understand there were some incidents involving him at the academy. I’ve heard them retold from others, and now I want to hear you explain it.”

“It started when he sparred with Lady Zodiac on the first day. I wasn’t there to see it, but everyone who witnessed it spoke of him like a god. Not to be outdone, Prince Seraph attacked Lady Zodiac, but failed to match her as Noah did. When dueling was introduced, Seraph immediately challenged Noah, and he refused, treating the whole thing as a children’s game that he could just ignore.

There was bad blood between me and Seraph, so I took Noah’s place. Seraph almost killed me, but lost on a technicality and was forbidden from challenging Noah again. Prince Galvin then pitted Henryk and Mark against him, and they didn’t stand a chance. When Galvin challenged Noah, Noah demanded they wager Sophia.”

“She was Prince Galvin’s betrothed at the time, correct?”

“Yes, and he loved to torment her. He used her as a slave, made her watch as he violated women, and hit her when she spoke out of turn. I was looking for a way to break the engagement and save her from him. Noah beat me to it and ended up pulverizing Galvin.” She spoke the words while staring off into the distance with a slight smirk on her lips, only for it to disappear. “Then ... he and Sophia spent the night together. We all heard them. At the very least, he succeeded in breaking Galvin’s hold over her.”

“I recall rumors of him taking part in some strange performance at the Knight’s Sheath.”

“Apparently, many cadets wanted some bedroom advice, so he gave it to them, and then some. The first part was actually a very informative lecture on the human body. I was there to see it and came away knowing more about myself than I thought possible. I decided not to stick around for the live demonstration.

Everything was peaceful for a while, then out of the blue, Henryk was struck with paralysis, and I heard rumors about Mark acting strange. Then, one day, I learned about Noah’s ... performance ... with Duchess Herald. Noah revealed that the Knight’s Sheath had been destroyed and that Galvin was the culprit. His stint with the duchess was an act of vengeance to humiliate them both.

After finding out about his mother, Galvin tried to kill Noah, and chased him into the slums. He claimed he abandoned him there, and Galvin was attacked by vagrants, but deep down, I knew Noah had done something horrible to him. I suspected then that he had a hand to play in the fates of Henryk and Mark. I thought that was the end of it. I thought the worst was behind us. But, today, I noticed Noah and Seraph were missing, and I figured out what was going on.”

“You were a witness to his fight with Prince Seraph. You heard the things he said. According to Tarnas and others, he referred to himself as a ‘spirit’ that had lived for thousands of years. What can you tell me that?”

Alexis gave a bitter laugh. “Believe him. Noah constantly lies, but the words he spoke then are words you can believe. After defeating Galvin in the duel, Noah revealed to me that he was older than he appeared, much, much older, and right before we were knighted, he let me and Sophia in on the details.

He wasn’t born in our world; he simply arrived here. The young man you see is merely the form he takes. He sheds bodies the way a snake sheds its skin, and even if you kill him, he immediately gains a new body somewhere else. He is an ancient being, possessing knowledge and tools from other worlds, and told me straight to my face that he was alive long before I was born, and would be alive long after I died.”

“And now he has defected with one of our best knights. Do you know where they are going?”

“He told me that they were going after Sir Valon Zodiac, to try and break Noah’s curse, but he didn’t tell me where exactly they were headed.”

“But should he ever return, I need to know if he is a threat to this country.”

“Noah is neither friend nor enemy, because he simply doesn’t care, and if you act foolishly ... pray he decides to kill you quickly.”

“You act like he is above blame and consequence.”

“And you act like he is a normal person. I made that mistake; we all did.”

“You claim he doesn’t care, but he performed unspeakable crimes because his favorite brothel was burned down.”

“He told me he didn’t care about the brothel, just about the notes and research the proprietress owned. He came to Colbrand looking for answers about his existence, and Seraph and the others took that away from him. I don’t agree with what he did, but the fact remains that he warned them repeatedly not to antagonize him, and they stepped on the dragon’s tail.”

“Is that the stance you are taking?”

“My stance is that I did not aid Noah in his crimes, nor did I know about them. Right now, I wish I could give him a black eye for putting me in this situation.”

“You claim that you and Lady Rosege had no knowledge or participation in Noah’s actions, but the fact remains that Princes Seraph and Galvin, who you admit to having unfavorable relationships with, suffered at his hand. You even admit that he annulled Prince Galvin’s arranged marriage, something that you yourself wished to do. Prince Seraph almost killed you in a duel, and Noah has now done the same thing to him. The argument could be made that his actions were for your benefit, and possibly at your behest.”

“I never wanted him to do something so horrible! I tried to stop Noah from torturing Seraph!”

“Or you made it look like you wanted to stop him, so you would appear innocent. Since your guilt in colluding with the fugitive known as Noah cannot yet be proven, you and Lady Rosege will not be executed as confederates to his crimes against the country.

However, we cannot prove your innocence either, so until he is found, the kingdom cannot risk you two running off and joining him. Therefore, your positions in the knighthood are suspended until further notice, and the two of you shall remain under lock and key until Noah is captured and can collaborate your innocence.”

His words sent terror through Alexis, making her sick. She and Sophia would be imprisoned until Noah was caught? That could take years, if it was even possible for them to find him. Their families might kick up a fuss, but that would only be if they found out. How long would the two of them be forced to remain in the dungeon?

There was a knock at the door, and Berholm got up to answer. Alexis saw a soldier standing on the other side of the door, and he whispered something to the dwarf, who then turned to Alexis. “Come with me,” he said, brandishing a key and using it to unlock her shackles.

She followed him through the dank corridors and up the stairs, out of the dungeon. There, waiting at the entrance, was Sophia, and the last person she expected. “Ah, Alexis, darling, it’s good to see you,” said Madam Cyrilo, standing with Daniel beside her.

It was the middle of the afternoon, granting her enough vitality to leave the Knight’s Sheath. She did so in an extravagant dress, a hat decorated with a colorful plume of feathers, and an abundance of jewelry.

“Madam Cyrilo? What are you doing here?” Alexis asked.

“That’s what I’d like to know, too,” said Berholm.

“Oh Marcus, don’t get sour. The king is aware that Prince Galvin was responsible for the original Knight’s Sheath burning down, and as such, he owes me a favor, a favor which I am calling in. Rather than sitting in the dungeon, you and Sophia will come work for me.”

Alexis felt her stomach twist into knots, with the icy blade of dread slipping between her ribs. Though Sophia had learned to conceal her misery and terror when she was Galvin’s betrothed, she clearly felt the same. They were going to be working at the Knight’s Sheath? A brothel? If she had to choose between selling her body to strange men or waiting in the dungeon, she knew which choice she would take.

“Madam Cyrilo, I truly appreciate your concern, but—”

“And the king has agreed to this?” Berholm asked.

“Yes, as long as I’m responsible for making sure the two of them don’t leave the city. I think you’ll find everything in order,” Cyrilo replied, handing Berholm a contract signed by her and the king.

“Very well then. I’ll leave the two of them in your care. Enjoy the rest of Knight’s Day.”

Berholm walked away, but Alexis’s tension didn’t ease. She felt like she couldn’t breathe.

“Now, now, dear, don’t give me that pained look,” said Cyrilo. “Believe it or not, I’m here at Noah’s directive.”

Her announcement shook Alexis and Sophia from their silent stupor. “What do you mean?” Sophia asked.

“He had a feeling that you two would get in trouble due to your friendship with him, so he asked me to intercede and provide sanctuary. And, though you will be employed at the Knight’s Sheath, know that you won’t be spending any time on your back. He was very insistent on that.

Our resident healer, Rita, ended up finding a ... well, I won’t say ‘husband.’ Rather, she’s working privately for a certain noble. Since she’s gone, Sophia, you’ll be in charge of tending to any injuries suffered on the premises. Noah lauded your magical abilities and thirst for knowledge, so you’ll also be serving as my assistant in magic research and experimentation.”

“I tried to fill that role, but unfortunately, I’m really only qualified to be a test subject,” said Daniel with a sigh.

“Alexis, you’ll be helping Lucius, my right-hand man. As well as working the bar, he’s also in charge of keeping the girls safe, throwing out belligerent customers, and running certain errands for me. You’ll help pick up the slack. In exchange, you’ll receive room and board, a stipend for all your hard work, and protection from the kingdom. Now then, come along. There is work to be done.”

Though hesitant, they followed Cyrilo and Daniel into the city, where the Knight’s Day celebration was still going strong. However, a key aspect was missing from the merriment: the knights. They were all busy trying to track down Noah and Valia, but they had to do so quietly, to keep the public from getting alarmed. Eventually, everyone would discover what happened to Prince Seraph, but after last year’s chaos, this holiday needed to run smoothly.

When the four arrived at the Knight’s Sheath, they found it packed full of drinkers, both familiar and foreign. Courtesans were moving through the crowds in lewd and exotic outfits, serving drinks to the legions of customers. The noise of over a hundred men drinking, talking, arguing, and playing cards, combined with aromas of gonlief smoke and various perfumes, left Alexis and Sophia overwhelmed. They were going to be working here?

“Both of you come with me. You don’t exactly fit in with the clothes you’re wearing.” Cyrilo led them away from the fuss to a changing room behind the stage, filled with beautiful dresses fit for nobles, and scanty outfits that left little to the imagination. “Let’s see what we have in your size...”

While hesitant to change their clothes in this new place, Alexis and Sophia swallowed their anxiety and put on the outfits they were given. Sophia wore a sleeveless yellow dress that put her cleavage on display, while Alexis changed into a tight-fitting leather vest that exposed her stomach with a diagonally-cut skirt.

“Well now, don’t you two look lovely?” Cyrilo beamed.

The girls, however, were less enthusiastic, with Alexis covering her stomach and Sophia covering her chest. “I don’t know if I can go out there. What if my family finds out about this?” Sophia yelped.

“I trained to be a knight, a warrior for justice. Is this really my only option?” Alexis asked, crestfallen.

“Oh, relax; you two will just be serving drinks and learning the basics. I gave Noah my word I’d keep you safe. Alexis, you’ll be behind the bar. Just listen to Lucius, and you’ll do fine. Sophia, you’re with me. As the proprietress of this establishment, there are certain clients that I have to greet. You’ll be my shadow, so pay close attention. If I tell you to do something, move fast.”

Alexis and Sophia looked at each other with uncertainty, then reluctantly split up. Sophia followed Cyrilo as she went around meeting with nobles, while Alexis joined Lucius at the bar.

“You’re Alexis, right?”

“That’s right, we met before. You’re Lucius?”

“Correct. I’m sorry we can’t get you started on a slower day, but we need all the help we can get right now.”

Alexis worked hard, mainly pouring drinks and cleaning mugs, with Lucius guiding her through other tasks. It wasn’t long before there was a disturbance at one of the tables. A man was demanding to be “serviced” where he was sitting and complaining about his empty mug, despite being out of money. When he grabbed a girl and started yelling, Lucius turned to Alexis.

“Time to see what you can do.”

“What should I do exactly?”

“Tell him to get out, and if he doesn’t listen, feel free to rough him up a bit. Just keep in mind to leave him in walking condition; otherwise, you’ll have to drag him outside. Also, try not to cause a mess or break any furniture.”

Alexis moved through the crowd to the bearded drunkard, still throwing his temper tantrum. “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

“I’m not leaving, especially because some bitch asked! Now pour me a drink before I decide to ruin that pretty face of yours!”

Alexis looked at the table, seeing a bowl of lemons. ‘Noah,’ she thought to herself while rolling her eyes. “Last chance. Get out while you’re still able to move.”

“You got a mouth on you, girl. How about putting it to good use? And show me a little more skin.”

He reached towards her chest, only for the privilege of his fingers to be revoked. Alexis seized his grubby hand, broke the digits, and then jammed a lemon into the man’s mouth to keep him from screaming. She twisted his arm and slammed his head on the table, then took a half-eaten lemon and squirted its juice in his eyes, raising his agony to the next level. Keeping his arm bent, she forced him to his feet and roughly escorted him to the exit. After dislocating his shoulder, she kicked him into the street. As he clumsily scurried off, she took a deep breath to calm her racing heart.

‘Huh, maybe this job isn’t so bad after all.’

Things calmed down once Daniel started his evening performance. As soon as he began playing, everyone became hypnotized. Mana was radiating from his guitar, entering their minds like a sweet drug. Alexis, who had been silently lamenting her hunger, meant to get something to eat during the concert, but found herself stuck in place like everyone else, losing track of time. Sitting at the bar with Cyrilo, Sophia was in the same state.

The music he played was so different from what they were used to hearing, both the rhythms and the lyrics. Outside of religious hymns and tales of great warriors and battles sung by bards, music was next to nonexistent. What there was had none of the life and energy coming from Daniel’s guitar. Most lyrics went over the listeners’ heads, but the music was incredible nonetheless.

“Madam Cyrilo, did he learn these songs from Noah?” Alexis asked.

“No, but the two of them came from the same place.”

“You mean Daniel is a reincarnator too?”

Cyrilo turned back to Alexis, amused. “I see, so Noah told you his secret. Yes, Daniel is here from another world. I swear, those two boys are gifts from the gods.”

The partying continued long into the evening, and Alexis and Sophia, despite having just finished a year of harsh training at the knight academy, were utterly exhausted when their work shift ended. They were given a room in the corner of the top floor, offering them some manner of isolation from the debauchery happening in the rest of the brothel.

Laying atop their mattress, too tired to get undressed or even extinguish the nearby candle, there was nothing Alexis and Sophia could do but listen to the sounds of fornication. In every room, courtesans moaned, and clients grunted atop creaky beds.

It wasn’t just physical exhaustion that plagued them. This day had been an emotional torrent, starting with the knighting ceremony, and leading to arrests and interrogation in the dungeon. Now they were lying together in a brothel, while a girl down the hall loudly described how she was being sodomized with perverse and sickening detail.

Alexis raised her hand and stared at her finger, the finger where her knight ring had sat for just a few hours, before being confiscated, along with her official sword, enchanted bow, her title, and her happiness. Her despair was not lost on Sophia.

“Don’t worry, this is only temporary.”

“I had it. For one glorious moment, I had it. I was a knight of Uther, a warrior recognized by superiors and trusted to protect this nation and its interests. Then it was immediately taken away. I didn’t even get to wear my ring long enough for a mark to form on my finger. And it’s all because of Noah.”

“It’s not that bad. This is something we’ll look back on and laugh.”

“Sophia, we’re working in a brothel. Our neighbor in the next room has a stranger’s cock in her mouth. Cyrilo said we wouldn’t be working on our backs, but how long can that last? How long will it be until we’re expected, pressured, and even forced to whore ourselves to drunk fools? I don’t want to be staring at this ceiling, wishing I had never been born while some fat bastard climbs on top of me.”

Sophia rolled over and looked at her. “That’s not going to happen. I won’t let it happen to you, and you won’t let it happen to me. Besides, I think we can trust Cyrilo. And if things go wrong, we’ll head for the hills. Maybe we’ll hide with your family or mine, or maybe we can just start our lives together in the countryside. Maybe instead of knights, we can turn to a life of crime. Alexis and Sophia, the Bandit Queens. They’ll tell stories about us.”

Alexis gave a tired chuckle. “Why aren’t you as angry about this as I am? You can’t tell me this is your ideal version of our lives.”

“At the moment, it is.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I mean it. If I was told I would be butchering animals or shoveling sewage, ending every day covered in filth, I would lose my nerve, but if you were right there with me the whole time, it would be paradise. We would spend each day sharing gripes, jokes, gossip, plans, dreams ... we would have so much fun. And that’s what we’ll do here. We’re currently working in a brothel, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make fond memories and funny stories for later.”

Alexis gave another laugh. “That’s why I love you. Only you could make working in a brothel sound like fun.”

Sophia kissed her. “Well, I am a healer. I have to help the mind as well as the body.”

Fatigued by the long day, the two women put out the candle and went to bed. Though their situation was not ideal, they could finally sleep side by side. Holding each other tight, not even the moans and cries throughout the building could disturb them.

Fire, it was all around her, and it was all she could see, a ring of flames surrounding her under a black sky. Alexis, lying on the ground, spat out a mouthful of blood. She could barely move, robbed of her strength by pain, and stricken with broken bones and torn flesh. Noah stood over her, his eyes devoid of humanity.

“You brought this on yourself. How could I have been any clearer as to what would happen to those who oppose me?”

“Noah, please, stop,” Alexis murmured.

Noah grabbed her by the throat and held her off the ground. “I’m never going to stop. I will keep hurting you until you beg your death, and then I will hurt you even worse. Then I’ll leave you alive just enough so you can watch what I do to Sophia. You brought this on yourself when you made me your enemy and got in my way.”

“We’re supposed to be friends...” she gasped, struggling to breathe.

“You really think I’d consider an insignificant bug like you to be my friend? You’re a tool for me to use until you break, and Sophia exists as my plaything until she, too, is no longer useful. You, your lover, your friends, your family, your country, your world, will all suffer simply because I decide so.” His grip on her throat tightened. “And your suffering has only just begun.”

“Alexis!”

Sophia’s voice shook her from her nightmare. She bolted up, swinging at an enemy that wasn’t there, and instead finding herself in bed at the Knight’s Sheath.

“Alexis, what’s wrong?” Sophia asked worriedly, caressing her cheek.

“Just a bad dream,” Alexis murmured, gasping for air as though she could still feel fingers around her throat.

“You were saying Noah’s name in your sleep. This is because of yesterday, isn’t it? We haven’t had a chance to talk about what happened. I was told that Noah beat up Seraph and that you were there to watch it. Is it true?”

Alexis sighed and sat up with her. “Noah didn’t beat up Seraph; he literally tortured him. It started out as a fight, but Noah wasn’t going to let it end like one. He’d beat Seraph half the death, heal him, and do it again, all while saying things that chilled my blood. Even when Seraph couldn’t fight back, the pain didn’t stop. Finally, Noah took out a plum and told Seraph that if he ate it, it would poison him, and he’d escape further torment by Noah through death.

I watched Seraph drag himself with a broken back and fingers, sobbing, and end his own life. I watched Noah force a man to commit suicide. The plum didn’t actually kill him, but that’s because Noah wanted him to suffer for the rest of his life. There are times when Noah has disgusted me, horrified me, and infuriated me, but that ... that was the first time I actually feared him.

I know it was vengeance for the Knight’s Sheath, and I know that Seraph deserved to be punished for everything he’s done, but still, I didn’t want to believe that Noah was capable of that. What if by befriending Noah, we were just playing with fire? Now we’ve been burned, and next time, we’ll be incinerated.”

“Listen to me. Do you know what one of my greatest fears is? Is that if something were to happen to me, you would do the exact same thing he did. I know you had a thousand different plans on how to torture Galvin every time he gave me a bruise. If something were to happen to you, I don’t want to know what my anger would drive me to do. Don’t be afraid of Noah because he’s human enough to want vengeance. Things didn’t go how you wanted them to, but that doesn’t mean we made a mistake.

Now come on, the sun is up. Let’s start the day!”

Alexis smiled as she watched Sophia get dressed. She was like the sun, and her light and warmth had comforted Alexis for as long as she could remember. After getting dressed and eating, they were ready for work. Alexis joined Lucius behind the counter and sighed in relief at the morning’s tranquility. There were still countless men sitting at the tables, but they were quiet and listless after the festivities of Knight’s Day.

“This tea is delicious,” said Alexis, drinking from her cup after pouring for several customers.

“It’s a special blend for nursing hangovers.”

“And what about this?” Alexis asked as she picked up a box of tea leaves.

“That keeps the girls from getting pregnant; all the brothels use it. It’s called Whore’s Root. We brew a LOT of that.” Alexis sighed, something that Lucius noticed. “Not the life you expected when you got out of the academy, is it?”

Alexis looked out the window. “I should be out there, fighting, making a difference.”

“Just doing one doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing the other. Believe me, I know.”

“Were you in the knighthood?”

“No, but I was a soldier for many years, fighting the country’s enemies both within and beyond its borders. I’ve done good things ... and bad things, often while trying to do good things. When you join the military, knight or otherwise, you tell yourself that what you’re doing is right because you were ordered to do so, even when it’s something you’re not proud of. You dig yourself in even deeper and devote yourself to the cause, because you think something will happen that will make it all worth it, that will reveal why all the bad stuff was necessary.”

“And does it?”

“It can. Sometimes the work pays off, and you can sleep knowing that lives were made better because you swallowed your conscience. Other times, things go wrong, friends die, innocent blood on your hands, and you have to pray that the gods have some kind of plan in the works, because you realize the men up top don’t.”

“I’m loyal to Uther, but I didn’t join the knighthood to simply follow orders. I did it because I wanted to change things from the inside. I want to improve this country for the people who are dismissed and stepped on.”