Acquaintances.

“A bride from a tribe outside Lasha.” He shook his head and hand before returning it to the papers he left at his side. “Young man, I don’t want to question your timing, but more than once such acts have ended in dishonor, and your family is truly illustrious. Would you be willing to disgrace your house for just a half-hearted vision?”

“I’m ready!” I hurriedly got down on one knee. “My fortune is worth it, worth any price that comes but my life.” I pressed my hand to the floor with the permission slip, my right hand bumping my left chest. I realized too late that I had gotten carried away, and my pulse was racing.

“Well, since you are so devoted, I will grant your request. Give it to me.” He made a sign, and the servant brought his cello and the half-melted wax.

Whether they had already planned it or at some point or gave the signal I didn't see it, but I wasn't going to complain, I had so much to do and so little time to waste on nonsense.

I tried to walk solemnly, but my haste won. “Here you are.” I watched as the paper fell onto the wood and the wax fell, in what seemed like eternal moments, and the cello at the end only increased my impatience. “Know that I thank you from the bottom of my heart, King of Lasha.”

“Don’t thank me if doom comes to your house, young man.”

"I'll keep that in mind." I took the petition in my hands and hurried to the exit. As I reached the entrance, I unwittingly hugged the attendant.

“Young man, it went so badly for you.”

“You are truly the bearer of Alba’s will. I will speak to my father so that the favor you owe us can be repaid. Today you have saved us all.”

“W… well, I’m just doing the best I can.” I don’t know why he was grabbing his face, but I didn’t care; I was in a hurry to get to my new home.

—0—

He held out the note, as if it were a sacred article, and to a certain extent it was, for anyone who wasn't a member of the nobility. "My king, the note you requested is complete." I sense his usual indifference as I read it, and I fold it.

He returned the letter with some reluctance; he had risked much by simply ordering it to be made. “Make sure the Saint gives you an answer before you return.” For a moment, there was regret.

He could have simply let the problem go, it would be seen as favoritism if anyone else found out, but no one would be able to find out outside of the three who ran into the young man and some other acquaintances from the Sol house, plus everyone knew he was someone important no matter how small, but it was too late, his servant was already out of the room and he still had work to do.

“I’ll think about it better next time.” He stood up and continued on his way to his office, where he found even more papers than he had been carrying a moment ago.

After many helpers had finished their own piles, he felt fortunate, especially that the current exit request helper could write and read perfectly.

—0—

The messenger showed the golden cross of the royal family and proceeded to pass in front of the Saint, who seemed almost as busy as the king himself and with that many problems to put aside, since her urgency seemed more pressing, more attention was given to her.

“The King’s servant, bringing you to the cathedral.” For a moment, I stare at the letter as it leaves, doubting I want to see it, unless it’s just another complaint or plea for help from Lasha.

"My king ordered that you not return unless you have a reply. Please read it." He handed out the letter and proceeded to leave, leaving her alone.

To his surprise, another vision appeared, this time confirming a problem as important as another robbery, and he proceeded to leave his office.

"Servant, please wait outside the temple. I must meditate." I clarify, hoping no one was around, with her ringing the bell, lest more people be blinded by carelessness.

“As you wish.” He bowed and left after the sign of respect.

For a moment she reread the contents of the letter, a blurred vision or with two possible destinies, that explained why she failed that day and with it she marveled again, at how young Abaddon seemed each time someone worthy of succeeding her in case something was to happen to her.

A quick glance at the warriors in flesh stuck to bones or the one carrying a consort was the reason for hastening that vision above many things, because the saints had to be immaculate in every way unlike the other positions below them.

At the time of seclusion, she burned the leaf and passed the ashes inside the 10 candles, thus creating the golden ring that allowed her to enter a trance.

He calmly took the golden hair from the box and wrapped it in the ashes of the leaf. "At least this time there's something that connects so directly to me." Suddenly, he saw Lasha much faster than usual.

In a cloudy period and suddenly Light, but not because it was an abrupt change, but because of something halfway through the passage of time, as she thought of the boy and him arriving with the warriors it was true, but he looked different from the last time, much older than he was at the beginning and both raised the hand that unified them, but the flicker came, for a moment she saw how they were arriving, a warrior with an animal skull on his face and as much as it hurt the head of Abaddon there in his right hand, but what disturbed her most was noticing runes of madness and red sand in his path.

"What kind of evil is this?" The axe pointing at her was even more surprising, and the warriors charging at her made her look back to see if there was anything there, but she could only see stone.

Before he knew it, the warrior seemed to give him a crazed look, cloaked in madness and lacking all control. The weapon was thrown, the imprecision lasted for an instant in which he lost focus and the pain in his shoulder was very real, the blood that soon stained his white robes only served to disconcert him.

“Abaddon is in danger.” Haste and panic mingled, perhaps for the first time.

I didn't take long to run out, as I noticed the light fading, when I got outside the followers of the Holy faith were in panic and the Deacons ran to help the saint with healing blessings, but she made her way to the one in charge of giving the answer.

“Go immediately to Boris and tell him to gather troops to go save Abaddon. We don't have time. I'll go with the praetor to prepare the defenses!” He barely realized he was treating the messenger roughly and released him, only at the request of his followers. “Hurry up, call a meeting with the praetor, and stop treating me. This is proof against this evil.”

“My lady, if you continue to lose this amount of blood, your life could be in danger,” the maid at her side pointed out as she tore her own clothes to make bandages.

It didn't take long for him to regain his composure. "Don't heal him completely, that's all I ask." He put his hand to his neck, feeling short of breath. "Hurry up, the praetor is our priority."

The carriage arrived and the deacons climbed in beside the saint to treat her on the way.

—0—

The meeting began and a conclusion was reached, if there was going to be an attack, it could not be avoided and it was decided to simply put faith that young Abaddon would return safely, more was informed to the Sol family and for that reason the three were there right at the entrance ready to give the good or bad news and in part to ask for answers as to why they were not informed as a priority and it was decided to unleash the young man without warning.