Casspien strolled along the legendary castle walkway aptly named the Blackrose Path. He was mildly impressed by the grandness of the structure, the various taverns and shops that lined either side of the path. As well as a walking area large enough to have multiple ships side by side. Even though he descended from the castle to the docks, from where he strode much of the entire city could be seen. As night took over, various orbs of light sprung up and festivities continued in a more subdued tone. The Lord Regent, all things considered, found Longshore to be a pleasant city. Far too big for his liking, but fine all the same. Humans grew quickly and often and thus prided in expansion. He looked to enjoy more of the scenery as he made his way to the harbor, however much of his thoughts were occupied with his meeting with the various Lord Regents from across the nine realms.

When the monarchs had departed and the Lord Regents were left alone, it was to be expected that a tense atmosphere would erupt given that now those present would be able to speak more freely. Conversation immediately turned to Antares desire for the grimoires, spearheaded by Lord Edward Thorne, Lord Regent of Talterra. The bronze haired and blue eyed man was relentless with his barrage of questions as well as assumptions that did nothing but unsettle the other regents. Casspien was thankful that his time confined to Castle Xerxes as an overseer of land disputes between human farmers, allowed him to refine his patience and restraint in the face of displeasure.

In time both the regents of Avalon, Ichika and Laconia came to his defense. It was appreciated but he was aware they shared some of the many concerns that Lord Edward did. Casspien looked to ease their worries as much as he could, but in truth even he had doubts of why Antares sought the grimoires. He always had, from the day his king had told him of his goal. When Casspien asked to what end, Antares elected to deflect and state he would explain when the time was right. Casspien accepted the answer not out of reason or proper judgment, but out of love and trust of his dearest friend. Just as Nykolas would.

The Lord Regent stopped in his tracks and rested against the side of the walkway. It should be Nykolas here, he thought. He was the one that would always trust Antares without the slightest bit of hesitation, ready to jump into whatever it was their perceived leader would do, Typhon included. Casspien smiled with jealousy on his lips, he disliked his cautious personality and how much it held him back. He did not know if it was a symptom of how his father had raised him or if this is who he was destined to be.

"Nykolas, why are you not here?" he called out to no one in particular. The exasperation in his voice evident

He had done this a thousand times over in the five years since he lost the man he shared a childhood with. The pain was still as fresh as the day he saw Antares covered in his blood. The Elders, along with approval from the Lords of War, had ordered the apprehension of Nykolas. For what reason? They neglected to say. He, along with Typhon, were too stunned to say anything. He recalled seeing an expression on Antares face that scared him–a look of distress he had never seen before. When King Barranagan summoned them, Casspien knew he should have been the one to go bring him back. It should not have been Antares. It was he who had known Nykolas the longest and knew his old friend would be less likely to cause an issue if he saw his face. They all cared deeply for each other, but the bond that Antares and Nykolas had was deeper. They were connected in ways Casspien had only seen with Antares and Faye. The responsibility should not have been the Crown Prince's, but Casspien never said anything.

Soon after it was Antares who stepped forward, and before long he was on his way. What left was hope and belief and what returned was far worse than anything the Lord Regent had experienced in his young life. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, as desperately as he wanted to know what happened that faithful day. He could not bring himself to hurry Antares. When his king was ready to tell him what happened, he would listen. Until then, he would serve him as Nykolas would have wanted. At the very least he would remember him in this way.

The Stygian Lord continued his walk, hoping that the closer he got to the sea the more the sea breeze would lift his spirits. As he arrived at the entrance to Longshore's docks, it started to work. Once again the humans of Talterra had impressed him with their architecture. The city's port was a sight to behold, a curved row of docks that sat a dozen ships at least. Taverns as well as bustling markets sat opposite the wooden road that separated the ships from the sea. Although it was night, it was as lively as the main city itself; ships were being loaded and unloaded with goods and wares of different kinds. People gathered together and boarded ships ready to depart. While others were pulling into port ready to unload their contents. In his reports he had read how by many accounts that the Port of Longshore was the most profitable economic zone in all of Aurum. In the century since Barranagan had closed Iliad off to the rest of Aurum and even more so in the last five years with Daimion's further restrictions, Longshore had become the center of not just Talterra but Aurum herself.

The Lord Regent of Iliad would have liked to have mulled over how his kingdom was soon becoming an after thought, but the black sails of four war class Nephilim battleships caught his attention. How he knew they were battleships was thanks to the several rows laid across the side of the ship with ballista arrows–harpoons really, shined brightly in the moonlight. As for how he knew these engines of death belonged to the Nephilim, the Blood God markings on the sails were proudly displayed for all to see. Casspien could now understand why he could smell small traces of death in the air. He looked at the red wooded goliath ships and saw a cloud of malice around them. However what he did not understand was why these ships were here? Why did the Nephilim Queen travel to Longshore with weapons of war to celebrate an occasion of peace?

Another peculiarity caught his eye in the distance, a man, human, covered in rags. There was nothing about his appearance that should have made him stand out, he looked like the many beggars that the Lord Regent had come across so many times over. The man had his back to him which made it even more unusual that Casspien noticed him. The beggar stood still staring out into the sea, transfixed by the calm waves. The Stygian lord's eyes moved lower to what the man was holding tightly in his hands. It was more accurate to call it a piece of damaged steel than a blade. It was chipped and broken all over, its best days were well behind it. Just like its master, it barely clung to life. So why was Casspien so repulsed by this man? As though his entire existence caused him the greatest kind of discomfort, he was his antithesis in every regard. Their beings stood opposed as fire and ice, as poison and healing, life and death. As Averse. The man looked over his shoulder with the slightest of turns.

Can you hear my symphony Nameless One?

Her blade only just missed his head, he had moved with grace to avoid the first attack. She stepped through her initial swing and prepared for another. He did not move to intercept instead, waited for her follow ups. Casspien dodged each one with minimal movement, the crowd around them becoming aware of what was happening. At the end of her string of attacks, she pushed forward with her shoulder hiding her blade from his sight. With his vision obscured by her body he was unable to predict the direction of her next swing. Casspien opted to roll across her back using her momentum to get behind her. In response she threw her coat at him once again blinding him. Before he could react she cut through the coat just as he hoped. He turned his neck away, extended his arm and grabbed her sword hand. With his free hand, he wrapped it around her waist and pulled her in. Their faces a mere inches from each other.

"You know," Casspien glanced at the wooden blade she held. "I find a simple 'Hello, how are you?' to be a pleasant greeting."

Rose Valentine looked at him with her hazel and soft blue colored eyes, a mischievous smile scurrying across her feline-like features.

"Hello Casspien? How are you?"

The crowd erupted into cheers at the display of their skills. Both of them looked embarrassed and waved as they walked away to a less exciting part of the harbor. Casspien looked back to where the beggar had stood and saw the man had vanished. Just before Rose had greeted him, he was sure he heard the melody of a Sword Saint. However, most frightening of all he thought he could make out a voice in the tune. He quickly dismissed the ideas growing in his head, the young lord attributed his antsy behavior to the stress of the meeting with the other lord regents. All the same, that did not matter now, with her at his side, his worries would begin to ease.

Casspien took the time to study his fellow Sword Saint. Rose's brown hair had been curled just below her ears, he noted that she had never done anything like that before but found it suiting her quite a bit. Although the Lord Regent had enjoyed seeing her in a dress very much, he much preferred her in her usual attire. Her white blouse and leather pants highlighted a slender, curvy physique that complimented her in multiple ways. The gold necklace around her neck rested in her bosom, which he made sure not to stare for too long before he moved to the legendary blade that rested on her sword belt.

Rose Valentine possessed one of the thirteen blades of Enki, an ancient warrior and warsmith–to some a god–who lived during the age of God-King Gilgamesh Xerxes. The sword she held was called Spring Blade, its true name only known to those the weapon deemed worthy. It was the second oldest of Enki's children, along with the other blades, it was said that Enki had conceived them with Aurum herself. The very continent had fallen for the mercurial warsmith and sought to give him children so that he may be the one to stand against the Stygian God-King, who had grown cold in his rule.

It was Enki along with his thirteen blades did he awaken the fires within God-King Gilgamesh Xerxes, from their first bout an unbreakable friendship was born, one that would stand forever. As the Stygian King declared the warsmith to be his one and only friend under the heavens. Upon Enki's death, the weapons would pass to his disciples who were known as Sword Saints–warriors devoted to the way of the blade and the path the warsmith walked. They traversed the lands of Aurum, sword in hand continuing their training. However the blades were never meant to be apart from each other, through the years they would call to be reunited and the Sword Saints would cross paths in desire to claim the other's sword. Thus is how they had been for countless millennia. Although hidden by layers of cloth and binding spells, Spring Blade hummed at the presence of a second Sword Saint.

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"Why Lord Casspien you keep staring at my blade like that, I'd start to think you fancy me." Rose moved her hair behind her ears.

The Stygian curled his lips and looked ahead, "Do not get ahead of yourself Rose Valentine. I was merely admiring my blade."

She moved past him and stood in his way, "Did I hit you in the head?" she studied his face touching him all over, "Surely that has to be why you would say that?" she was mockingly worried.

"You forget you speak to a Lord Regent," he moved closer. His towering height and broad shoulders more pronounced in the moons light.

She stood on her toes to reach him, taking his face in her hands. "Have I? Apologies my lord, please remind me."

Casspien obliged as he moved to meet her lips with his own. The rush of energy that flowed through them both was vibrant. He pulled her in close to feel her warmth against him, the scent of cinnamon and sweat on her clothes dredged up memories of the first time he embraced her like this. And just as the first time he had no desire to let her go, his hands explored her back with a new passion he did not know he had. He missed her terribly, and each time apart his thoughts were regularly occupied by her. From the first time he saw her last night, through the meeting with the other lord regents, he just wanted to hold her again. To remind himself that he lived.

Her chest warmed when he pulled her in. She had grown to dislike being apart from him, always expecting the next time she saw him he would tell her he found someone willing to stay. The moments before she would see his sunset eyes were filled with so much anxiety and worry of if the desire she had for him would be reciprocated. None of that mattered to Rose now in his embrace, this was the only place she wanted to be. She missed everything about him, from the sound of his voice, to the taste of his lips, to how his hand rested on a specific spot on her back. She had hoped to be more playful, soften his cold exterior; tease him longer, but again, none of that mattered now.

"May I ask you a question?" Casspien had to force himself to pull away from her.

"Now?" she whimpered, kissing him back.

They locked lips again.

"Yes now," he loved the feeling of her warm breath on his neck. "It is about the Nephilim ships at port."

Rose unbuttoned his attire while kissing his neck, "Gods Cass, are you serious? Who cares about fucking Nephilim ships right now?"

She slammed him against the side of a wooden building and it shuddered underneath the intensity of their passion, Casspien was aroused by her assertiveness. Rose jumped and wrapped her legs around him and started to undo her blouse. The Lord Regent took back control and it was his turn to slam his fellow Sword Saint against the building. Rose placed one leg on the ground making it easier for Casspien to undo her pants, meanwhile his tongue followed up across her exposed breast to the back of her ear. The sound of her moans was the most exquisite song he had ever heard.

"I want you," she grinded into him, no longer unashamed by her feelings.

"Did Queen Enrieta arrive by ship?"

Rose stopped, "What?"

"I had thought she would arrive by land, this time of the year the sea currents are much stronger to traverse. Even for a battle ship." He kissed her again.

Rose sighed while she glared at him. The Sword Saint started redoing her pants and moved on to her blouse. It amazed her sometimes the way the Stygian mind operated, or it was just how Casspien was. A part of her was glad to see the Lord Regent had not changed, his priorities still seemed to be about his role and position. Rose smirked almost mockingly, she had wondered many times by herself what it was about him that was so…

She moved past and looked out to the open road ahead. "Come along," she motioned.

Casspien fixed his attire and buttoned back his shirt confused, "Where are you going?"

The warrioress turned back to him, her curled hair doing nothing to hide her rose colored cheeks. "We are going to get you answers about the stupid ships, so I can have your full attention while I ride you to oblivion." She offered her hand.

"Have I told you how beautiful you are?" he took it.

"Yes, many times," they locked hands together. "Though I would very much enjoy listening to you remind me."

And so Casspien did.

Rowan Roberts was a seaman at heart. He was born on the sea and he was very well sure that one day he would die in it. All his life he had spent it across the seas of Aurum and the neighboring continents, whether it was to traverse goods or ferry people along, he had seen all kinds. All except a Stygian. They were the most elusive of beings to lay eyes upon, he was born well after King Barranagan Xerxes slayed the mad emperor just a two days' ride from where he sat. So any chance to see those ancient beings disappeared when they returned north. There were rumors that some remained in the south among the higher nobilities near Castle Blackrose but he never did see one.

He had heard the sagatellers and bards sing about their beauty and otherworldly appearance, how their eyes held the very setting sun or their hair was made out of the very night sky. They were fabled beings that existed in a different realm than he could even begin to comprehend. Rowan had always thought about what he would say to such a being, how he would address them as an equal to show that humans, even a seaman, were the same. At the very least that is what Rowan wanted to believe, but now faced with finally seeing the mysterious ancients who lived in the deep north, he was admittedly at a loss for words.

"Are you alright?" there was no concern in Casspien's tone.

"Y-Yes my great lord!" Rowan fell to his knees lowering his head.

"Please you do not have to do any of that," he pleaded. Casspien caught Rose stifling a laugh and struggled to find any of this amusing. "I only just want to ask a question."

Rowan slowly rose, he moved his damp hair away from his face doing his best to straighten his appearance for the two nobles before him.

"How may I assist you my lord," he turned to Rose. "My lady."

"Tell me what you know of the Nephilim warships," Casspien demanded.

Rowan turned to the red ships grouped in the harbor. Shivers ran down his spine as he recalled the first time he saw them pull into port. The sight of the ships alone filled him with dread, their black sails warned of death and destruction. The blood stained wood painted an image of a monster filled with bloodlust ready and willing to consume all. The harbor master had chosen him among a few others to help rein the ship into port. He cursed his luck for spending all his coin at the brothels, but with the growing celebrations he was simply unable to decline the temptation. It was only on his way back to the docks early in the morning was he spotted by the harbor master and told to help.

He felt the ominous pull of death as he and the others pulled the ship. He had found it strange that not just one but four of these ships had appeared. Ordinarily if Queen Enrieta were to arrive by ship it was almost always with her royal ship and one warship. Two appearing was unusual, but four? It raised alarm bells within Rowan that he did not know he had. The Nephilim who descended from the ship did not help matters, the dread that clung to them and their armor was terrifying. They had arrived in the early morning so their white skin glowed like snow. Their ruby eyes violent and full of hedonistic delight. He made the unfortunate mistake of meeting the eyes of a Nephilim woman, her face covered with piercings and in that moment as he looked into her eyes. He was sure that he would die, he was prepared. However it never came, she walked by him as though he was not there. Since that day he had made it a point to stay as far away from the ships as he could. He would do no work near those abominations.

Rowan turned back to the Stygian man. Although he spent most of his time out at sea, he was a Terran born, and was aware of the tensions that ruminated throughout Aurum. Now that he could confirm with his own two eyes that Stygians truly existed, he began to wonder about the great many things that were said about them, both good and bad. He hesitated to reply, not wanting to say anything that would come across combative. Rose noticed and stepped in.

"Oh please forgive my husband," she laughed with passion. "It is our first time in the south, we came along with King Antares you know?"

Casspien felt his cheeks warm and he cleared his throat as she wrapped herself around his arm.

Rose leaned in, "Truth be told my husband is obsessed with them. It is all he ever talks about, isn't that right my love?"

"Ah... yes wife. I am intrigued by their culture." Speech was proving to be difficult for the Lord Regent.

"You see, we wanted to know if Queen Enrieta arrived with the ships. Once King Antares declares his marriage with Princess Reza, we want to travel to Vanaheimr." Rose did her best to sound as the noble women did, maintaining a posh attitude and naive tone.

Rowan thought for a moment, although the Stygian man looked quite intimidating as he towered over him with a stoic face. His wife was more welcoming, it also helped that she was quite beautiful even though she looked unkept. It was true what they said about Northern women. Ultimately the seaman decided to trust the woman more than the Stygian and agreed to talk about the Nephilim ships. He explained how the Queen of the Nephilim often traversed to Talterra by land, and when it was by sea it would be with one battle ship as escort. While the woman was enamored by the detail, the Stygian man just looked at him intently, it was starting to make him uncomfortable but he answered the rest of the man's questions. Although Rowan was beginning to realize just how odd they were. Soon enough the couple was satisfied and bid him farewell, he waved back at them as they disappeared back into the market. Rowan Roberts had met a Stygian, a real one. He laughed to himself and returned to watching the sea. Aurum truly was a special place.

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