White Queen Ascending

The full moon appeared in the sky, as it illuminates the night. Torin looked at the girl beside him as she gazed at the stars. He couldn't help but think that the girl should belong there. She should shine brightly, and give light to this dark place.

"Come with me, I'll introduce you to someone." He said.

Luciana shifted her gaze to him, then nodded and followed behind the man.

They walked along a less crowded road, which Luciana recognized as the path towards the forest. She wondered who they're going to meet there, but didn't open her mouth to ask.

About an hour after, they reached the outskirts of the Hada's Forest. Even from where they are, the could still feel the mysterious vibes it emits. The surrounding is silent, and only the few croaking of frogs and crickets could be heard.

"I'm here." Torin said loudly towards the direction of a fir tree. A young man appeared from its back and rushed to them.

"Uncle!" He shouted excitedly. Then he noticed that he's being accompanied by a little girl. "Who is she?" He asked Torin.

"Luciana, this is Oleander." Torin said to her then gazed at the boy, "Oleander, Luciana."

"Nice to meet ya!" Oleander smiled at her. But Luciana didn't return his greetings, making him frown a bit.

She just observed the boy in silence. Oleander looks as if he's around thirteen. He is one foot taller than her. His complexion is dark and his hair is brown with a bit of orange. His eyes are brown as well, his nose is slightly bent, and his lips are pale red.

"Now, now. Enough of that. Luciana, Olly is a child from the slums. He still has family, so i didn't allow him to live with me. He is my student, just like you. I'm teaching him so that he would not be bullied by the other kids in the slums anymore." Torin unhurriedly explained.

Luciana nodded her head but is not a bit concerned.

"Olly boy, I won't teach you today. I have some business to do. Just come here again after three days." He instructed Oleander.

Oleander felt disappointed but he still agreed with Torin. "Kay." He said in a sulky manner.

Torin knitted his brows a bit. He glanced at Oleander, then to Luciana, and said his plans. "After Luciana fully recovered from her injuries, she'll join you in training. You can also spar together that way."

"Girl, come. Let's go do some business." He said to Luciana.

~~

Koehn's town most popular brothel, the Maiden Head.

Different kinds of beauties could be seen outside, waving their hands to potential customers. They're wearing thin sets of clothings that exposes their skin, while their heavy perfumes and thick scent of makeup are scattered in the air. The brothel was boisterous as a lot of men come and go.

Torin and Luciana sat atop a branch of a tree. Torin looks straight to the brothel, as Luciana just sweeps her eyes around curiously.

"I've heard about that Jamal Abe before. If he's not out drinking in a pub, he's here spending all his time with the girls inside." Torin said in a hushed voice.

They've been observing the brothel for over three hours now, waiting for that Jamal Abe to show his self.

"He should be coming out by now." He added. He is explaining everything about this kind of business to Luciana. It is not that she wants the girl to walk the same path as him, he just want her to have certain knowledge about these kinds of thing.

After a few more minutes of waiting, their target finally walked out from the brothel. He is still holding two girls on each side, c.a.r.e.s.sing their bodies pervertedly. After kissing both of the girls who wear thick makeups, and handling them extra money, he laughed maniacally and left the Maiden Head satisfied.

Once he was completely out from the brothel, they could already see his face more clearly. Jamal has slanted eyes, pointed nose, and thin lips. He has long black hair tied into a half-bun. Jamal also has thick beard that covers half of his face. When the two confirmed that it is indeed who they're looking for, they started to prepare.

"Follow me and keep silent." Torin whispered to Luciana. They hurriedly jumped off the tree without making any sound.

Jamal Abe, unhurriedly entered his carriage. The horses neighed and started moving slowly after Jamal was safe inside.

Torin and Luciana followed the carriage from behind, making sure they stay inconspicuous and undetectable as possible.

"Once I started, just hide somewhere and watch from there." Torin instructed softly to Luciana.

"Mm." Was her reply.

When the carriage finally turned into an unfrequented alley, Torin decided to finally make a move, while Luciana went into a near bush to hide.

Torin fastly approached the carriage. He gripped a double edged blade in his hands then slipped inside quietly.

Luciana was observing everything with her eyes. Everything was silent and no one could detect any signs of disturbance.

Not even a minute has passed when she already saw Torin running away swiftly, carrying a sack on his right hand, and the blade on the other.

She looked at the carriage that didn't even pause for a bit and is still being driven away by the chauffeur. She was amazed that the person driving didn't even notice anything abnormal, as it continued on its way. Luciana also couldn't help but imagine the sight of his face upon seeing that the person he is supposed to carry home, is now lying inside, lifeless.

Torin went near her, and said in a cold voice, "Let's go. We're done here."

Luciana looked carefully at the sack he was holding. Her eyes narrowed a bit upon realizing it was the head of Jamal. She also observed how he carefully wipes away his blade with some leaves, to remove the blood that has covered it.

Torin's demeanor seemed to change instantly upon doing the assassination. The girl noticed the he seemed colder than before, but didn't give it much thought.

They travelled for quite some time. The sun is already peeking in the sky, when they arrived at the same tavern they visited before.

Torin knocked in the same pattern, and the door opened up for him.

"Do not enter." Torin ordered Luciana. He then proceeded, inside, and met with the same drunkard man.

"Here's the head." He removed Jamal's head from the sack and thrown it on the ground carelessly. The head dropped into the ground with a slight thump making the blood scatter on the floor.

"Friend, watch it." The drunk man said as he repeatedly tutted.

"I'm not your friend. Where's the money?" Torin asked impatiently.

The man glanced at the bartender, and signaled him to bring out the reward. He reached out for the pouch, then tossed it to Torin.

Torin counted it properly. "thirteen pieces of silver and 500 pieces of copper" He nodded his head, then went towards the door.

"Till next time." The voice of the man was heard before Torin completely left the tavern.

Luciana and Torin went home, without anyone talking.

When they arrived, Torin just said to her, "Sleep now."

He changed his clothes before walking towards the long chair. He then lied down, facing the ceiling.

Luciana casted a curious glance at him before entering the room. He was acting weirdly after killing Jamal.

Before she closed the door, she heard him whisper to himself.

"Even I, am scared of myself. I already feel numb in killing." He laughed in a mocking tone.

Luciana paused for a while, and glanced once more at Torin. After a few seconds, a click sound was heard as she shut the door closed.

~