The tent housing the three girls opened, and Saden walked inside. She was in her human form when she entered…
“Aria.”
The moment Melody set her sights on her, She shouted her name as tears began falling from her eyes. Perhaps due to her guilt, she quickly turned her face away, but the tears kept falling.
She had indeed killed her own friend—her sister—so the guilt was there and would forever remain despite her being influenced by someone else.
It was one of those things where you simply cannot forgive yourself that easily.
“It’s okay, Melody,” Saden said, removing the chains around her arms and bringing her out of the cage. She did the same for the two ladies, who shed tears equally as they hugged each other.
Saden could tell they knew each other, so she didn’t focus on them and turned to her sister.
“No need to keep crying, Melody. I knew you weren’t in the right mindset when you did what you did. And hey, I’m still alive, so that should tell you I didn’t die, and you didn’t do anything bad,” Saden said, making sure to free her from her guilt.
If she continued to live with this guilt, it would one day bring about her downfall, and while Saden could just turn a blind eye, Melody meant a lot to her.
They moved from one orphanage to the next, and at every turn, Melody was there for her. Even when things became hard for them, she was there. So she wouldn’t let her keep living in pain.
She was also angry, but not at Melody. She was angrier at the perpetrators of this enterprise—the Malric Noble Family.
“I am sorry, Aria. I can’t take back what I did, so all I can say is I am sorry,” Melody said through her tears. Saden pulled her into a hug and gently wiped her tears away.
“You are my sister, Melody. You will always be my sister,” Saden said, holding her close as Melody’s teary face remained buried in her chest.
After a couple of minutes, Melody managed to calm down. Saden then asked the two ladies where they wanted to go. In her human form, they only saw the beautiful lady who had saved them.
They had no idea she was, in fact, one of the most dangerous people in the world—a being of legend. Even Melody didn’t know the truth—and Saden wasn’t planning on telling her…not just yet.
It didn’t make sense to reveal it, especially since they would soon be going their separate ways.
“We don’t have anywhere to go. We were part of a mercenary family that was wiped out by the goons from the Malric Noble Family. We only survived because of the grade of our Spirit Roots,” one of the ladies, Kalix, said.
“I am Kalix, the second daughter of the leader of the Green Flower Mercenary Group, and this is my retainer, Onyx. They killed our family and captured us because of my Diamond-grade Spirit Root and her Gold-grade Spirit Root.”
One had to give it to Kalix—she knew how to use her wits to get what she wanted. She could tell the lady who rescued them might want to send them away, but she wasn’t about to risk falling into the hands of yet another bastard.
Just like Melody, Kalix was also manipulated and forced to betray her family. It wasn’t something she would have ever done willingly, but under mental manipulation, she had unwittingly caused the downfall of her family.
Saden looked at the two ladies and sighed. She then turned to Melody, who, despite being a few years younger than her, was old enough to attract the attention of many.
She knew that if she sent her out there, the chances of Melody getting into trouble were very high. But she also cannot take her along on her journeys.
Saden turned back to the two ladies and could tell that sending all three of them out into the world wouldn’t solve the problem.
‘You can use the Mark of the Night on them. They are both promising individuals; they wouldn’t suffer as much as they would in this world. Plus, you can easily visit them whenever you want.’
Just as Saden was in a tight spot on what to do, Uncle Drew used their connection to offer her a way out.
‘The Mark of the Night… I only have seven slots, and using three now… wouldn’t that weaken the Night Riders in the future?’ Saden asked.
‘Not when we have a master who seems to have what it takes to change everything. For now, don’t worry about that. Send them away and let them grow. I’m sure in a few years, Master will be happy to add them to his legion, freeing up the three slots.
Plus, this is a much better way for you to understand how to have Night Fiends as retainers. Also, this is your chance to prove your usefulness to Master.’
Saden nodded.
Every Night Rider has seven slots, which, in a way, are akin to the slots of a summoner. These slots not only allow them to summon beings known as Night Fiends but also enable them to transform others into Shadow Fiends.
All Saden had to do was give them her mark, and she could send them to a place called the Plains of the Night. It’s a haven for Night Riders and their Night Fiends.
This place is a natural realm that, for centuries, even Celestial beings have failed to reach it. It is accessible only to Night Riders and those they deem fit to enter.
The Plains of the Night offer resources capable of sustaining life and fostering growth. However, the realm is not without its dangers. But surviving it is easy and depends mainly on the behaviour of those sent there.
They can grow stronger faster or become arrogant and die early. Either way, it’s a much better place than leaving them in a world where everyone is looking to make someone’s life miserable.
“I have a way to let you guys walk away from all this, but that will depend on whether you can trust me. I know we have just met, but to make sure you don’t go back to where you’ll get into the same trouble, you would have to trust me.
“So, do you ladies trust me enough to hear what I have to say?”
Saden asked, looking at the three ladies. They shared glances and nodded. She then went ahead and explained what she had in mind and how the Plains of the Night would be the safest place for them.
Strangely, she wasn’t even finished when all three of them eagerly agreed to go. They were deeply traumatized by what had happened, and if possible, they would love to remain there forever.
Saden nodded and then transformed into her Night Rider form. This momentarily startled the three ladies, but they quickly recovered as she gave them the Mark of the Night.
“I will be sending you away for now. I’ll come visit the moment I’m done with things here and have some free time.”
The three ladies nodded.
Saden hugged them and then waved her hand, opening a portal made of night. They stepped through, and in the next instant, they found themselves in a lush, welcoming world.
The Plains of the Night was a breathtakingly beautiful place that could make anyone want to stay there forever.
Unbeknownst to Saden and the Night Riders, this world was destined to change everything they believed and understood.
After closing the portal, she returned to her captain.
“Master has given us a mission…”
They departed shortly after, heading toward their assignment—to kidnap one of the most tightly guarded individuals in Varyndor: Turyn, the heir of the Miller noble family.
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