Chapter 73

[MEMBERSONLY]

Rabba Ve, everyone!!!!!!

If I didn't keep my promise and was late in updating the last chapter, well, here am I, apologizing, through an early update.

I am sorry I could not send my pigeons to tell you I had come with a chapter. But thank you Soul and Aura for the effort you took to announce the dear readers of the arrived update.

Uzam818 (thank you for your love and concern for the tale and really was moved to tears by that quote you gave me), BublyKushi (I am delighted to know that the tale is special to you and thanks for the cute hugs and pictures, dear!) Revathy (your comments really rock and yes, I didn't know Blake boy was a painter too until I stumbled on his life through Aura who is a great lover of painters and paintings, and IS so loved your detailing of the Akash in the show!), casker, kvarsha, rockingsoni (it's so nice to see you read other comments too, dear and liking them. Shows how much you want to love this tale and everything about it. I am honored, dear. Thank you!), dear rockpirncess (you take a special interest in my tale and it is this love that makes me feel loved. Coz dear, when you love the tale, you are loving the writer of the tale), bea_rom (no dear, it's not your imagination. Lord Akash is not a wall decoration in this FF and though I can't show him always, I will certainly show him in the deserving way his character needs to be shown), sansu (oh goodness, you actually went into that inbestigation mode, didn't you? Sire Google and Lady Wikepdia may have been helpkess to avoid your sanity from getting cracked!), Shruti (hope you enjoy your cousin's marriage much more than you enjoy the FF! *wink*), Mxk3444 (Congrats on being Goldie and yes, something BIG is going to happen in the ball), bewuster, hatelove, sagatwilight (love your quips and dear, when will you get a break from your lovely egg-jams? You are always having them!), KP (thanks for inviting Comrades to the Cottage and for decoding the "boredom" and "anything for you Di" in the Dance chapter. Oh yeah, I always have that "kya boloon ab" in his hot voice in the back of my mind often). Samarablog, seshatree, ayeshasad, 123vava, flowers4u, dearest Vidya, silver fairy, sana, dear Meg, Surya Raviu, dearest dramatic green-heart Farwa, sweet Zonera, sanjana, dear medharees (Arhasian Poetess and her magical music need a bow), smartgirl, afsha, Esmeralda, s_mg, dear moon8387 (your comments overwhelm me with glee always, and I feel really treasured by your words. But what did you mean by your name on the reader's list? Do you mean the parchment of the Comrades? If it is, then to enter your name there you need to take a pledge which, if you did take, I am afraid I have not seen you take in my hurry. And if you mean the tiny pink box in which most of my readers are named, it's an acknowledgement image created to begin the thread with and is not updated unless a new thread must commence. Do tell me which image in these has caught your worry so I can clear the matter for your happiness), sweet saomom (and her patient endurance of my delays), chahat, NiksAngel, TrueLovels4ever, AvidReader (thanks for the heart to suggest making this into a book dear. For now, I have no such plans but you never know what Time can do to one's little hidden effort), Riti dear (hope your tiny vacation went well and would love to see some of your magical edits here in the FF thread where my readers can find delight in them too like me!), LoveRP (Saniya, Fingerlickin good Lordy? *chuckle*), anjs (congrats dear for making it first to the last update. I think you really need a reward coz I updated at a time I never login to the Forum and I didn't even send pigeons), Sona (Emoshuns Marvel, to see you could make it is such a deligt), GirlOfFire, shreelakshan (so glad you loved the Payaash scene and well, the truth is, every chapter makes the plot look thickening but there is still a long way to go for this tale, dear), siamesecat, indiavizion, dearest Yush, dear Harsh, tanya dear, sweet Vrinda, tanisha, Shijina (yes, back from Calicut and it was a quick but happy weekend there. But needed to be back home before Monday so could not come to Malabar to see you Xiaojie*wink* and like always, loved your loving blabberings on the update), Crinklez (so glad to know my words could create goosebumps!), Meg (you are becoming quite dear to me in everywhich way, dear), Torr (you are the only one who spoke on the statement about priorities that I wrote and I am so very happy that you understood, dear. Thankyou!), Shas (No one needs to do homework! *chuckle* The painting was an easy catch actually but the meaning cannot be complete without a certain entry and a certain book. And please darling, don't steam your head over this. Go study. For you to have come despite your studies and your work at home is itself selfish on my part. But I guess you can't keep away, each other, eh? MUAH!), chochoo (good pick, dear chochoo, coz yes, Ram is a very significant character here), shamin dear (so good to see you back and wow! Amazing ballroom pics. May need to quote you when I begin the ball night chapters), sweet Anusada (oh yeah! You are back, dear and I am so happy you are! We so missed you dear!!!) and BREEZE (you need caps mention for your rare visits, dearest, and yes, for your steadfast love my tale! How can I thank you rightly enough for all you give me to make this tale more magical than it seemed to be once! Big Hugs for you!), grrpinderx (your comments show how much your connect your heart with the tale and I am glad to find a happy reader in that heart!) Leafs, (Mentor and her Nani-magic! Always there to prod me on the path of perseverance!) RoojiN (whoa! You are one good observer for the right tone in the tale! Yes, more than the dance, there are magical things and significant events that will take the center stage by the time I am done with the ball), and finally, Mavs (Lady Em! The way you described Akash is superb, dear. And GASP! That is the only thing I have to say with regard to your comment on the painting, dear. Of all the comments written about it, yours is the one that made me proud and happy! You are awesome, Mavs!! If only you tried a little bit harder, you would get your answers in a snap! And besides, something you wrote is so much the reason why I love the General the best! Riti, though your insight statement I cannot second, I must say the connection you have made visible is marvelous and a little thought into the connection should work something out!)

Soul (thankyou sweetheart for telling them of the update, though I don't know what the "tiger cub" is about which they talk of in thanking you and I so wish I could see the cub too. And thanks a million for welcoming the new readers and inviting them to the Cottage on my behalf.) Bablio (your likes in every comment warms up my heart! Thank you for letting all my readers feel loved and noticed!!) and Aura (thank you for doing your lovely bit to send the PMs to all. And how did I know you sent them? Masaf commented and she/he is not on my BuddyList but yours.)

Welcome to New Readers, karsvinu (so glad to know you loved the tale and could feel into it, dear, coz that is what a writer seeks with her words, to let you drown in a world she created), KayZee (another excited one-go reader? *blush*), mahnoormalik (who wrote her first comment on IF for me and was once a silent reader! Thank you for calling me a sister!), Aarfreen (Honey, I really suggest you focus on your studies now and then as reward for your hardwork, AFTER you are done with them, come and lose yourself in your love for Arhasia.), Memorable (three days and you found yourself in Arhasia, thank you dear!), Kurkuresandwich (you know why I can connect with you dear? Coz I began my life in IF the way you did! So glad to see you here! And wow! Your very first comment for me?)

Edited the Parchment with two new Pledge makers. Congrats Comrade Meg and Comrade Aafreen for making it from heartfelt readership to official comradeship!

Answering Questions and Curiosity:

Aman's astonishment in the dance. Though he knows there is something that does not let him own Kush, he is not yet certain if he can certain the man behind it. The Orchard scene was not helpful because it could easily be read as Lord Arnav's aid to Kush who was the most dirtied and disabled than Lady La in the stepladder episode. But to see the dance, not only because his cold Master is actually dancing but that too, with a girl his Master openly despised in the stable, in the Castle and during the days when she worked in the Industry…….well, he has every right to an initial astonishment before letting the truth sink in for real, doesn't he?

The "Green Heart" concept. It is only on the build now but the one thing you need to keep in mined is that "greenheart" stands for many things like life, rebirth, renewal but best of all, healing. (Thanks for the doubts, dear Meg.)

Why this FF does not have many likes? Its simple, dear KayZee. Not many know me in the Forum to read my work when they see it but I think the main reason goes to what Farwa once pointed out to me. The use of word "Gothic" has rendered people to think this tale to be demoniacally dark instead of fantastical. I mean, if you look at the words "Beasts" and "Bleeding Roses" you would think it to be so, right? But I am helpless with the title coz I can't change it not even to attract readers. The title is apt in every way, symbolic to the tale and will stand as prove the saying that one must never judge a book by its cover (eh, title, in this case). Besides, I don't ATTRACT readers. I EARN them. The less readers I have, the more treasured they are to me!

Torr asked: "You….research much on symbology….how do you find the time?" Well, Torr, it doesn't take time to do something you have put your heart to. You see, before beginning this FF, I wrote regular tiny little analysis posts on the episodes during the green-grass days of the show. The moment I found myself watching this show, I knew what the story was all about, how the plot would move and thicken and how the show should reach its climax and what was to become of all the characters. You could say, the FF and its symbolic themes were already there is my head before I began the FF. And then, when I saw the show drifting away from its potential path, I realized someone had to pen down the "Real IPKKND story" and so began this FF as an attempt to immortalize the original story of the FF which the writers had intended but could not show because of many unknown reasons.

Why do I not show any more of Lord Arnav's nightly disturbances? Well, I showed it to give you the impression of what he goes through and yes, he does go through those disturbances and nothing has changed and he deals with them the very same way he did in the chapters I had narrated. There is no need ot repeat chapters, right? I can only write about his nights if something important DOES occur or someone else is involved in them. So for now, Sona dear, let us be content with the power of the mind to know something happens even when it is not evidently written or shown.

When I used the word "favorite" in the previous update, I was not talking about a chapter. A writer can never have a choice about "favorites" in a tale she writes, whether it comes to chapters or characters because it's her child and her child is completely perfect in her eyes. But there will be a certain character, sometimes, who takes a lot of effort and creativity from the writer's part for the creation of that character. A character for whom she spends almost half the energy spent on the tale. And that character will be frequently closer to the writer's mind than the others.

So, like I said, BUCKLE up coz here comes my favorite of this FF!

Chapter One Hundred Thirty Seven: He Returns

A few minutes after Kushi, Payal and Ram had left, when it was nearly sundown and the dark golden sky was glowing over Arhasia, Lady Anjali sat in the garden, watching the setting sun, and addressed the maid who was pruning the bush before her, "Has my brother come yet?"

"No, my lady," replied the maid.

"What is taking him so long?" Lady Anjali wondered and just then she heard the sound of horse hoofs rushing up the hill. She stood up and walked towards the Castle to catch him at the door the moment he arrived, when suddenly she stopped and stared at the rider and the horse racing through the gate and riding down the path, towards her.

Tears filled her eyes and a smile broke on her face as the rider came to halt before the Castle door where she stood. He alighted and walked towards her, removing his hat and letting the gentle wind breeze through his dark hair, and she rushed towards him, though it only needed a step or two to reach him and fell into his arms, her arms around his neck, and she kissed him on his lips, the tears on her cheeks wetting his.

"You are here," she whispered, unable to believe it.

"I am," he said in a low voice, circling his arms around her and kissing her on her cheek, "Why didn't you tell me you were unwell?"

"I wasn't," she said, looking up at him.

"You were," he said, looking into her eyes, "You said you were well in your letter but you made someone else write it. You were unwell, my Lady Queen."

"And let you worry over me when you are already at war?" she placed her hand on his cheek, "I only want you with me."

"And I have come," he said.

And then, as soon as she had given orders to the servants to take the white horse into the stable, she took her husband into the Castle.

After everyone had greeted him and enquired as to his health and activities, Lady Anjali took him to see Nani.

The elderly woman blessed him first and then asked him if he always looked as weary as how he seemed presently every time he returned from war.

"Not always I suppose," said the General, smiling at the woman seated on her armchair, "But I am relieved to be back home."

"You would be," smiled Nani, "But my granddaughter is more than relieved to have you here. Her smile never looks so heavenly as it is now!"

Lady Anjali blushed and happily slipped her hand into her husband's and he looked at her and smiled.

Knowing that he was tired, Nani told to him to get some good rest after a fine bath.

The General bowed low and was about to leave with his wife, when, from where it was perched on top of the armchair, the white parrot exclaimed, "Ghost in the Hermit's Hut!"

Lady Anjali and Nani looked at the parrot, confusedly, and the General stared at Fortune, disbelievingly.

He looked at Nani and asked curiously, "What does he mean?"

"I have no idea," said Nani, equally baffled, "Ghost……..in the hermit's hut?" And then she tried to reason from memory, "We had a hermit here a few days back…….and Fortune had gone to fetch him……."

"But the bird never spoke of such a thing all these days," said Lady Anjali aiding in the reasoning, and she was in such a good mood that she asked Nani, "Do parrots dream? If they do, he must be speaking from one he had last night."

Nani laughed, "Yes, he must be talking of a nightmare he had, worrying over the ball he must bear! He despises loud noises and crowds!" She looked at the General, "Besides, I think it was his attempt to capture attention. You see, if there are visitors and they do not acknowledge his presence, he must make it known through some foolhardy statement of his like the one he just made."

"I suppose that must be it," said the General, smiling, and he walked toward the parrot. He patted its head, thought it didn't smile when he did it, (but then again, can a parrot with a beak smile?), and the General addressed the parrot, "Keep away from nightmares next time onwards, smart little birdie."

Lady Anjali and Nani laughed and the elder woman told the General, "He does not like being called little birdie, but since he hasn't started a racket on your response I guess he has no issue against you."

"That would be good, then," said the General, winking at the parrot, "We don't want any issues erupting within such a wonderful family now, do we?"

And then he bid farewell to Nani and left for downstairs with his wife, her arm around one of his.

After a good long bath, the General was served early dinner in the dining room with his wife for company and Lady Anjali began her excited tirade on the coming ball for the next night.

In the midst of the talk, she mentioned inviting the Gupta sisters and the General chocked on the wine he was drinking.

Lady Anjali stood up to minister to him, but he forced her to sit and not worry over him in the state she was in.

"I cannot stay myself from attending to my husband when he needs me even if I am carrying," pleaded his wife, but he drank half a glass of water, took a deep breath, and then said to her, "You must not worry over me for it will not do well for you."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because I do not want to see you become weak," said the General.

Lady Anjali said nothing for a moment and then she asked worriedly, "Are we talking about the same thing?"

The General chewed casually on a slice of cooked potato, as he looked at his wife confusedly, "What do you mean?"

Lady Anjali shook her head absentmindedly, "No, it's just that…….I was talking about taking care of you even when I have a child in me…..but you sounded like……."

The General looked at her, sipping a little of his wine, before he asked, "Like?"

"Nothing, never mind," said Lady Anjali and then she smiled, "Are you excited about the ball?"

The General smiled, "When I see your excitement, mine is two-fold. And I know how much this means to you."

"I cannot contain my joy that the ball is going to happen," said his wife and she leaned back in her chair, smiling as she placed a hand on her womb, "And we are going to have a child…..."

The General nodded at the wine and continued with his dinner.

The room was silent except for tinkle of the fork and knife on his plate as he dined. Lady Anjali watched him for a few minutes, leaning her head against her armchair and then asked something that was worrying her, "You are happy, aren't you?"

"About what?" the General prodded a few peas into his spoon.

"About the child?"

"Of course," said the General, eating the peas, "It is time you had someone to love when I am not here."

Lady Anjali sat up, "Is that the only reason why we must have a child? As a substitute for you?"

The General looked at her, "That is not what I meant." He placed a hand on her hand, "The child will be everything that our bond proves to be……..a fruit of our love, as you'd worded in your letter…..….and when I go to war, I can at least be comforted by the thought that I have not left you alone…...that a part of me will still be with you through that child."

Lady Anjali smiled and, lifting his hand to her face, kissed his fingers, "You never leave me to be alone, my love. Even when you must go for your war onuses, you always leave your love with me."

"That I do, my Lady Queen," said the General, who patted her hand that was on his and then withdrew his hand to pick up his fork and spoon again, "Though I am not happy with the fact that you let someone else write your letter to me."

Lady Anjali smiled, "Well, you don't worry over it because she is a wonderful person, our Kushi."

"She must be, since you talk a lot about her," he smiled as he spooned his dinner, "Infact, if I remember right, you have mentioned her in every letter you wrote to me in the past few weeks."

Lady Anjali laughed, "Did I, now? I didn't know myself!" And then she smiled at the wall, lost in her thoughts, "And I am doing everything I can to keep her part of this Castle."

The General looked up, surprised, "Why so?"

Lady Anjali looked at him, her eyes lighting with a warm thought, "I do not know why but I can sense it…...and so can Nani……..that she is the one for our Chotey."

The General's fork slipped out of his fingers, tumbled onto his lap and fell onto the carpeted floor with a soft thud. Lady Anjali bent down to pick it up but the General's fingers were already picking it up.

He placed the fork on the table, and picked up his table napkin, "Well, I don't think you need worry about your brother. He is a grown man now and not a small kid you need to keep an eye on. He can take care of himself and if he is still adamant about not marrying, I suggest you respect his views. That's the kind of sisters every brother wants: one who understands him and respects his beliefs."

"Well, his beliefs are blind and you are always siding with him!" pouted Lady Anjali.

"Now, now," the General said, kissing her hand, "Did I come here to feud with my lovely wife? I came here to dance with you again and I want you to smile for me the way you smiled when we first danced."

"I will," Lady Anjali's eyes sparkled with delight, "And this ball with be the best in Arhasia."

"It's a masquerade, right?" asked the General.

"Yes, and as soon as you are done with your dinner, we shall choose your mask! One that will enamor all those who see it, for I want you to wear the best there is to find."

"I am looking forward to choosing a pretty arcane one myself," said the General with a smile, his eyes on the wine before him, and his mind in contemplation.

Later in the evening, after dinner, when all were preparing for bed, Lord Arnav, arrived at the Castle, late because of some pressing business matters at the Industry.

Rahim Chacha opened the doors for him and Lord Arnav walked in, removed his hat and his overcoat, and knowing his sister would already be sleeping, handed them to the butler and asked impassively, "The white horse is in the stable. Has he come?"

"Yes, my lord," said the butler, bowing.

The First Lord only nodded and headed towards the dining hall. Seating himself at the head of the table, he was served his dinner with the servants waiting on him. As soon as the solitary meal was over, he placed the fork and knife down, wiped his mouth on the napkin and stood up, intending to head for his room upstairs.

But just as he had reached the foot of the stairs, he heard music coming from the ballroom. He frowned thoughtfully and turned his steps to head for the ballroom doors.

Dressed in his night gown, a half-drunk glass of red wine on the top of the orchestral piano whose lid was open, General Jha sat on the piano stool before it, his war-worn fingers playing on the keys, making the empty, candle-lit room echo with a melancholy song, as the tiny candle flames of the chandeliers played shadows on the walls.

The black keys and the white keys submitted to the touch of his fingers and the piano wailed in a beautiful but evoking mourning. The music flowed through the air and the General played on it, forgetting everything around him, and it was just when he had reached the culmination of the musical notes, that he became aware of the footsteps approaching him from behind. He stopped playing, and without turning around, he lifted his wine glass and sipped a little before saying, "You are late tonight, Master Menace."

"There was work to be attended to," said the man who had stopped in the center of the ballroom, looking at the man seated before the piano that was mounted on the platform at the end of the room along with other musical instruments.

General Jha stood up and walked towards the table in the corner where stood a wine bottle and more wine glasses. He poured some wine into another glass, refilled his own, and then stepped down the platform, holding a glass each in his hands.

Lord Arnav studied him as the General walked towards him and came to stand before him, one filled glass held before him.

Lord Arnav took the offered glass and took a sip before nodding to the other's face, "You look very tired."

"I am a soldier," said the General smiling, "Would I not be tired?"

"You've never looked this tired," said Lord Arnav, sipping his wine again.

"The recent war had been heavy upon me," said the General, "It was not like any I had wagged before."

"Different?"

"Different," nodded the General.

"Why are you up?"

"I could not sleep," said the General, "Days of sleeping in forests and camps, and now I find it hard to sleep on a bed of spatial luxury and sheets."

Then Lord Arnav nodded to the piano, "Why were you playing?"

The General cocked an eyebrow, "You ask too many questions, Master Menace. Not like you at all."

Lord Arnav shrugged, "It's just that I remember Di telling me once that you only played the piano when you were disturbed."

"Disturbed?" the General frowned uncomprehendingly, and then grinned, "What disturbance do you expect me to have when I am well and back home with my wife who is happy and carrying?"

"I do not know," began Lord Arnav vaguely, looking across the room casually before bringing his firm gaze on the General, "Something life disturbances in one's dormant curse?"

The General's nose twitched and he looked at the wine in his glass, red and sparkling dangerously in the candle-lights on the walls.

Lord Arnav was determined to get to the answers, "Why have you begun transforming again?"

The General looked at him, their gazes colliding, and each mind triggered by the memory of such a gaze-locking in the dead of a night in the forest.

"If I knew answers," said the General in a low voice, "I would not be in this cursed state, would I?"

"So you do not know?"

"No."

"Why did you get cursed in the first place?" asked a suspicious First Lord.

"Why did YOU get cursed in the first place?" backfired the General, calmly.

"It is not for you to know," said the First Lord, looking away.

"Then I have nothing to say either," said the General.

The First Lord looked at the General, but the General was smiling, "Master Menace, you're not afraid, are you?"

"I need only my sister's safety to be assured of," replied Lord Arnav.

"Then, I shall assure you that I will let her come to no harm," said the General, "What is in me will remain with me alone. Just like how I promised you when I wedded her."

"We keep the history of our curses from each other," said Lord Arnav, "And yet we are bound by a woman who knows what we truly are."

"And it is for her that I came," said the General, the candles flickering and shifting shadows on his face.

"The ceremony requires you but it is good you came for her," said Lord Arnav, "Just remember to keep what has awakened inside of you under lock. I will not let you harm my sister."

"Master Menace," the General laughed, "When you have your little…………disturbances, do you not try to keep your sister unharmed? Do you think I would be any different?"

"I do not know the answer to that for I do not know you as much as my sister does," said the First Lord, "But I know I can trust you to keep the wildness within you to not bring her harm."

The General nodded and then, after a pause, voiced his own lingering thought, "Since you braved to quench your suspicion of my presence in the forest, may I try to quench mine by asking what you were doing there?"

"I had come to get the hermit for the ritual," said Lord Arnav shortly, "My carriage broke and I had to spend the night at his hut." He looked into his glass.

"And the girl?"

"What girl?" Lord Arnav looked up, "Oh. Her. That was Lavanya's handmaid. She got into my carriage by accident and could not return with the carriage broken."

"I suppose you would not know her then," asked the General cautiously, watching the other man's expression closely, "I speak only from a concerned brother-in-law's inquisitiveness, but when you chased me, it seemed as though you were protecting her like you would your sister."

Lord Arnav frowned at the glass, the gold of the candle and the red of the wine shining on his shadowed face, "I was only reacting on my instinct. And no, she is of no importance to me," said Lord Arnav and he drained his wine in one gulp.

The First Lord handed his empty glass to the General, "Now, if you will excuse me, I am extremely tired and tomorrow, as you know, will be an even more strenuous night."

"Indeed," said the General, returning to the table to replace the two glasses.

Lord Arnav had barely taken a step forward when he paused and frowned at the General, "If I may ask, brother-in-law, what were you doing in the hut that night? Why did you come to the forest? Weren't you assigned the East?"

The General had his back to him, "I had lost my way." And then he looked at Lord Arnav over his shoulder, his expression matter-of-factly, "When I transform, I escape into the forest. And about the hut…..…I do not know what…..the thing in me…… senses and thinks, half the time, but I suppose he must have become curious as to presence of human beings in the middle of the forest."

Lord Arnav only looked at the floor, nodding, as he tried to let the understanding sink in, and then he was heading for the door.

As soon as the First Lord had left, the room felt empty again. The General poured another drink for himself and he drained the entire glass in one gulp. He placed the glass on the table and said to no one in particular, "If everyone has an issue over the one within me, should I not put it to an end? Well, then, that is what I will do. But before I think of my next move, I must get the senseless ball done with, though I have no worries over it. Behind a Mask, Harm cannot befall."

There are many bloopers in my tale because it's been a year since I began writing this tale and what it was last year is not what it is this year. The journey has been quite long and hence bloopers slipped in and the perfectionist in me is thoroughly annoyed with those tiny imperfections. But one thing I will always seek to maintain, without a single trace of 'blooperality' or discrepancy, is the psychology of characters and the skeleton of the entire tale's plot!

Now regarding the ball you are all waiting to hear of: Do you know what a 'climax' actually is? Climax is not the heightened ending of a tale. It is, on the contrary, the 'turning point' in a narrative or story. It is important to note also, that a story can have more than one climax. This FF has more than two climaxes. The first climax is the ball night. Hence, it is not solely the dance of ArShi (if there is to be one) that matters but all the other things in the night. The night is so very important that the lead characters (Arnav and Kushi) will be wearing the attire we see them in on the banner of our beloved tale:

Owing to the very reasons why I had been late to update last time, I will abstain from giving a date as to the next update. However, I will tell you this:

The next update begins with the ball night! And this is one LONG night and so the night cannot end in one chapter alone. Little by little, I will tell you of the night when many hearts in Arhasia would never be the same.

INDEX