Seeing the condition of the girl who looked like a nun, and the slightly wounded and disheveled knight behind her, Leon, Lucia, and Livia wasted no time pulling both of them into their house. The three invited the two girls to sit in the front room. Livia and Lucia went inside to fetch drinks and a basin to wash the wounds of the two newly arrived, bowed girls.
"Alright, who are you?" Leon asked.
"Forgive me, Your Highnesses, my name is Mariana Tyrion. I am a Saint appointed by the Esvana Convent located in Center Vanadias, and this is my guard, Isabela Harthel," Mariana answered.
"Greetings, Your Highnesses," Isabel bowed.
Lucia returned with two glasses of water and served them to Mariana and Isabel. Both immediately drank the water dry. Lucia then sat down next to Leon, observing how distressed the two people in front of her were. Not long after, Livia brought the basin along with two towels to wash their faces and placed it on the table.
She then sat down next to Leon as well. Mariana and Isabel immediately used the water to clean their faces and the wounds on their arms, while Leon, Lucia, and Livia allowed them to calm down first before asking any further questions. After seeing both of them relax and let out a sigh of relief, Lucia went back to the kitchen to get them more water. After she returned and sat down,
"Alright, try to explain what you two are doing on this dark continent? Your journey must have been very long from the center, right?" Leon asked.
Mariana let out a breath, then she stared at the three young twin men and women in front of her. She said that the situation in the capital of the Vanadias Empire was dire. Rebellions were breaking out there in the name of various, never-before-heard-of gods. That rebellion was still ongoing and happening in every major territory, compounded by the Emperor never appearing in public again.
About two months ago, while Mariana was praying inside the convent in front of the statue of the three gods, she received a vision of the future that showed the world's destruction, the wall crumbling, and three kings and queens leading several of the gods' chosen people, fighting against the Hellion forces and achieving victory.
A few days after receiving the vision and discussing it with the head Bishop at the convent, she had a dream that told her she must go look for the three kings and queens who had been born on the dark continent. After telling the head Bishop, the Bishop actually forbade her from traveling to retrieve the three kings and queens on the dark continent, citing the reason that Emperor Barrington was not in good health.
The five council members, representing the five major territories, had taken over decision-making from the Emperor. Mariana was, of course, very devastated because what she had seen in the future was still very clear in her mind: all would be destroyed by the Hellion unless the three kings or queens intervened to fight them and bring peace to the world of Estoria.
Finally, because the dreams continued, Mariana decided to make the journey without the head Bishop's knowledge, along with several Holy Knights, including Isabel, who served as her bodyguard. On the journey, they, who were originally seven people, finally managed to cross over to the dark continent with great sacrifice.
Only Isabel remained of the Holy Knights, and only recently did they arrive at the village where Leon, Lucia, and Livia were, after asking around at ports and among the various tribes scattered across the dark continent. Hearing Mariana's story, Leon, Lucia, and Livia, who knew how terrifying the Hellion were from 1,000 years ago, immediately fell into deep thought. Leon turned to look at his two twin sisters.
"Looks like we still can't live a peaceful and quiet life, huh?" Leon said, smiling.
"True, destiny has finally found us," Lucia replied, smiling.
"It's about time we got back into the world," Livia added, smiling.
"Swooooosh," Without further delay, Leon summoned the blue trident spear into his hand, which was the weapon belonging to Cronus. Lucia summoned the massive, lightning-shaped white sword, which was the weapon belonging to Soranus. And Livia summoned her two single-bladed axes, which were a greenish-yellow color and were the weapons belonging to Terranus.
Seeing the three legendary weapons, Mariana and Isabel's faces were immediately filled with awe, as if confirming that their long journey was not in vain. Without ceremony, both immediately got off their seats and bowed, kneeling before the three young twins in front of them.
"Thank you for believing my story, all three of you," Mariana said.
"Stand up, Mariana, Isabel," Leon said with authority.
Both immediately stood up, then sat back down in their seats. Leon, Lucia, and Livia recalled their weapons back into their summoning magic circles. They hadn't managed to continue their conversation when the door suddenly opened. Eluisa, Lot Har, and Helen walked in. They immediately saw Mariana and Isabel, who appeared to be from the Libelia continent, sitting in their front room. Eluisa immediately turned to look at Leon, Lucia, and Livia.
"Who are they?" Eluisa asked, who hated people from the Libelia continent because of what they did to her family and the family of her three twin siblings.
"We have something we need to tell you, Sis," Leon said.
"Hmm… judging by your clothes, are you from the Esvana Convent in Central Vanadias?" Lot Har asked.
"That is correct, sir. We apologize for the intrusion," Mariana replied politely.
Lot Har looked at Mariana and Isabel's clothes, which were disheveled and messy, though still looking high quality. Then he turned around and opened the front door. He looked out and glanced to the right and left. After that, he stepped back inside, and "SHING!" He drew the sword at his waist and pointed it at Mariana. Isabel immediately intended to stand and reach for the hilt of the sword at her waist, but Mariana raised her hand.
"You two are the Saint and Holy Knight that are being rumored about, aren't you? You came here and brought trouble… did your pursuers follow you to this village?" Lot Har asked, getting straight to the point.
Hearing Lot Har's words, Mariana immediately fell silent and bowed her head. Leon, Lucia, and Livia immediately stood up, but Eluisa raised her hand to stop the three of them. Helen, standing behind Lot Har, kept glancing at the window to monitor the situation outside.
Suddenly, "DONG… DONG!" The village defense bell rang. Lot Har, Helen, Eluisa, Leon, Lucia, and Livia immediately turned to look at the window. After that, Lot Har turned to look at Mariana and didn't lower his sword.
"I figured as much. You brought your pursuers here," Lot Har said. Then he turned to look at Eluisa.
"I'm going out, my wife. Wait for me here," Lot Har said.
"Alright, be careful, my husband," Eluisa replied.
"Allow me to come and help, sir," Isabel said, standing up.
Lot Har turned to look at Isabel, then signaled her not to follow him and to guard Mariana. After that, Isabel nodded and sat back down next to Mariana.
"Please don't make the situation worse. Wait here and don't go anywhere," Lot Har told Isabel.
"Y-yes, I'm sorry," Isabel replied, bowing her head.
"We're coming too," Leon, Lucia, and Livia said in unison.
"You three stay here. If the situation becomes critical, then you can help us. Watch over your sister. Helen, can you come with me?" Lot Har asked.
"Yes, I will accompany you," Helen replied.
Lot Har and Helen opened the door and ran outside. Eluisa walked to close the door, then sat down next to her three twin siblings, who were still standing. After that, she turned to look sharply at Mariana and Isabel.
"What is your purpose for being here? Tell me everything," Eluisa said with a heavy, cold voice full of resentment.