Author's Preface
The Wanderer stood in front of the Bradford manor, his heart pounding like a Draemiran war drum. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the iron gates open and walked into the garden toward the main entrance.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Serenya sitting beneath the large oak tree.
Her eyes were closed, a peaceful smile lingering on her lips as the gentle breeze ruffled the leaves above.
He quietly walked over, leaning his shoulder against the bark. "What? You didn't find anyone else to annoy while I was gone?"
Serenya’s eyes opened at the familiar voice. She looked up to find the Wanderer standing beneath the swaying shadows of the leaves.
She jumped to her feet, a bright laugh taking over her face. "You're back!"
She was about to throw herself into his arms, before suddenly remembering where they were.
She caught herself, coughing lightly and smoothing down her dress. Then punched him in the shoulder. "Where have you been, idiot? The kids at the orphanage have been asking about the unicorn guy."
The Wanderer laughed, a blush of embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "Oh, please don't remind me."
"Every time I remember the tough Wanderer getting overwhelmed by a bunch of little girls, I can't stop laughing," she said, bending to her knees from laughter.
The Wanderer raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?" He rubbed his hands together. "Allow me to give you a haircut, my lady."
"No! Keep your filthy hands away!" she said, turning to run.
He lunged forward and caught her arm, using his free hand to mess up her braided hair. "A unicorn, coming right away!"
Serenya swung a kick at his shin to break free, causing her to lose her balance in the process. She slipped, tumbling backward onto the grass, while the Wanderer hopped backward, holding his leg in pain. "How did anyone even manage to kidnap you?"
Serenya burst into loud laughter, looking up at him.
"You look better than when you left," a deep voice came from behind.
The Wanderer turned around to find Duke Bradford’s piercing gaze locking onto him.
The Wanderer immediately straightened up and offered a bow. "Thank you, sir."
Serenya quickly scrambled up from the grass and jogged over to her father's side. "He's back, Bob," she said, before leaning in and whispering audibly, "I didn't tell him the good news yet." She tapped Robert’s shoulder. "I'll leave that to the Duke."
Robert smiled down at his daughter. "Of course," he said, turning his attention back to the Wanderer. "The devotion of a servant must be rewarded."
Robert looked back at Serenya, his eyes dropping to the grass stains on her skirt. "You should go freshen up. Your clothes have dirt all over them."
Serenya looked down at her dress. "You're right." She looked back up at Robert. "I also need to get ready for today's party."
Robert frowned. "What party?"
"To celebrate the Wanderer’s return, of course."
Robert crossed his arms. "Isn't that a bit much? You wouldn't even let us hold one when you returned."
"Consider this one mine!" she shouted back over her shoulder, already jogging toward the manor entrance.
The Wanderer chuckled quietly at her enthusiasm.
Robert sighed, watching her disappear inside. "I wish I could say no to that girl."
"I don't think anyone can, sir," the Wanderer replied.
Robert stepped in front of the Wanderer, and locked onto his eyes. "Admiration is fine... nothing more." He turned his back, pacing a few steps away. "Given the current circumstances, you will be granted the honorary
rank of a Sergeant. I will assign a unit of guards under your command. On paper, you are working for the city guard. But your true purpose is to keep her safe."
The Wanderer reluctantly nodded. "That would be an honor, sir."
Robert began walking back toward the manor. "That is the limit of my gratitude," he said, not bothering to stop or look back. "Don't try to look too far up the social ladder, stranger. You might hurt your neck."
The Wanderer's hand clenched into a fist as the Duke disappeared into the grand estate. The Wanderer muttered to himself, "The asshole didn't even apologize."
An hour later, a servant brought a ceremonial uniform to the Wanderer's quarters. After changing and managing to catch a much-needed nap, knocking came to his door.
He rubbed his heavy eyes, pulling the door open to find Serenya standing there, radiant in a formal evening gown.
"Come on, the party is about to start," she said, grabbing his hand.
The Wanderer digging his heels into the floorboards. "Wait, wait. We can't walk in together."
She tugged harder. "I do what I want in this manor."
"Serenya, stop," he said. "No one out there can know I'm the one who saved you back in the desert."
She let go of his hand in frustration. "I know... Uncle Zeek told both me and my father not to mention a word of it." She let out a sigh. "Fine. But only at the entrance. You're supposed to be guarding me anyway, right, Sergeant?"
The Wanderer offered a bow, gesturing toward the corridor. "Lead the way, my lady."
They walked through the grand corridors toward the ballroom. The moment the double doors were opened and Serenya stepped through the threshold, the entire hall erupted into applause.
The Wanderer was surprised to see the massive gathering. He hadn't expected a celebration of this scale.
Within seconds, lords and ladies swarmed Serenya.
"We are so glad you are safe, Serenya," one said.
"How did you manage to get even more beautiful?" a noblewoman laughed, fluttering her fan. "Perhaps I should get kidnapped next."
The shifting crowd of high society cluttered the entryway, pushing the Wanderer aside.
They effectively separated him from her, treating him as nothing more than a background guard.
But as Serenya forced polite smiles for the surrounding guests, her eyes lingered on him between the pleasantries.
Duke Bradford tapped his ring against his wine glass.
"I’d like to thank you all for coming tonight," Robert announced, raising his glass. "This celebration should have been held sooner, but Serenya wasn't feeling well upon her return. I would also like to publicly thank my brother, Captain Zeek, for leading the effort that saved her. Unfortunately, his duties have kept him from attending on such short notice."
He smiled. "Now, I'm sure you are all hungry, but my beautiful wife insisted we must have an opening dance first. You all know how she is."
The crowd chuckled in agreement.
Robert raised his hand. "Without further ado, enjoy your evening."
The musicians struck up a sweeping waltz. A swarm of young nobles crowded around Serenya, asking for the honor of her first dance till she lost sight of the Wanderer.
The Wanderer quietly slipped away from the noise, heading out to the balcony. He walked over to the stone railing and leaned on his elbows, staring down at the distant window of his quarters in the garden.
A few minutes passed in peaceful silence before a voice came from behind him.
"I see you're slacking off already, Sergeant."
The Wanderer turned to find Serenya stepping out into the cool night air.
She walked over to the railing. "What if someone came to kidnap me again while you're out here hiding?"
The Wanderer chuckled. "You can just attack them with a sharpened spoon, my lady."
Serenya shoved her elbow into his side, before leaning on the rails beside him. "I could have freed myself, you know," she said, mockingly waving her arms in the air. "I'm not some fragile princess waiting around to be saved."
The Wanderer smiled. "I've seen it myself. I don't doubt it."
A sudden sorrow crept across Serenya’s face as silence fell between them. She looked out over the dark grounds. "My uncle won't even look at me since I got back."
"You'll have to excuse him," the Wanderer said. "He grew up learning to hate mages. He can't change his morals overnight, even for family."
Serenya’s eyes drifted across the garden. "Do you hate mages too?"
The Wanderer looked at her. "How did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Use magic in the presence of Nullstones," he said, keeping his voice low.
Serenya looked down at her hands. "The Nullstones work like a battery. They store mana. The royal scholars already knew how to harness that, which is why our kingdom's technology is superior." She opened her hand, a sphere of light began to form in her palm. "As for us... will is the key. You have to pull against the stone's grasp. You have to want it more than the stones want to keep it."
The Wanderer stared at the glowing sphere, then slowly opened his own palm. He focused on the Nullstones embedded within the manor's architecture, feeling the invisible drag on the atmosphere.
Faint sparks of blue energy began to dance across his knuckles.
"Am I doing it right?" he asked quietly.
Serenya’s eyes widened in shock, the light in her hand flickering out. "You're-"
The Wanderer closed his fist, extinguishing the blue sparks. "You aren't the only one with secrets, Serenya."
"So this is where my beautiful niece is hiding," a smooth voice called out from the threshold.
Serenya quickly dropped her hand away from the Wanderer's side, turning toward the doorway. "Hello, Uncle Timothy. I didn't see you inside."
Timothy stepped forward onto the balcony. "I was informed late about the ball, unfortunately." He closed the distance, gently pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Welcome back to Valoria, my dear."
The Wanderer stood still, his mind raced as he listened to Timothy's speech.
Timothy turned his gaze toward the Wanderer, pointing a finger. "And who is your friend?"
"This is the Wanderer," Serenya said. "Helped me a lot in the desert."
“Helped?”
Serenya was already startled by Timothy's sudden appearance, she hesitated. “Yes, he is the one who actually saved me.”
She leaned forward, “But please uncle, no one should know.”
The Wanderer’s eyes widened in horror. He wanted to pull the words back into her mouth, but it was already too late.
Timothy squinted, struggling to suppress his anger. "Is that so?"
The world seemed to tilt.
The calculating gaze, the underlying malice in his voice.
It finally hit him.
Timothy is Zero.