Rock, wind, water, deep forests, sea of grasslands, cold and strong winds, land of oaks, land of fire and iron: Vael-Dragon. Home of clans, swords and shields united under the 10 true laws. In the valley of Rondalla, right in the center, there is an ancient mound, as old as the valley itself. On it rest three statues carved in stone, with reddish, green, and blue hues: the three Queens. Menhit, she who cuts; Utrennyaya, she of the red dawns; Karavmate, she who wields. These monoliths, bent by time and rain, gaze towards the center of the mound with hands extended, each silent to time, inert to the world. But not today; today is different. The stormy weather of Vael-Dragon lashes the valley, creating the perfect conditions for the three Queens to sing.

  In the middle of the mound, dotted with moss and ferns, there is a stone bench. On it, Mina, motionless, looks to the east, as if waiting for a sun that never arrives. Around her, countless torches reveal sleepless nights. Isolated on the mound, the black memory of that place of shadows afflicts her; her empty gazes land nowhere, her hair matted from sleepless hours, in vigil, waiting for an enemy that never arrives. Her pupils flicker between beast and reason, like coals about to flare into flames.

  Distant on the valley's edges, two figures watch with interest. One, in metallic armor covered by a crimson blanket with golden borders that reached his shoulders. On his back, two long staves and a rolled hide tied with a cord. His helmet completely covered his head, leaving only his eyes exposed. While the other, lightly armed with a leather breastplate and a wolf hide with braided fur, had his face covered halfway by a leather protector emerging from his armor. Both watched Mina intently, who was down in the valley.

  —She's just there without even gesturing! Kinzo, how long has she been still? —Said the figure covered in leather armor, hunched over, looking from the valley's edge, pointing at Mina with a blackened, dull stiletto.

  —Thirteen hours, Reza. I told you she wasn't fit; she can't hear the queens' song; she has failed the test of the three songs —said the man in metallic armor, his hand resting on the pommel of a large, wide, and heavy sword on his belt.

  The atmosphere of the place could be described as a sad and rainy morning, with an intense cold that tinged the landscape with fog and frost. The moss and ferns were home to a large number of yellowish fireflies scurrying across the ground. The two warriors watched, waiting for some surprising return, but Mina, motionless, made no sound.

  —Mokuzai arrived not long ago. Let's take her back; the shadows that afflict her are too strong. I can forge muscles and you can hone skills, but shaping the soul is beyond our power; only Mokuzai can help her —Kinzo said, stepping down into the valley. Reza nodded and followed him at the same time.

  The two figures descended to the bottom of the valley. Walking towards its center, they noticed deep furrows in the earth, made furiously by Mina's large draconic scimitars. Trees were torn and enormous stones shattered in acts of uncontrolled rage. As they approached the center of the valley, they noticed more and more of the destruction that the distance and the valley's mist had previously hidden from them.

  —The power is enormous, pure uncontrolled force! —Kinzo nodded, seeing the destruction of the place.

  —Uncontrolled force is not good! She must learn to control all that impetus; she must find a way to manage that enormous power —Reza exclaimed firmly.

  As they entered the center of the valley, they felt a warm breeze coming from its core. Both stopped dead. Reacting to a quick attack, Kinzo drew his wide sword like a shield. Supporting his hand behind it, he channeled his strength into the sword, strengthening his defensive stance, and with that, he could change the trajectory of an enormous log that was launched towards them. Reza released his body and let the impulse of air throw him aside, dodging perfectly and effortlessly, then instantly propelled himself onto a rock, landing on its side. Kinzo accelerated his walk little by little, alternating his feet to gain incredible speed. Intentionally, he dragged his sword behind him, generating a trail of sparks and debris. Rapidly moving to his right, Kinzo managed to see a grayish blur moving at incredible speed among the debris. He could barely perceive several stone and wood projectiles being thrown in his direction.

  Kinzo breathed deeply through his helmet. One could see the mist being swallowed by the vents from his powerful breath, while his right hand tensed, clenching his fist at his side to throw several blows that intercepted the projectiles in mid-air, destroying them before they could harm him.

  —I see her! She's moving rapidly around us! —said Reza, as he detected, from the projectiles' trajectories, the aggressor's location.

  —She's measuring us little by little; each attack is more directed! —Kinzo tensed every one of his muscles, receiving a huge boulder head-on. It rotated as if it were a ball, slowly losing his stance due to the impulse created by the enormous rock's spin. To not lose sight of his enemy, he concentrated his strength on reducing the speed of the huge boulder.

  —Stop her for a moment, Kinzo! —Reza, like a mirage, accelerated in an instant, generating a unique sound like a bundle of branches singing in the wind, rapidly moving in front of their attacker, who was Mina, lost in fury and an aggressive trance.

  —SHAAAAAAAAA! —Mina hissed loudly, devoid of reason; her eyes glowed, emitting a red trail.

  —That's it, she's all yours! —Kinzo used his enormous sword like a hammer to stun Mina, who angrily continued to land relentless attacks. Nodding, Reza accelerated again, leaving a ghostly trail behind him, arriving in front of Mina where he struck her abdomen with the palm of his hand. This blow resonated so strongly that Mina's pupils trembled for an instant before vanishing. Kinzo saw the opportunity and delivered his attack, emitting a loud and intimidating yell that, without moving from his spot, exerted enormous pressure around him, throwing Mina onto her back, unconscious.

  —She's very strong! But she needs to find what limits her for now —Reza walked beside Mina, unconscious and with torn clothes, she lay sideways on the cold ground. The dust settled around them; the battle, though short, was also explosive.

  —Mokuzai can help her a bit more. Let's take her before she catches a cold; she's been in the swamps for a long time, the temperature drops to 4 degrees in the mornings —Kinzo took the wooden staves and the rolled hide and formed a stretcher on which Reza lifted Mina, embarking on the journey back.

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  —Where am I? —Mina rubbed her temple, getting up from the floor. She looked around where walls corroded by time surrounded her. A single flickering light bulb swung from the ceiling. Intimidating images adorned the walls in which Mina was enclosed. As if breathing, they closed in on her more and more. Frightened, she quickly got up and ran looking for an exit, opening a door that led to a wide corridor with a high ceiling.

  —Where am I? I don't remember coming to this place. I WAS IN VAEL-DRAGON —her thoughts raced with fear. As she entered the corridor, it stretched into the distance, almost endless, and from the furthest part, a metallic cart came rolling slowly and creakily. Inside it, on a wooden staff, a swinging oil lamp hung.

  —No… not again, no —Mina immediately remembered that cart. Fear returned to her, making her clasp her hands to her chest, a gesture she hadn't made since she was very young. She slowly approached it and took the handle. At that moment, chains came out from inside the box, violently tying her to the cart. Mina resisted with all her strength, but the chains bound her with supernatural force. Tied and immobilized, Mina fought to free herself while the cart released its brake with a brusque movement. Suddenly, the corridor tilted and the cart plunged into the darkness where a multitude of hands and eyes appeared, opening like petals of a terrifying flower, receiving and engulfing Mina, who, tied in the cart, screamed: —Nooooo! —.

  Mina woke up with a rapid spasm, her eyes wide open, darting quickly everywhere. Afraid to blink again, they observed the ceiling, made of wood and straw. Two little mice watched her from above, unconcerned, washing their faces and whiskers before scurrying away to a corner. She removed the blanket covering her and barefoot walked through the room, made of wood and clay tiles, full of small pots and terrariums of common animals, who continued their lives unbothered. Mina turned to a window; a tapping came from it.

  —It's raining —she murmured. The fire in a stone and mud fireplace swayed as if a warm breeze rocked it. Mina, seeing so much warmth and tranquility, sat on a sofa; a feeling of insecurity began to take hold of her.

  —You're awake! Perfect, Kinzo and Reza were a bit worried. They left you with me after Mokuzai didn't accept you —said a voice from the back of the room.

  —They took you to see old Mokuzai and he sent you to me: “So much fury in one being, the stone cannot be bent. I cannot help her, take her to Colle!” —he said in his usual old and grumpy voice—, and now you're with me! Hahahaha. —Mina turned to see where that voice came from.

  —Reza and Kinzo… where are they? They were giving me the test of the three queens… I failed again —Mina squeezed her hands to her chest; her insecurity turned into anger and frustration. Little by little, a smell of eggs and bacon reached her. Mina could see that she was on the second floor of a large cabin. Sofas, tables, and chairs were a bit larger and sturdier than usual; she was a big girl, she couldn't imagine that giant living in this place, he must be an enormous monster!

  —Hahahaha, sit down, come to the table! There's good meat and milk; young ones need good protein to grow! —laughter and a clatter of pots and plates were heard in the lower area of the cabin. Mina took a few cautious steps and went down. The cabin was shaped like a tower-type room with multiple rooms on the sides; the stairs went up two more floors. A round table, decorated with plates of food and hot drinks, where four children were eating. All of them laughed and ate. Among them, a girl with long bangs reaching her nose turned to look at her and motioned for her to come down.

  —A-and… I couldn't, I have t-to… I have to practice and…! —Mina said, embarrassed.

  —Nonsense, you're hungry! I know, I would be after your test —said the man in the kitchen while the resonant crackle of oil filled the place.

  —That's right, the test! I have to go back and try again… —Mina said aloud, she took a few steps to go down, when her stomach growled loudly.

  —How does it feel, how does it feel, how does it feel! —the four children chanted, banging the table with their forks, inviting her to sit down. Mina, even more embarrassed, refused without a word, whereupon the girl took her hand and led her to the table, where she offered her a chair and said in a thin, soft voice:

  —These are for guests, they're smaller —the little one offered her the chair with a big, pure smile. Mina looked at her, not knowing what to say.

  —I see Runny has invited you to the table, you're in a tight spot, now it's impossible to refuse! Hahahaha —that voice came like thunder from the kitchen.

  Mina directed her gaze to Runny, who gave her approval with a thumbs-up and whispered to her:

  —The hams aren't that good, but the strawberry tarts are the best. Ralo and Geno don't eat them because they prefer meat; John prefers garlic bread and cheeses, so we can share them without problems —Runny looked at her victoriously. Mina returned her gaze and for a moment they focused on eating that breakfast which, delicious and endless, almost magically appeared before them.

  —Alright, with this, breakfast is finished, young ones. Clear the table and head off for your morning practices! —a strong voice said in front of Mina.

  —Yes! —they shouted in unison and with great agility ran to do as instructed. Mina, surprised, turned to look at the person in front of her.

  —Did he move without me noticing? With his size and such a large presence? He went back and forth from the kitchen several times and I didn't notice his movements even once! —Mina thought and looked closely at the person sitting in an enormous armchair in front of the table. That man was huge, dressed in a knitted wool sweater with deer and bear patterns, straight black trousers and leather shoes that seemed comfortable, with a clay mug in his hand, full of hot coffee, on a table next to the armchair. A long beard, ending in points and trimmed to his chin line in a zigzag pattern, gave the appearance of a jaw with fangs. The lack of hair revealed an old, large scar that ran from the back of his neck, passing over his left eye and ending at the corner of his mouth. That eye was covered by a black patch on which an embroidered pattern of metallic threads showed a coiled wolf biting its tail.

  —I spoke with the masters of the test of the three queens; apparently, they believe you should seek another pattern to entrust yourself to. Mokuzai told me that your inner rage will not let you hear the voice of the three queens —Mina responded by hitting the table with her fists, which completely resisted the blow without any problem. Mina slumped into the chair, about to scream in fury. Biting her lower lip, she swallowed her anger and said to that man:

  —I'll go talk to them! Surely if I try harder I can pass the test, I just need to be more controlled in my anger and I'll be able to… —Mina stopped as she clenched her fists that rested on the table, which was already clean.

  —Able to what, Mina…? What do you wish to obtain? —Mina raised her tired gaze.

  —Are you a master in Vael-Dragon? —Mina asked, disheartened and in a low voice.

  —You could say yes, I also have a duty to teach! Although for now, I'm a substitute father —that man replied calmly. Mina looked at the four children who were studying at desks made from a single piece of tree trunk.

  —Four children are quite a responsibility, I can't deny it's heavy, but it's not the first time I've taken care of others, I've done it for a long time! Hahahahahaha —the continuous laughter was soothing for Mina for some reason, she felt no malice behind it.

  —I see you also wish to take care of others, Mina —Mina turned to look at her leather bag in which several potions and a first aid kit peeked out, as well as some medical books, then turned back to look at that man.

  —If you ask me, I see a young woman seeking more power in front of me, but… what kind of power? I don't know, I need to know you more to find out —taking coffee, he walked to a nearby bookshelf where he took an old map drawn on leather and placed it in front of Mina. She turned to look at it.

  —Perhaps there is something you can use there, although I warn you, it is a dark place. You will probably see not only that shadow that haunts you, but also your own darkness —Mina took the map, convinced.

  —I'm not asking you to train me, but can you prepare me? —she looked at the man, who nodded and said:

  —I can remind you of some things and give you some advice if you wish to listen! —

  —Yes, I will! —Mina nodded and sat a little closer to listen to what that man told her.