• Seven years had passed. Ephraim had grown to be a young man with many talents, swordplay being his best. Under the wing of King Solomon, he had grown to be the lord he was meant to be. He was enjoying a duel with his best friend Ricard, the prince of Ilyad, and after a long fight(with Ephraim being the victor, as always) they decided to retire to Ilyad's castle. As they entered the main hall though, they noticed a messenger conversing with Giam, Solomon's most trusted mage. "Oy! Giam! What's going on here?" Ricard cried out. "Ah, you two. It seems something strange has been happening around Pharis lately. You should talk to the King about this, I need to inform the other mages." Giam replied. The boys made their way toward the throne. "Hey Ricard, Giam looked worried. More so than usual. What do you think is going on?" Ephraim asked. Ricard thought for a bit. "Well Ephraim, the way I see it, if it involves Pharis, it can't be anything good." Ricard finally stated. They entered the throne room, witnessing a small argument between Solomon and the Guard Captain, Marie. "Sir, do you really think this involves military action? Surely, a few emissaries would be enough to-" Marie argued before Solomon rose from his throne. "Silence Marie, we seem to have guests. Boys, what do you want?" They all stood in silence until Ricard finally broke it. "What was Giam panicking about? It seemed important." Solomon sat on his throne once again. "It is nothing you boys should..." Solomon said, then turning to Marie. "No need for military action? Fine, we'll send these two then." "Send us where? To Pharis?!" Ephraim cried out. "Yes, Pharis. Apparently something strange is happening in the town of Lira. It's dangerously close to the Capital city of Elesis, so we want to send people there to check things out. Ephraim... I know that Pharis isn't a good place for you to be after what happened, but no one else will go after the fall of Arcia." Ephraim looked to the ground, thinking back to that horrible, relentless night. "No... I'll go. I need to face this sooner or later if I'm to bring Arcia back to it's glory one day." Ephraim whispered. Ricard turned to Ephraim in surprise. "Are you MAD? Pharis is a country of louts and ruffians, if we go, will be robbed if not killed first!" Solomon rose in anger. "Ricard! You will accompany Ephraim and Marie to Pharis. That's an order from the King of Ilyad! Do I make myself clear?!" Ricard looked away in disgust. "Yes, Father." Marie stepped forward. "Good, I'll go make the necessary preparations then." Marie took her leave and Solomon once again focused on the two boys. "Do you both know the legend of the Harbinger of Doom?" Ephraim and Ricard looked inquisitively at King Solomon. "Yes, of course." Ricard replied. Ephraim stated the legend so Solomon would believe them. "An object of great animosity, whomever holds it will be cursed with the most wretched luck anyone could imagine. If they possess it for too long... they die." Ricard looked at his father. "You're not saying that fairy's tale is true, are you? ARE you?" Ricard asked. "It's a possibility." Solomon answered, much to the boy's surprise. Solomon rose from his throne and began walking toward the Grand Library. "Come. If the Legend is true, then there is much more you two should know. And if it is true... then God help us."