Fiora began to move slowly to the surprise of Mustaffa and Woodrow. Black vapor began to emerge from her body, as if some kind of elixir were evaporating from within her. "Mystic Inversion, second phase," the young queen chanted in a voice so weak that it was barely audible to Woodrow and Mustaffa.
At that moment, a huge column of thick black smoke rose from Fiora's body and dissipated into the air. Woodrow and Mustaffa were shocked and perplexed. Fiora had removed the poison of the Scarlets from her body by reversing the mysticism of her vital links. The young queen's breathing began to return to normal. "That was incredible" said Woodrow. Meanwhile, the other monarchs kept their attention on the strange woman.
Aurora took a moment to look around her. The place was desolate. She could hear the wind, and the snowstorm had subsided slightly, revealing the mutilated bodies of hundreds of soldiers and wizards killed by the Scarlets, many of them mutilated by the soldiers' blades. She could only lament the horrific scene her eyes had witnessed. She turned to the woman and grabbed her by the hair, lifting her head.
"Now answer me, who the hell are you?" asked Aurora. The woman looked up at Aurora, Ezequiel, Everard, and the Downmore Brothers, and proceeded to laugh again. Aurora let go of her, taking a few steps back, confused because despite being trapped and having suffered considerable damage, she continued to bluff.
"How did you manage to break one of the seals?" asked the woman. "We never managed to do it" she added. Upon hearing this, Aurora and the others felt their blood run cold. "What do you mean by 'we'?" asked King Ezequiel fearfully. The woman mocked them all again, and Woodrow and Mustaffa arrived. They helped Fiora walk, leaning on both of their shoulders. She appeared safe for now, though her body was still struggling to recover, and the woman noticed this.
"Stupid, they have no idea what's coming" said the woman. Fiora questioned her interest in the eighth door, and the woman responded with laughter, simply telling her that her time would come to an end, and her era would come to an end.
Woodrow remembered the opening of the seal and left Fiora in Mustaffa's care. She ran toward the Eighth Gate, pursued by Everard. When they arrived, everything was bathed in blood, the tables were smashed, and thousands of scrolls had been set on fire and torn to pieces.
Amidst all the chaos and death, Everard and Woodrow saw some surviving soldiers and wizards appear in the snow, which had lost its white color due to the crimson blood. Everard and Woodrow gathered what little remained of their forces in the ruins of Aldelviewreld, a thick smell of death lingering in the air. So many days, so many months, and so many memories shared in that place over the last three years now only remain in the memories of the few surviving comrades.
"Why did this happen?" Woodrow asked, her face full of sadness. Everard, unable to answer, remained silent, letting the wind speak for him. The Kings continued to interrogate and torture the woman whose power and army of Scarlets had torn his companions and friends to pieces. No one celebrated being alive; they just caught their breath, staring blankly into space, watching the snow stained with so much blood.
"You know, Woodrow, I'm really glad I met you" Everard said. Woodrow looked him in the eyes and was surprised to see a tear running down his cheek. Woodrow tenderly leaned in to wipe it away with his hand, which was injured and numb from the cold. Everard's face was covered in cuts and he had a bruise on one of his cheeks. "We're fine, and we'll continue to be fine" he replied warmly. Woodrow understood that Everard was still terrified.
"Who wouldn't be terrified?" she thought. It had been a real struggle to keep at least one limb intact. The ferocity of those beasts was terrifying. Everard gave thanks and withdrew with the other soldiers who were still alive. Woodrow walked, counting her steps and thinking about everything that had happened. She kept walking until the mist lifted, revealing the glow of the Eighth Gate. With a loud cry, she warned the others about this. In the heat of battle, they had forgotten that after three years, one of the seals had finally been broken.
Everard ran toward Woodrow as fast as he could, followed by other soldiers. Woodrow, euphoric, mentioned that not only was it glowing, but there was also a kind of vibration, like sound waves that were noticeable in the reliefs surrounding each seal. "This is incredible, we must interpret it immediately," she said enthusiastically. Her face lit up suddenly, the terror had left her eyes, and her smile radiated amazement.
"We must inform the Kings and Queens" Everard emphasized. Woodrow entrusted him with this task and asked one of the soldiers to fetch a blank scroll to document the extraordinary event. In the distance, Aurora and the others continued to question the woman. "What interest do you have in us?" asked Mustaffa, who was helping Fiora stay on her feet by carrying her on his right shoulder. Little by little, her body was still recovering from the exhaustion of enduring so many attacks, compounded by the deterioration caused by the poison.
"That's a very good question," replied the woman. 'Unfortunately, I think I've already said too much. I didn't come here to talk, but to kill you all―Aurora, Mustaffa, Ezekiel and the Lords Downmore" she concluded. That response made Aurora very angry. She narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. The woman's wounds were getting worse and she was bleeding more and more. Her breathing was becoming labored. "She's going to lose consciousness," thought Fiora as she watched her silently. Aurora moved her left hand, her rings activated, and three lightning spears pierced the woman's torso, causing more wounds and a heart-wrenching scream of pain.
"Watch your words, you're in no position to threaten us," Aurora growled. Fiora watched Aurora's angry expressions. "How do you know our names? Where do you know us from?" Fiora asked with difficulty.
The woman slowly raised her eyes to Fiora and gave her a Machiavellian smile. A chill ran through Fiora's body from the soles of her feet to the last strand of her hair. "He's close. You know it." the woman said, looking her in the eyes. Fiora fearfully remembered what had happened in the forest of Threnafell, the massacre of her young recruits aspiring to become legionnaires of Averford. "That day was a feast for them, and he was there, watching―You won't be able to keep her safe forever" the woman threatened, continuing to taunt her.
"Kill her, Aurora, now" Fiora ordered in a fragile voice, and everyone could hear the fear in her voice. Mustaffa was surprised to hear her. "For the third time―Do Not give me orders!" Aurora said, annoyed, reiterating that she didn't take orders from anyone, least of all her. "Kill her!" Fiora shouted, this time more forcefully. "Show no mercy now that she's in your hands, or we'll all die here," she concluded.
"What's going on, Your Majesty?" asked Mustaffa. Fiora looked confused and very uneasy. "Something's wrong. We must get out of here now" she replied. From one of the pockets of her armor, she took out an arcane teleportation stone. "The portals have been destroyed, but I can create a mystical gate to Averford. We must leave now!" he repeated. Aurora approached him with insults, telling him that he was being too annoying.
"How scandalous, you look like a spoiled child" Aurora insulted her. "What are you doing? Why haven't you killed her yet?' Fiora asked. Laughing mischievously, Aurora said she wanted to torture her a little more. Fiora remained silent, while the Downmore brothers and Ezequiel could only watch the growing discord between the two queens. At that moment, Everard returned after gathering the survivors. "Almost all of them are dead. There aren't many soldiers left" said the young warrior.
"We are unprotected. Woodrow is documenting the seal we have opened, but we must consider leaving and returning with half of our armies," Everard concluded. Fiora grew increasingly uneasy, staring at the sky. Everyone noticed and asked her what was wrong. "My original spell is still active―Something dark is coming from the north" she replied.
"I must also report that the eighth door is acting strangely" Everard said, then asked for their help in interpreting the seal that had been opened. Everard's eyes lit up with amazement, and everyone was surprised to see him looking so radiant despite his cuts and bruises. The Downmore brothers and Ezekiel followed him through the red-stained snow toward the eighth door.
"Monarchs, we must get out of here, now!" Fiora said again. "First, I'll take care of this bitch once and for all!" Aurora replied. But the terrified scream of a woman shook everyone and everything in the ruins of Aldelviewreld, and its echo resonated in every rock and tower around the eighth gate. "What was that?" asked Aurora, terrified, and unconsciously her mystical rings activated. The strange woman began to laugh. "I told you all you would die here!" she stated.
"I told you something was coming from the north, and now it's here," said Fiora. Once again, the woman's bloodcurdling scream echoed, and they knew it was coming from the direction in which the Downmore brothers, Ezekiel and Everard, had gone. "Woodrow is there!" Aurora exclaimed, fearing for her life. "Aurora, I told you to kill her" repeated Fiora.
As Aurora was about to run toward where Woodrow was, she saw out of the corner of her eye a burst of purple fire heading straight for her. Aurora froze, motionless, while Fiora leaped forward with incredible speed and summoned her shield. She stepped in with her shield, saving Aurora's life and taking the damage once again. With all her strength, she resisted the powerful attack even though she was tired, enduring the full force of energy until it stopped.
"Windham again, you are truly formidable" emphasized the strange woman. Aurora was perplexed, observing Fiora on her knees, her armor and shields were smoking from absorbing that destructive attack. "How did you free yourself, and how are you unharmed?" asked Aurora. The woman mocked Aurora.
"You should have killed me when Fiora ordered you to. Now I will cause great pain over you before devouring you. My real reinforcements have arrived" said the woman. "Good intuition, Fiora Bright-Windham" said the woman. The three kings found themselves surrounded by two more people who looked just like the woman. "Damn it!" Mustaffa shouted, immediately drawing his swords and taking a defensive stance against one of the draconian woman's allies. Fiora stood up, still looking tired, but summoned her shield and spear. Aurora observed the tenacity of the two as they prepared to fight again, without wasting any time, she activated her mystical rings again, creating countless spears of all the natural elements.
"We are the rulers of these lands, and we will fight until the last drop of your foul blood is spilled" said Fiora as the blade of her spear turned crimson red and the edges of her shield glowed amber.
The second round was ready to begin, and the die was cast.
―Meanwhile in Averford―
Strange noises could be heard coming from Kiett's room. Claire was downstairs when the noises caught her attention. Alarmed, she ran upstairs calling for her brother, but he didn't answer and the noises grew louder.
"Kiett, are you okay... is everything all right?" she asked, receiving no answer. She continued climbing, the wood creaking with each step. Claire began to feel nervous. "What is that fool doing?" she thought. The suspense of the moment made her ignore a wooden bucket, which she tripped over, twisting her ankle. "Damn it!" she shouted, losing her balance and falling onto her back, hitting the railing.
The sound coming from Kiett's room intensified. "This isn't good" Claire thought, and immediately got up, even though her ankle was still hurting and she couldn't put any weight on it. Suddenly, the door flew off its hinges and was thrown out of the hallway window, along with a cloud of smoke and tongues of fire. "Kiett? Kiett, brother, what's going on?" Claire shouted. She ran as fast as she could into the room, fearing for her brother's condition after that enormous burst of energy. When the smoke cleared, Claire saw Kiett lying on the floor on his back, laughing hysterically. This angered Claire, who approached him slowly with a smile that would scare a small child.
"Are you hurt, little brother?" she asked, smiling, as if nothing so violent had happened that it sent the door flying out of the house, destroyed half the roof, and blew out the window. "Claire, calm down, I'm fine, I'll fix it" he replied fearfully. Claire looked at him angrily, and in Kiett's view, a great darkness began to emanate from her.
"You think we're rich, you idiot?" she replied. Kiett got up quickly and tried to escape his sister's wrath, but she was as quick as a cat, jumping on her brother's back and leaving him breathless. "Claire, please, I can't breathe" he said. Claire laughed maliciously at him, "You really can't breathe?― Tell me, do you have money to repair the roof or for a new door and window?" Claire recited, "Because I don't and Uncle Joel isn't coming―You'll have to repair everything yourself" Claire exclaimed.
Kiett gave up and lay motionless beneath Claire. Eventually, she calmed down and let him be. As Claire got up, she looked around his room. "Wow this is a real mess" she said. Kiett simply grunted. His sister continued looking around until she found a curious book. She picked it up, closed it, and looked at the cover. "The Tales of the Wanderer? Kiett, what's this?" Kiett jumped up with almost superhuman speed and tried to grab the book from her, but Claire was faster and dodged him like an elegant dancer. "Claire... give it to me... it's just a book of bedtime stories" he replied.
Claire began to laugh softly until she ended up laughing loudly. Kiett just looked at her, not believing that she was really laughing. "Bedtime stories? Are you afraid of the dark? Did you wet the bed?" Claire said mockingly. "Don't fool me, Kiett―you're always doing things you shouldn't, that's why you almost blew up half the house!" she scolded him.
Kiett sighed and walked over to his bed. After a moment, he sat down and asked Claire to join him. She obeyed, sitting down next to her brother. "Cosette recommended it to me, as a first step toward asking to study with the Sentinels" Kiett said. Claire was surprised, although deep down she knew it would happen. Kiett had always shown a certain talent for elemental mysticism, but she didn't expect him to decide so soon. "Listen, Kiett―I understand how you feel, but don't you think you're rushing into this a little? You can still improve your sword skills―I'll help you."
Kiett looked at his sister, she came closer and kissed him on the cheek, "It's you and me against the world... remember?" Claire stated, "I know, Claire, we'll keep our promise―It's just that when I was fighting in Threnafell, I didn't feel like it was enough" he replied. Claire stood up, a little upset, but instead of criticizing him, she agreed with him.
"I know, brother―I know, but no one could have been prepared for a situation like that, not even the hunters or Uncle Joel" Claire reiterated. "By the way, we haven't seen him these days. Do you think we should look for him?" Claire asked. "Let's leave him alone a little longer―We'll visit him tonight after the incense ceremony" Kiett replied.
Claire handed the book to Kiett and left, not without first kissing his forehead. He remained thoughtful in his room. "Clean up this mess―Silly!" she exclaimed as she went downstairs. Kiett got up and walked over to one of his double-door wardrobes, turning to make sure he was alone. When he opened the doors, a bright light illuminated his face, and he slowly smiled. "Just a little more of my mana, and I'll get it!" he said.
On the outskirts of Averford there are also some settlements, hamlets, and villages under the protection of the Kingdom. Although they do not enjoy the protection of its walls, there are towers of erratic mystical energy that function as an electric barrier with great defensive capabilities. Through these settlements, a man rides energetically on a beautiful black horse through the beautiful village of Dove. Upon leaving the village, the man continues until he enters a small forest, where the wildlife is beautiful. Some beautiful and large rabbits and deer jump and graze, the singing of birds adorns the sound of the wind blowing. Everything happens despite the light rain. The sun was unable to break through the black clouds laden with water that continued to bathe the land of Averford. For almost a thousand years, the climate had been changing drastically, and Averford had had to adapt greatly in order not to be greatly affected.
The rider continued until he reached a ranch near the village of Dove, at least it was far from Threnafell. Curiously, that forest was also a good place for hunting. Upon arrival, the rider was greeted by servants who stopped him in his tracks. "I come in the name of Her Majesty Fiora Bright-Windham. Her Majesty needs General Montecristo."
One of the servants escorted the man to the back of the estate where General Joel Montecristo was cutting pieces of wood with an axe. "Sir Joel... The Queen has sent a messenger for you" the servant reported. "Thank you, Victor" Joel replied, and when he turned around, he saw that it was not a messenger, but a hunter. It was Alistar. "Please leave us alone."
The servant obeyed immediately and withdrew. "What are you doing here, Alistar?" Joel asked. "I've come for you, Joel. We need you" Alistar replied. Joel pretended to ignore Alistar's words. "Please, Joel, you can't lock yourself in here forever―We need you. Our Queen needs and that's why I'm here," Alistar repeated. Joel cut a huge cedar log with his axe and turned to Alistar. "Our Queen will be fine without me―I intend to resign as her general" Joel replied. Alistar remained silent, and Joel proceeded to continue cutting wood.
"Joel, these things happen... but you can't just give up... you're our general!" Alistar said emphatically. "They were children, Alistar... just children... and I couldn't do anything―I couldn't save them. I did nothing!" Joel shouted with each blow of his axe on the cedar trunk until he split it in half and his voice cracking under the weight of his guilt and then fell to his knees crying. "I'm not worthy to continue being your general―It's over for me."
Alistar watched the suffering of the man who had once been his master, but he had a lump in his throat and found it difficult to speak. He searched for a single word to ease the pain Joel was going through. "Listen, Joel―Don't do it. Fiora needs you, your nephews need you―You can't leave them now" Alistar said. Joel turned toward Alistar, and the hunter watched the tears roll down Joel's cheeks.
"My nephews. I forgot about them for a moment―How are they?" Joel asked. For a moment, Alistar saw a slight smile on Joel's face, and when he saw it, he felt as if the sun had returned after years of gray skies. "Alistar, they don't know this place―Could you bring them? I'd love to hug them!" Joel pleaded, "Come with me―Tonight is the incense ceremony, they'll be there, join us" Alistar replied. Joel wiped the smile from his face and responded with a firm 'no.' "You have to go―I have things to do!" Joel said.
Before leaving, Alistar took a scroll from his hunting bag and said, "Believe me―Our queen needs you, she left this scroll for you, her instructions were precise, she wanted me to give it to you." After this, Alistar left, leaving Montecristo very intrigued. Alistar saddled his horse and set off on his journey back to Averford. Joel entered his bedroom and opened the parchment. As he began to read, someone knocked on his door to tell him that dinner was ready, preventing him from finishing the document.
―Averford mystic Academy at night―
In Averford, Claire and her brother arrived at the kingdom's mystical academy. Upon entering, they met their other classmates, all wearing black uniforms with gold stripes. Kiett and Claire also wore these uniforms, only a little more modest. Most of the students aspiring to become Legionnaires of Averford wore more elegant uniforms. "Claire... can you see Margott?" he asked. "Give her some space, can't you live without her now?" she replied, annoyed. A pair of female arms wrapped around Kiett's hips and hugged him tightly. "I'd really love that" Margott said, referring to Claire's comment.
In Margott's presence, Kiett was content and kissed her tenderly. Claire, on the other hand, made gestures of disgust and walked away from them. "How shameless can they be?" she thought as she walked aimlessly until she bumped into Princess Sonia. "Ouch, hey―Why don't you watch where you're going?" Claire exclaimed, then regretted it and apologized over and over again. "I'm so sorry, Your Highness, please forgive me―I didn't mean to be rude, it was all my fault, forgive me!" Claire begged as she heard the mocking laughter of her classmates around her.
"Don't worry―Are you Claire Sigrid?" asked the princess, her eyes filled with emotion. "That's right, Your Highness... My name is Claire Sigrid... It's an honor to meet you!" Claire said. "I had the pleasure of meeting your brother... where is he... he came with you, I would like to see him" said the princess with a look on her face that Claire would never forget, showing enormous interest in her brother.
"This can't be" she thought.
TO BE CONTINUED…