Chapter Forty – The Crushed Trees
Azeon loosened his grip on Luke's throat and turned toward the girl floating before him. His crimson eyes glowed faintly as he said, "You're quite talented, child. I didn't even sense your mana when you approached me. Your control…" he smirked, glancing at Luke, "…is even better than his."
He looked down at his severed arm — then calmly regenerated it within seconds. "Slashing magic," he said, flexing his fingers. "Quite rare these days."
Charlotte floated closer, her purple eyes narrowing. "So, you're the demon sealed inside Atta… looks like the seal's completely broken." Her tone was firm but not hostile. "But I don't want to fight you right now. Give his body back."
Azeon chuckled, his voice deep and resonant. "Well, I've had my fun with you humans today. I'm not in the mood to kill anyone." He closed his eyes, a faint red glow fading from his horns. "So, I'll keep my word — and return the boy's body."
The crimson aura dissolved. The horns retracted, and the glow in Atta's eyes dimmed to normal. His body went limp, falling through the air.
Charlotte's reflexes were instant — she darted forward and caught him midair, landing gently on the ground below. Luke descended beside her, breathing heavily from the long battle.
He placed a hand on Atta's chest, checking his pulse. "Prince Atta is unconscious," Luke said solemnly. "We should take him back to the palace. He needs to be there… for Princess Izza's funeral."
Charlotte nodded quietly. She brushed a thumb across Atta's cheek, her tone softening. "Yes… at the very least, he should see his sister one last time."
Moments later, Princess Isha and Guardian David arrived. Isha ran straight to Atta's side, kneeling beside him with concern in her eyes. "Is he alright?" she asked breathlessly.
Charlotte arched a brow, clearly displeased by how close Isha was leaning to Atta. "And who might you be?" she asked, her tone sharp and jealous.
David sighed, rubbing his temples. "That's Princess Isha of the Elf Kingdom," he explained.
Isha ignored the exchange, gently touching Atta's face. "I don't blame him," she whispered softly. "Anyone would break after losing their sister…"
Luke healed the bruises on his own arms and shoulders, then rested a hand on Charlotte's shoulder. "We need to go. King Rauf has requested Prince Atta's presence immediately."
Charlotte pouted faintly at Isha's closeness to Atta, but nodded. She lifted Atta into her arms with surprising care and grace. Luke rose beside her, and together they ascended into the sky, leaving the broken arena behind.
Princess Isha stood below, watching them fade into the clouds — her eyes filled with both pity and something else she couldn't name.
Scene Shift – The Western Forest of an Unknown Kingdom
The forest was silent, save for the faint rustling of leaves. A woman in a flowing black gown walked quietly through the shadows, her hood drawn low to hide her identity.
It was Princess Fiza, Atta's eldest sister.
A white pigeon descended from the sky and perched on her shoulder. She noticed a small parchment tied to its leg. With steady fingers, she untied it, unrolled the note — and froze.
Her pupils trembled as she read the words. Her hand began to shake.
Then, the note slipped from her grasp and fell to the ground.
"No…" she whispered. "No… no… this can't be true…"
Her voice broke, rising into a scream that tore through the silence. "NOOOOOOOO!"
A violent surge of green mana erupted from her body, spiraling outward in a hurricane of grief and rage. The shockwave crushed the forest around her — trees splintering, the ground shattering within a two-hundred-meter radius.
When the storm of energy finally subsided, the forest lay in ruins. Fiza fell to her knees, clutching her chest, tears spilling down her face.
She had just received the message of Princess Izza's death.
To be continued…