"Young girl," someone said while tapping on Aefia's head and waiting for a response. Guards followed, some held out swords while others pointed guns. She immediately shuddered, while looking left and right, but Nada was shocked, Helio and so was the others. I guess I am caught, destiny is harsh I mean. What can I say, am I right?
She slowly turned around to see who it was. "Duchess Smod!" She immediately bowed. "I am sorry, I didn't see you approach. May I know what I did wrong?" She said while trying to hold in her breathe and make sure her gun was about reach, so in case she could break into a run if they were about to execute her.
"I never really wanted to make myself be noticed." The duchess smiled. "I believe I have seen you from outside the window of the great library. And you seemed...like a very smart and calculated girl, so I wanted to meet you in person. You have no wrong that is punishable." She said while holding her shoulders to level her up.
"Duchess, may I know your reason for actually meeting me in person?" Aefia asked as she slowly looked up. The guards behind her stared with shocked faces at her while some placed their fingers on their shot gun's triggers. She was confused before that, but then Ms. Avry came out in front while bowing.
"I am sorry your highness. It is just that she had never received a royalty like you before. We are honored to receive you, Duchess Smod." Ms. Avry bowed down. "I happen to be her...close relative...so I will look after this matter the next time with proper care." She said while giving Aefia a side eye.
Luckily she remembered before bowing her head and spoke out, "I am honored to receive you, your highness." Aefia spoke while breaking out in sweats despite the harsh winds of winter. She could feel Anasiy laugh from behind her. In any universe, I will be a victim of at least some sort of bullying.
"What is the point on making her bow?" The Duchess spoke while watching Aefia level her head, along with Ms. Avry. "Now what was I going to ask her? Oh yes, I forgot to say, what is your name girl? I will hate calling you just by a syllable."
"Aefia," she answered without hesitation. The Duchess stared at her with a smile. "Very well then, Aefia, how old are you?" She said while holding her chin with her hand. "I am very impressed with your confidence, enough to scare bears in the forest too."
Aefia looked at the waving cloak behind the Duchess, a very bright purple which blended with amazing contrast to the snow. Her face was a pinkish tone and rarely matched with her eyes, which were a blinding yellow...a magic user!
"Fifteen. I turned fifteen a month ago." Aefia spoke while trying to read the details encrypted onto the Duchess's appearance. She stayed calm, despite knowing this might be her last day all together. This woman has a very average amount of magic energy which she wields, but what does she want from me? Does her element allow her to see which person uses which other element?
"Aefia, can you tell me what you know about the incident that happened in the library? I was just asking because I didn't see any sort of trauma highlighting in your face when you heard the gun shots." The Duchess spoke while holding her shoulder.
Oh mother Earth, look at where this has gotten me into. "Your highness, I was just used to seeing disasters like this for a very long time now. So a small gun shot and a dead body doesn't scare me anymore. And about the incident, I only know that the body was killed earlier because there was a faint bloody smell coming from it, if you had realized?" Aefia replied while trying to hide her guiltiness.
"Hmm...smart indeed. Young girl, you have a potential that is achievable. Do you understand what I mean?" The duchess asked with a smile enveloping her entire face. She was expecting something back from Aefia, that was the most she could tell out of the expression.
She bowed her head, a very low one. "Thank you for the compliment, your highness." She spoke with gritted teeth. That was an invisible save to me, but I consider it a miracle instead. The day has been chaotic as ever, I want to go home and sleep.
"It isn't just a compliment Aefia." Ms. Avry looked at her with worried eyes. "It means the Duchess wants to offer you a position at her palace. She means a very high and respectable place for you to be recognizable due to your skills."
"But won't that attract jealousy from other people who can't take the position being offered to me? Can there be a way for me to reject, your highness? I am still young and I don't want to lose my life." Aefia politely replied. I don't care if you try to kill me with your guards either, then I will escape and live in secrecy.
"Oh my! Guards! Shoot her..." The duchess smiled wickedly as the guns pointed at her all at once. Aefia slowly surrendered and she flashed a wicked grin back at the duchess. "Your highness, don't tell me you thought I was dumb enough to not know that all the bullets were emptied before I was approached. It was just to scare me to standing next you, right?" She spoke.
Nada gasped as she tried to find a way to get out of the market. The whole market had diverted their minds towards Aefia and the others while some admired the Duchess and her flowing cloak making her look confident. "My lady, can I ask...you were afraid of me too, weren't you?" She asked while staying stood upright.
The Duchess spun around while looking at her guards and spoke to them in gestures. Which were mostly, 'lower your weapons' and 'shoot'. Then, she abruptly spun around and held a knife below Aefia's chin as she stayed grining.
"Absolutely amazing, absolutely...incredible. I am just imagining, how does...one person keep such a straight face while facing death? You are no ordinary girl, and I wish just any of the governors between this three states would be as smart as you." The Duchess pushed the knife's sharp edge towards Aefia's throat, as beads of blood fell while highlighting her pale skin.
"For that to happen, I think you are about to test me a little bit more, am I right?" She smiled as the blade tore through her skin. "Oh yes, and the next test, it won't be on this street." The duchess removed the blade as a guard handed her a clean cloth and a bandage. "It will be directly at my castle grounds. That is if you are willing to come, otherwise...I will kill you, isn't that what you fear about being in a very tight political position? A fear of being killed?"
"Yes! Yes you are right your majesty." Aefia replied immediately with joy in her eyes. "But in return for accepting the position you are going to offer me, I want something in return." She spoke while the duchess lifted her chin to wipe the blood and place the bandage there. Seriously? You did all that just to try and be humble again? It hurt alright? No one except that demon ever tried to slit my throat...unless that means the mage included.
"Make sure to remember, tomorrow, I want you waiting at the outside of the Saffron Castle, or I will hunt you down. Now what is it that you want?" The duchess said while folding the piece of cloth back and handing it to the guard.
"I want something expensive. The Pandora's closet." Aefia said while staying confident. The duchess was taken aback while a few guards choked on their laughter. "Hey girl! Do you think you can just ask such a mythical artifact from the duchess just like that?" A passerby laughed, followed by the others.
But Aefia stood staring at the duchess. You know, I am not just going to take offers that are not worth the risks. If you force me, I will make you suffer unlike what you are imagining. The duchess looked carefully at Aefia and let out a sigh.
"Guards, execute the crowd who laughed." The duchess closed her eyes and stayed silent for the remaining of the time. A few went out to the small population and lifted their swords, whether they were kids or adults, they still didn't mind it. "Wait! Another thing I want is the safety of these citizens." Aefia spoke while looking towards the duchess with cold eyes. "If you don't, then I am sure to drop your offer. Take my life if you want, but I won't let them suffer."
"Merciful?" She looked at the girl in front of her and stared into her dark eyes. And controlled emotions it seems. She is my slave from now on..."Drop those weapons. I prefer to do as she has requested." She finally declared.
"Any other wishes?" The Duchess smiled at her with a fragile appearance. When Aefia shook her head, she turned her head away from her and spoke one last sentence. "Remember, tomorrow at eleven in the morning. I have fulfilled both of your wishes, and you should fulfill mine." And the guards followed her away.
A few populations approached Aefia after a short while. "We...residents are sorry for what we had said about you." One man spoke, "you just saved my child's life. I had underestimated you." He bowed his head, a few more followed.
"I am no royalty, I suppose it is best to say sorry to the Duchess herself. I am just a mere citizen like the rest of you." Aefia spoke as she spun on heel and walked away, and her team trialing her. They too are so insolent, I hate people like them, but I can't blame just anyone.
She came across a large twig on the cleared road, and kicked it high while stepping and breaking it down as it fell on the ground. Humans are just twigs, and I see this twig as...no one. I just can't hate anyone, unlike back at Earth. What is wrong with me!
"Are you worried or concerned?" Helio asked as she entered the officer's compounds. "If you have a fear for death, there is elder brother to help you." He smiled while stepping inside the lobby. "By the way, Nada said she really wants to join the battle."
"...She is just trying to please me, that's not determination." Aefia spoke while wiping her eye. "I am certain she will be traumatized. And I can't attend her in the battle within the time frame, so I will need you to train her instead. When I find her strong enough, I will let you know about when we are leaving for the other dimension. I have a new number of things to worry about right now."
"It's absurd how she approached you today, I was actually pretty scared for you thinking about the way you had a person killed, and caused a mess." Helio said while suddenly turning concerned. "I will have to monitor you from now on, you may have exceeded the line for now. And you have gotten injured."
"Yes I know, and it does hurt pretty bad. But the fact is, I am leaving for her palace tomorrow. If she notices it vanish, she will be suspicious. But at least now, we have one thing we really needed, I guess the sudden interaction between us was an advantageous one for us." Aefia smiled while cracking her knuckles. "The Pandora's closet...the second part for the Sacred Key. Finally! One major worry has been dropped. Anyways, we part ways here, take care elder brother." She waved while walking towards the elevator.
"Aefia," a touch was felt on her shoulder. She abruptly spun around, and got shocked enough to stutter for a while. "N-n-na-Nada!" She spoke while biting her tongue at the end. "Nevermind me...I am just stressed about the situation." She looked down at her hands.
"I know, I heard." Nada nodded. "I believe he told you that I am willing to join you in a battle." She spoke as her eyes slightly shone. "I will endure the hardship. I need to learn to be stronger, and I will sacrifice as much as I need." She held Aefia's hand.
Immediately, she pulled her hand back, which made Nada slightly worried. "Sorry, I am just...Look, I feel very low when someone just comes pleading to me. I already know, and I have already told him to train you starting tomorrow." Aefia immediately said while scratching the back of her head.
"Really! Thank you!" Nada stood straighter. "And I almost forgot to ask, Helio mentioned about the inter-dimensional missions. Is that true?" She hesitated slightly before speaking.
"He said...what!" Her pupils dilated. "Yes, that's right." She replied while shadowing her forehead and eyes with her hand. "Go take a rest, you will have a very harsh time starting tomorrow." She spoke as she stomped away towards her room.
She slammed her door and threw the bag on her bed. She held her hair tightly between her fingers as she slightly pulled it. Puppet appeared up and in front of her. "She would have found out any sooner. She was persumably your best friend."
"Yes, but what about the trauma and injuries? She is just strong enough to hold a dagger, and remember the time I first appeared in the other dimension. I fear that the same thing would happen to her." She said while pulling her hand out and letting them flop as if her joints were gone.
"Aefia, you had seen and done enough today. And tomorrow you don't know what you will face, will you?" Puppet spoke as it sat on her head and snuggled on it. "Sheesh! Your head is like a stove!" It pounced up and flew in front of her face.
"Of course it is." Aefia said as she got up and wrote a small note, handed it to Cindy. "Deliver this to Helio." She said as she tied it to its tail and Puppet helped to teleport her.
***
"Oh Cindy!" Helio received her on his palm and noticed the unusual note at its tail. He unwrapped it, only to get more scared in return. "You are going to die. After I return tomorrow. So be prepared," the note said. "This isn't good than. It's not me the one who is dying." He instantly shuddered.