I CANNOT erase the smile on my lips even until I got back to our hideout. Looks like my eyes do not have enough of glancing at the ring in my finger given by Sevasti from time to time. It fits me perfectly, like it was made for my finger. What a glorious thing.
"Matias!" I blurted out of shock when he suddenly appeared in front of me. He followed my gaze to my finger so I slightly hid my hand behind me. The place is dark so I bet he did not see it. The thing that caught my eyes so bad I cannot help but stare at it in awe. "What do you need?" I asked with a timid smile on my face.
He stared at me for a while before speaking.
"The plans about the weapons, why did they change?" he asked, seriously.
My sight averted to Vivi who is s
HOLDING Adrina's hand, we walked hand in hand by the path going to the nearby falls. She forced me to go take a bath with her so I just followed her because the training for the day was done too.I furrow my brows when I feel something in the surroundings. Danger. I immediately removed the sheath of my sword. Good thing I have been bringing this with me wherever I go.After some time, enemies lurking in the background reveal themselves and surround us. There are more than ten of them. My eyes sharpened at the sight of him in the middle, Castor."We meet again, Miss," he said, grinning.I tightly gripped Adrina's hand and hid her behind me."It was a pleasure to meet you again, for the second time, Mister," I said, smiling with my eyes still sharp, looking at him. "I did not expect the gifts that you have sent me here." I added as I glanced at every one of them in my line of sight. They are not like the ones I have fought in Adrina's house. Looks li
IT WAS the day we received the weapons from Kahlo. I waited patiently for Matias as he is the one I assigned to get the weapons from him. The negotiation was smooth so I am expecting the weapons to be here by now.I saw his silhouette appearing from afar so I got excited a little bit and stood. As I see him nearing and nearing, I can also see the annoyed look on his face. And he has nothing with him other than himself and an empty carriage that was being pulled by his horse. I furrowed my brows and got to him as he unmount the horse.He gave me two familiar purses and said, "Dardo knows that we are the ones who want to buy the weapons from them," he said with annoyance. "He even threatened Kahlo to bring death to him as he had already beaten the man if he sensed again that we are buying weapons from them using him."
"HOW CAN I make sure that you are telling the truth?" said the Verdantes in front of me, making sure. Both of us were sitting on the chair by the table, facing each other. This is the first time we have met without slitting each others' throat. Things like this were paradoxically bound to happen whether we want this or not. This is noble of me knowing how he was indebted to me with all of his conniving deeds with the people of our kingdom. If not for him then I would have no reason to seize the auction business of those scum. The weapons that he would let me buy from them will also be the ones that will cripple their feet. I laughed at his question, treating it like a joke. "Do you really need to make sure?" I asked as the smile on my face disappeared. "Perhaps you have to be reminded who you are talking to right now? Should I, Dardo?" I added, blankly looking at his direction. 'Your life will be at stake if you refuse my wonderful offer. My patience
I GENTLY shove the curtain that was made of small crystals. It created a soft sound but it did not bother the men around the place who were watching as the women danced sensually on the stage. I was at the auction hall wherein there were women performing at the stage as a part of their program before the actual event. The auction itself. It was a place made of a large sailcloth to accomodate people who wanted to participate in the auction. This was located at the center of the discoteque.I fixed my hair and slightly smiled at the gentleman beside me. He stared at me for a moment and while he was at it, he shamelessly eyed my being as if wanting to lavish me. I was dressed like a noble like him, perhaps that is the reason why he was attracted to my charm. I removed my stare at him and just focused on the women that were performing on the stage.
"Let us start with ten gold coins," said the man on the stage followed by his low laughter. He even raised his hands in the air, looking like he was counting something. Beside him was a beautiful woman dressed in clean white clothes.I just glared at that and averted my gaze towards the area. When Altas' eyes and mine met, I nodded and signed him to start the plan. I took a long and deep breath before leaving the place. It is the start.I went to the darker part of the place where creatures seldomly walked and removed the fancy dress I was wearing earlier and replaced it with my combat robes that were underneath the dress. Lastly, I put the cloth that I would use to cover my entirety of my face aside from my eyes.I carefully climbed up the roof of the rooms that were surrounding the auction hall. Some of my comrades are there, waiting for me to drop the mark to start their assigned tasks for tonight. Matias threw me my sword, good thing I got my reflexes
"Aliara!" I heard Matias shout behind me. He quickly ran in front of me to accept the blow and protect me from the blow that was supposed to hit me from an opponent in front of me that I did not notice.I just slowly looked at him, my mind was everywhere except for the happenings around me. This is not good."Be alert, will you? We are in the middle of a fight!" he said with a louder voice.I blinked my eyes, fixed myself and lifted my sword again, aiming to attack. One last look at Sevasti who was still in a fight with someone in the nearby place where I stood with Matias. He was fighting my enemies.Matias held me on the arm and dragged me forcefully by the side. Because if not, I would have been badly injure
"Pardon?" I said with shock visible in my face. I laughed after a while and said, "Perhaps you are out of your mind. Do you think I will agree on marrying a kid like you?" I said, amazed in his guts to say those words. I looked at Matias while giggling. "Have you heard what this kid says?" I said with a mocking expression as I turned my look again at the kid."I did not say I am going to marry you now. When I come of age, you were the one I chose to marry," he said directly to me, sounding so arrogant with his little body standing in front of me."Chose," I snorted, emphasizing the word. "Do you even know me to say those things?" I added as I crossed my arms on my chest. "Sure. If for example that you are at the right age to marry me, do you think that you can easily get the hand of a princess like me?" I said, grinning.
I ATTACKED first but my eyes widened when suddenly, my movements got slower. I saw a glimpse of a grin on his lips until it grew bigger to a wider smile. I know that power of his, he can manipulate the time but there is a limit. The time that he could go slower was limited. It can drain all of his accumulated strength if he is not strong enough to handle this power. Also, he cannot control people with it such as make them stop even for a little while.And at that limited time, I knew what he wanted. It was me. The leader of the group that tried to tear down his territory.He was the only one who could move fast for now. Or rather normally. It is just looking so fast because we are being slowed by his potential. My forehead creased as he ran past me and went where Sevasti was, charging as he prod his blade in the air.
Sevasti's Point of View I WATCH her in the middle of the forest, here in Kozania. She was sitting in front of the clear water of the stream, the thing that is between us. I was so far away from her the reason why I think she did not notice me. Also, she seemed to be out of it and was thinking deeply to even notice my presence. She had been here earlier in the afternon and now it was getting dark but her position did not seem to change even in the slightest. I exhaust my eyes just staring at her beauty, at her hair wavy every time the wind blew. She is dressed better now than before. Truly, she became the queen of Kozania. She had achieved her dream of rebuilding her kingdom, and I am happy for her. Even if it costs the death of my father and us losing the ownership of the throne in Farianio. It was never ours to begin with so it was only just for it to be returned to its rightful owner. This is my only free time to stare at her because as soon as she feels my presence, I will immed
I LOOKED at Adrina when we reached Farianio's palace. Tonight, to be sure to really surprise them with our attack, and another is for them not to be ready so that we can easily conquer this kingdom.Everyone is in the dark, hiding and waiting for the signal so that they can show up to the opponents. We use the sturdy weapons made by the Verdantes.It also took a long time before Dardo made his decision but in the end he chose to be my ally. I gave him a chest of gold which he really enjoyed. But he did not join our attack, considering the welfare of his kinsmen. I did not force him either. We have enough weapons from him and I think that is enough.He nodded at me so I smiled and turned to Vivi."Vivi," I told her. He flew away from my shoulder and fly freely through the air."Start the attack! Start the attack!" he shouted repeatedly with his shrill voice until it reached all our comrades.I pulled the sword out of its sheath and jumped fro
"I LOVE you so much, Aliara! And yes, you are wrong if that is what you are thinking about me. You are the only woman I have ever loved in my whole life. The woman I will continue to love and will love until the last of my breaths," he said, seemingly trying to make me understand what is being said by him as the heaviness of his breath intensified. He looked down and when he spoke again, calmly. "I am sorry that I am not with you in all your suffering. I am not there when you need me. I am not there when you are looking for me. But, Aliara, I really want to go and see you at times you want me to be there. I want to save and protect you but my father always stops me. He does everything just so I cannot see you." His mouth clenched his jaws and turned to face me again, his eyes full of anger, longing and sadness. "I really love you, Aliara. That will never change. I hope you will forgive me for all my shortcomings. And please, do not take away your love for me. I cannot afford to lose
He also smiled and seemed defiant. "How can I not know that there was such a commotion that day. The rebels that were a threat to the peace of Farianio escaped. The fairies only saved you, the reason why you are still alive today. Who would have thought that even the fairies were on your side? Maybe you really ought to live quite a long life.""It will still take a long time because I am barely done with everything I have to do." I moved closer to him, he did not budge and just stayed in his place. "But how do you make sure they are fairies? You just heard that they can control plants, do you not? You know it was not just fairies that had the ability to control plants."His forehead furrowed, wondering, and eventually that was replaced by panic."But--how ..."I proudly smiled and nodded softly at him. Agreeing with what is currently in his mind right now. Yes, Dardo, Hederon. They are not yet dead. They are just hiding from our sight. And now, it is time
WHEN Adrina and I met again, she gave me another hope to continue what I had started, revenge on Henicio. She talked to me a few times about it but when I asked her why she was encouraging me, she did not answer and in fact, changed the subject.Now, I am standing in the middle of the forest while looking at the moon as I realized why she wanted me to kill Hencio. She wants revenge because of Matias. It is not hidden from my knowledge that she loves the man and even though I did not see her grief at his death, I know how much she felt at that moment.Perhaps, she has not forgotten yet. She has not lost her anger for the creatures that were the root of all of this. Especially with Hencio. He is the one who is responsible for all of this so he is the one to be avenged.I turned to Zalina who was by my side, she was Adrina's mother but she seemed to have aged just a little ahead of me when it came to appearance. Adrina and I were with her when I went to the V
We now face the creatures who were watching. The reactions they show vary but curiosity prevails. I closely watched them as the soldiers adjusted the rope at my height. That only faded when I heard Vivi’s loud whistling in the air. He circled the creatures in front of us before approaching them. He did not stop flying, but his eyes were focused on me.A soldier pulled me up again to attach the rope to my neck, I just let him do that, still looking at Vivi. Earlier, he had been quiet all the way down as he followed us and I know he was sad now as he witnessed my fate. Her chirps seemed to be crying as I heard it so I also felt sad. I will leave him. It was just now that thought crossed my mind. That I will be leaving him.I smiled at him to convey that it was all right. That he did not have to cry and be sad. I know he can do everything without me. She can find a new friend to love and take care of him like I did. Otherwise, he will join other birds and live
THE SURROUNDINGS were bright as the sun had already risen when we reached the center of Farianio. The creatures parted to give way to us, curiosity was written in their eyes as they looked. The soldiers were in front and on our side, watching us closely as if we could still escape in this condition. Aside from chaining our hands, we were already tired and weak from the long journey. And most of us were still wounded.I could no longer walk properly because of my trembling leg. The aching wound in my thigh seemed to spread all over my body. My sweat was dripping, my throat was dry and I was definitely pale because of the blood I had lost.These stupid soldiers do not even give us a drop of water."Aliara," Casias called, he was just next to me. Hands were also tied and had nothing to do but obey these soldiers. He called me several times but I never looked back at him.This stupid traitor! He still really wants to talk to me."Do not talk to me," I
I nodded and stomped on his foot. His jaws clenched and we applied more strength to our swords, still stuck to the air. I quickly backed away and struck the sword I was holding on his stomach but he immediately dodged so it just touched his clothes.He gripped his sword tightly and successively rushed at me but I avoided everything as he continued to retreat. When he stopped, I turned around and rushed first, with each strike of my sword he shielded it with his weapon. However, I hit him several times with my arm and hand. But because he was strong he was not shaken by those measly attacks.Annoyed, I blew a massive puff of air when he kicked me on the side, I backed away and stopped. My eyes were firm as I turned to him. I was ready to rush again but I stopped when an arrow hit my arm causing me to release the sword I had in my grip.My mouth stopped at the pain I felt here. I did not notice it coming! However I no longer paid attention to it when Favier rushed
"YOU ARE a princess, Aliara?" Rowan spoke again but I ignored him.And since Casias was also not surprised by that, it was only a fact that Favier was stating the truth, that he was affiliated to the palace.I smirked after a while, sarcastically. There are many questions in my mind but I am slowly coming to an understanding on what is happening now. They have known each other for a long time, even before I came here to Ohayas. It was very clear that Casias had betrayed me, he pretended to know nothing about me, that he did not know me. Perhaps that fool Henicio is watching over me. And this is the right time to kill me.Am I quick to trust so I am always betrayed by the people around me?I want to laugh at myself for that question.But even if he deceived me now I do not intend to question him. It also does not matter if I ask him why he did this to me. All of them wants only my life.And I will not just give my life without resisting.