The raiders' flag was dyed black with a white triangle as the background of the gray skull at the center. They were planted on top of the armored nuclear cannons, a destructive vehicle that has been torturing them under fire for a while now. If those weapons continue for a few more hours, then the entire village will be wiped out with no survivors.
"Duck!" Alessia yelled at the family she was escorting upon spotting a cannon aimed their way. They were bombarded with a swarm of bullets which luckily didn't hit anybody. Once the rain of bullets ended, she first stood up behind the stack of hay and roamed her eyes around. The coast was clear so she ushered the family to the horse stables far enough from where the raiders came from and helped them ride on horses to gallop away from the village. She could overhear a
"Miss Alessia, please take my pork! Have a feast for dinner tonight!" A butcher ambushed Alessia's path and respectfully shoved a thick slice of pork in her face. Her eyes widened, surprised by the sudden offering, and took a few steps back. His head was ducked down, purposefully avoiding her eyes which forced her to accept the pork.She stuffed it in her basket, which already contained too many fruits and vegetables from her short trip to the market. Ever since the raid, the people have been very generous to her—to the three of them. Some even considered sculpting them to display their faces in the well, the center of the village. They were too grateful and she's starting to grow irritated. At first, it was nice, having all these resources on your palm without a word, but now it was starting to irk her. She's i
Under the comfort of the cabin, the three heroes of Hiscoun Village are gathered around the world map and are discussing where they're off to next. Initially, Clyde planned to go with his comrades but given the situation, he has no other choice but to tag the two females with him. They're both credible, but one is dodgy and the other is naïve of the world beyond the forest. And although he's confident in his own skills, he can't execute this mission alone. He'll need an accomplice or two. Which is why he has no other choice."If we need allies, the best we can run to is to Caelum," Alessia suggested, her meaningful gaze lingering on Clyde. "They have the best soldiers in the world, despite them being human.""No. I doubt Caelum will lend support to a creature like me," he opposed, scoffing.Alessia clenched her jaw. "How about Sirvakha? They've been keeping to themselves for 50 years now and have vowed to only allow dragons past their walls. I'm
Alessia was even more dangerous when she's in good shape. Even Marika was rooted to her spot and couldn't move a muscle. She only flinched when a body would fall on the ground and create a slight quake. She moved swiftly, even the naked eye couldn't follow her moves. Marika was frightened. And to think she'd been living with someone like that for days. But she was also in awe, with her agility and strength, she can pass through a battlefield without a sweat. She wanted that too."T-The Alpha will...arrive s-soon," the remaining wolf's voice shook with intense fear. As if he had his tail in between his legs. Alessia could make you like that. Even the mightiest of beasts can cower under her. Marika realized that early on. But does that also mean...? Her eyes fell on the scowling Clyde not too far from them. She knew he also had power inside him. His power isn't undeveloped, just hidden. Will Alessia also be able to make Clyde falter?"Ma
Every whip lash was painfully endured by the two prisoners. Both of them kept their teeth gritted and only let out small, constrained yelps of pain. Neither of them wanted to talk, not because they would jeopardize each other—but because it would expose their own goals and missions. They were being selfish and saving each other at the same time. They were two complicated people that fit each other so well."I'm gonna ask you one more time, and if you still keep your mouth shut—I'll be forced to take a finger or two," threatened their Delta. Clyde barely gave a reaction.The floor was already flooded with his blood but he couldn't care less. He won't die here. Even if he's too weak to break free, he knows she isn't. For the short time he's known her, he knows enough to expect her to resist for another day or two. During that time, he just needs to heal to be able to escape with her. Because he also knows she'll leave him if he's too weak."What...b
"What are you trying to say?" He frowned and stopped cleaning the blood on her waist. "Should I throw you out, then? Or leave you here 'til you die and rot?"Alessia sighed. "I'm just gonna be a burden. This will take me a long time to heal, so you should just carry on with your mission."She was spouting nonsense. That much she knew. He's her target, she can't let him go loose. But something different is going on with her today. It was so unlike her."Are you telling me to leave you here? The only company I have? That's an enticing offer, but no thank you," he said, nonchalance dripping in every word. He continued cleaning her with his slightly damp cloth, unbothered by her earlier remarks.Alessia rolled her eyes. "I'm being selfless for once, Clyde. Don't waste this opportunity. I don't want to see you still in here when the sun rises—"Her heart skipped a beat and th
The Supreme Alpha's commanding voice boomed in all four corners of the room. He has stormy gray hair and equally stormy eyes. His regal red mantle rested comfortably on his broad shoulder, and his golden-threaded tunic hugged his well-framed body perfectly. His eyes were as sharp as his jawline. Alessia couldn't find any fault in his physical appearance at all. He was godly."Have you had your meal yet, Clyde?"Clyde chuckled and shook his head. "I haven't. I was waiting for someone to eat with me until I found out she fell fast asleep," he replied, sparing Alessia a glance."Oh." The Supreme Alpha's gaze followed Clyde's and met hers. She awkwardly curtsied and avoided his gaze. "Is she your wife?""No." Clyde was quick to deny it as if he hated the very idea of it. "We've formed an alliance with each other and will part ways after our mission."He introduced her as his
Clyde calmly placed his glass down and spared Alessia a glance before she completely left the hall. His gaze soon fell on Regulus, who was already staring intently at him. He discreetly smiled."You've barely changed," was his first remark after they had their privacy. "You're still hotheaded. I told you to work on that, didn't I?""Let me remind you, brother, you're not my mentor. Never was." Regulus's jaw clenched as he picked a grape and chewed aggressively."Hmmm . . . Our mentor died, so I'm taking his place.""You can't take his place. He's irreplaceable, you should know that. Wasn't he your father?" That hit a nerve. The amusement disappeared from Clyde's face as his eyes sharpened on Regulus."He died . . . because of you." His reply was calm, cold, and lethal. He doesn't see Regulus as the Supreme Alpha, just a regular outcast favored by his father like before. "If only you watched your mouth, none of this would've happen
"Master, they have been reported to arrive at the Supreme Alpha's palace," muttered a male in some fine tunic, bowing his head in front of another man sitting languidly with half of his body hidden by the darkness of the place. But even from the messenger's position, his presence can still agitate someone from a distance.The shadowed man chuckled humorlessly."How about that fairy?"His messenger ducked his head and parted his shaking lips. "S-She got away, Master...""Tsk," he scoffed. "Amateurs. Couldn't even restrain a mere forest fairy."The messenger displayed obvious hesitation to speak, before inhaling deeply. "I-I was informed that the fairy suddenly lashed out and escaped... They doubted that she was only a forest fairy because she emitted both properties of fire and water, M-Master.""Now, now, that's interesting..." The 'Master' emerged from the shadows a
"You should sleep for now," said Clyde as soon as they settled inside the cave. The horses were taking a break outside and Clyde had just made a fire. Marika ignored his remark and remained to look outside the cave, her brows furrowed.He looked up at her and realized Marika was too worried to be able to sleep. But nothing's gonna happen by just worrying. Clyde then made a make-shift bed for Marika. He tapped the space on the bed, signaling her to lay down."She'll be fine," he assured her."But the wizard looked strong..."He shrugged. "He might turn out to be a coward. Judging by his attitude earlier, it is likely so."She looked convinced and was making herself comfortable on the makeshift bed. After a while, Marika's breaths evened and her muscles relaxed. Clyde was sitting on a small log by the fire when he noticed she had fallen asleep. He quietly stood up and
Giorgio couldn't pick up the right words to say. He couldn't believe it himself. They grabbed the wrong girl?! Why didn't she say so for their entire travel? Was it intentional?! Then it was that guy's fault for mistaking their names! He is in disbelief. His eyes darted almost everywhere to avoid Ragna's glare.Ragna is a part-man, part-ogre towering over them. He's almost half as tall as these canopy trees in the rainforest. His enormous wolf fangs don't help lessen the intimidation too. As well as that frighteningly big club. It even has faint bloodstains on it.Giorgio is bewildered. Poppy's life is in danger, just like that! One mistake cost him her life."L-Let me make up for it," he stuttered. "Another c-chance...I will redeem myself, just give me another chance."Ragna intently stared at him. Giorgio couldn't maintain their eye contact because of the irking fear that's spreading all over his body. Ragna muttered, "We
Alessia knew the sun was out. She could feel it from the wagon's thin cover. There were two men inside with her, and judging by the sound they make, they're also heavily armed. There're also two outside maneuvering the vehicle. She could sense their every movement and hear their every breath.This wasn't planned at all.But she knew what Clyde was thinking when he switched up their names. These guys are Carthal's underlings. They are under his command. And one of his orders is to probably take Marika, who they mistook as her. She assumes they're headed to wherever Carthal is now, and take her to him. The only question that she doesn't have a concrete answer to is...why her?They planned to use Marika. So why suddenly her? Because she's more capable of saving herself once they learn where he is? Or did he lie? Did he want to use her after all and his compassion for Marika was genuine? Or...does he trust Marika more? Because tha
The next morning, at the palace courtyard, the three were preparing their stallions. Clyde had a dark black stallion, Marika had a golden brown one, while Alessia was given a black horse with slightly lighter patches. From a distance, they seemed to fit with their horses' colors. The Luna neared them, with the Alpha, and personally gave them cloaks.She handed the last one to Alessia as she smiled genuinely. "I thank the Gods for letting us meet, Alessia. It was nice. You helped me a lot more than you know.""Mhmm," Alessia nodded and took a step closer to whisper. "Take care of yourself here...and I know I'm not the ideal person you should take an advice from, but look at his way sometimes, because he almost never looks away from you."Annika knew who she was pertaining to, which is why a blush crept up to her cheeks. It was the man whose hands are clasped in his back behind her, watching them depart from afar. She could feel his i
Even after being taken into the palace to recover, Marika didn't stop apologizing. She kept mumbling apologies and expressed her regret for running away. It was Clyde who accepted her apologies and consoled her, also taking her to a room inside."Hush...It's alright. It's alright. It's not your fault..." He continued to console her even when the palace physician was already treating her wounds.Alessia didn't assist Marika to the room. She left when Clyde lifted her and went straight inside, not even noticing Alessia's disappearance. She grumpily threw the pebble down the cliff where her feet dangled. She was sitting at the edge of the cliff where the palace stands. Beyond the vivacious garden was a cliff, to her surprise.Her frown never disappeared the whole day and her grudge for Marika just multiplied tenfold. And she didn't even bother going back to the palace to sleep. As an assassin, missing a nigh
"Master, they have been reported to arrive at the Supreme Alpha's palace," muttered a male in some fine tunic, bowing his head in front of another man sitting languidly with half of his body hidden by the darkness of the place. But even from the messenger's position, his presence can still agitate someone from a distance.The shadowed man chuckled humorlessly."How about that fairy?"His messenger ducked his head and parted his shaking lips. "S-She got away, Master...""Tsk," he scoffed. "Amateurs. Couldn't even restrain a mere forest fairy."The messenger displayed obvious hesitation to speak, before inhaling deeply. "I-I was informed that the fairy suddenly lashed out and escaped... They doubted that she was only a forest fairy because she emitted both properties of fire and water, M-Master.""Now, now, that's interesting..." The 'Master' emerged from the shadows a
Clyde calmly placed his glass down and spared Alessia a glance before she completely left the hall. His gaze soon fell on Regulus, who was already staring intently at him. He discreetly smiled."You've barely changed," was his first remark after they had their privacy. "You're still hotheaded. I told you to work on that, didn't I?""Let me remind you, brother, you're not my mentor. Never was." Regulus's jaw clenched as he picked a grape and chewed aggressively."Hmmm . . . Our mentor died, so I'm taking his place.""You can't take his place. He's irreplaceable, you should know that. Wasn't he your father?" That hit a nerve. The amusement disappeared from Clyde's face as his eyes sharpened on Regulus."He died . . . because of you." His reply was calm, cold, and lethal. He doesn't see Regulus as the Supreme Alpha, just a regular outcast favored by his father like before. "If only you watched your mouth, none of this would've happen
The Supreme Alpha's commanding voice boomed in all four corners of the room. He has stormy gray hair and equally stormy eyes. His regal red mantle rested comfortably on his broad shoulder, and his golden-threaded tunic hugged his well-framed body perfectly. His eyes were as sharp as his jawline. Alessia couldn't find any fault in his physical appearance at all. He was godly."Have you had your meal yet, Clyde?"Clyde chuckled and shook his head. "I haven't. I was waiting for someone to eat with me until I found out she fell fast asleep," he replied, sparing Alessia a glance."Oh." The Supreme Alpha's gaze followed Clyde's and met hers. She awkwardly curtsied and avoided his gaze. "Is she your wife?""No." Clyde was quick to deny it as if he hated the very idea of it. "We've formed an alliance with each other and will part ways after our mission."He introduced her as his
"What are you trying to say?" He frowned and stopped cleaning the blood on her waist. "Should I throw you out, then? Or leave you here 'til you die and rot?"Alessia sighed. "I'm just gonna be a burden. This will take me a long time to heal, so you should just carry on with your mission."She was spouting nonsense. That much she knew. He's her target, she can't let him go loose. But something different is going on with her today. It was so unlike her."Are you telling me to leave you here? The only company I have? That's an enticing offer, but no thank you," he said, nonchalance dripping in every word. He continued cleaning her with his slightly damp cloth, unbothered by her earlier remarks.Alessia rolled her eyes. "I'm being selfless for once, Clyde. Don't waste this opportunity. I don't want to see you still in here when the sun rises—"Her heart skipped a beat and th