"Please, Uncle! I need to go out," Alessia begged, her voice strong but full of desperation. She stood in Andro's office with her hands clasped together, as if she were praying to a god. With its dark wood furniture and shelves full of old books, the room had a sad vibe that made the mood even darker. Andro's serious face had a soft glow from the golden light of dusk that came in through the thick curtains. As Andro looked at her, he raised an eyebrow and curled his fingers under his chin. "Alessia, where do you really think you're going?" Even though his voice was cold, it was clear that he was worried. "The Endymion Empire," Alessia said, putting her back straight. "I need to check out what's going on there. I need to find out what's been going on since they declared me dead. I'll be hiding, so no one will be able to tell who I am. I promise!" Andro's face got darker. He got up and walked around the desk to face her directly. His tall frame made him look big. "After what happen
"Why are we here?" Raizel finally spoke up, but his tone was tense with doubt, and he looked quickly back and forth between Alessia and the tall trees in the Velmor Forest. There wasn't much light coming through the thick forest above, but the long shadows that danced around them were scary. Alessia didn't seem to be scared. She knelt down and removed an object from her bag, resembling a flattened sphere with intricate carvings that emitted a faint glow. Without responding to Raizel's question, she carefully placed the object on the mossy ground. "Lady Alessia, please answer." Raizel's voice was strong, but it was clear that he was getting tense. Sirena, the other knight, softly spoke up and put her hand on Raizel's arm. "Be quiet, Raizel." She looked back at Alessia with her golden eyes. "She must have a reason." Raizel clenched his teeth and didn't say anything else. As he watched Alessia work, he felt more and more uneasy. She stood up and rubbed her hands against her coat.
"Stop it!" Alessia's voice sounded as harsh and furious as the crack of the whip she had seized by her hand in midair. The overweight aristocrat, Marquess Lucresio Prite, turned, his face contorted with rage and wrath. "How dare you disrupt my discipline? Do you know who I am, you arrogant wretch?" His voice roared throughout the marketplace, drowning out the whispers of the assembled audience. "I don't care who you are," Alessia said, her tone cold and her grasp tightening on the whip. She stood steady, her hood covering her face. The child on the ground shivered behind her, his bare back covered in bloody welts. Raizel mumbled beneath his breath as he stepped closer. "Lady, stop. This is not the time for this. You are attracting too much attention!" But Alessia was not listening. Her eyes, aflame with anger, remained fixed on the Marquess. "You do not have the right to harm him. No one does." The Marquess snarled, his jowls trembling as he motioned to his knights. "Arrest he
"What were you thinking, Alessia?" Andro's voice echoed throughout the room, and his fists slammed into the desk with enough power to rock the inkpot perched on its edge. Alessia stood in front of her uncle, arms crossed, with an enigmatic but defiant face. "I was thinking someone had to stop that monster," she stated calmly, despite her hammering pulse. Andro looked at her, his expression a mix of fury and exasperation. "You thought recklessly—that's what it is! Do you understand what you have done? Do you have any idea what would have happened if someone had recognized you?" Alessia's jaw tensed, but she maintained her stare. "Yes. I know exactly what the implications are. And if I had to do it over again, I would not hesitate." Her comments were like a spark that ignited dried tinder. Andro stood up from his chair and paced behind the desk, running his hand over his hair. "Unbelievable. It's just unbelievable. You're meant to be hidden, Alessia! Instead of drawing attention
"This is pointless!" Alessia yelled into the empty training ground, her words echoing off the stone walls. She clenched her teeth and clutched the hilt of her sword tightly, staring at the tiny glow of her bright magic dancing around her hand. No matter how hard she tried, it refused to accept her directions and remained in its weakest form. It was as if the light insulted her efforts, taunting her for its slow growth. She swung her sword in frustration, the blade slicing through the night air with a harsh hiss. Her movements were accurate and well-practiced, yet they lacked the strength she desired. "Why can't I get stronger?" She whispered, her voice breaking as she lowered her blade. Although the sweat streaming from her brow irritated her eyes, she barely noticed it. She'd been practicing relentlessly for weeks. She spent hours studying literature, listening to her teachers, and practicing drills, but nothing seemed to change. Her luminous stayed constant, no matter how hard
"Take quiet steps, Alessia. You've done this before," Alessia said to herself as she tightened the hood of her cloak to conceal her newly colored aqua-blue hair. The cool night air stroked past her face, but she paid no attention. Every breath she drew was heavy with anticipation. It was almost eleven o'clock, and the estate remained silent except for the occasional shuffle of the guards roaming the halls. Her motions were precise and deliberate, with each step gently resting on the marble floors. Her cloak billowed lightly as she moved through the dimly lighted corridors, her heart racing in her chest. She held the teleportation gadget hidden in the pocket of her cloak, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface for confidence. The goal was simple: depart unnoticed, use the device, and get to her destination before anyone realized she was gone. As she approached the rear gardens, her pace decreased. The memories of this location bore heavily on her. Her radiant light appe
"I never thought I'd see you alive again, your highness," Aera stated, her voice shaking with devotion. Her fragile hands caressed Alessia's face, their touch warm yet unsteady. "Goddess Nova truly watches over you." Alessia felt a sense of shame as she peered into the old woman's teary eyes. Aera had always been a constant in her life, a modest source of consolation throughout her darkest moments. "I owe you more than you'll ever know, Aera," Alessia whispered gently, her voice full of sorrow. "I should've come back sooner." She told. "No," Aera replied, shaking her head. "You did what you had to. You survived. That's all I prayed for." Alessia took a hesitant breath, remembering how many times she had sought safety in this simple cottage. The first time she stumbled into Aera's arms was when she was just ten years old, bruised and shattered from another of her father's disciplinary actions. "Aera," Alessia whispered, scarcely audible. "Aera, you have done so much for me, even
"You went out again last night, didn't you?" Duke Andro spoke sharply, his piercing eyes fixated on Alessia from across the breakfast table. Alessia bit her lip, preparing for the storm. She carefully put down her fork, her appetite fading beneath the weight of her uncle's judgment. "And not just that," he added, his tone becoming increasingly irritated. "You've brought someone back. I don't know this person. Alessia, what were you thinking?" "I wasn't being reckless," Alessia explained, her voice calm but forceful. "Aera is not just anyone. She is someone I trust. I've known someone since I was ten years old." Duke Andro narrowed his eyes. "Ten years old? You expect me to believe that your connection with her is strong enough to prevent her from betraying you? Will she not seize the chance to approach the Emperor right away?" Alessia tightened her fists beneath the table. "Aera is not like that. She served the Goddess Nova herself! If anyone can be trusted, it is her." Lean
"Don't let go of me!" Sirena's voice was stern, with panic seeping through every syllable as she strained against the quicksand that was drawing her down. Her fingers pressed into Alessia's forearms, leaving her knuckles white. "I won't!" Alessia cried back, tightening her grasp on Sirena's wrist. Her heart raced as she braced her feet against the shaky ground, attempting to pull Sirena free. But the more she tugged, the deeper Sirena sank, with her legs totally immersed. "Raizel!" Alessia shouted, her voice cracking. "Do something! I'm trying!" Raizel snapped, his hands lit up with the brilliant green of his terra luminous. The ground shook beneath his boots as he focused his strength on the quicksand, hoping to solidify it into solid soil. However, every time the light touched the moving sand, it returned to its unstable state. "Why isn't it working?" Raizel hissed in rage, his hands clenched. He tried again, his face pinched with concentration, but the quicksand remained unc
While pulling his horse forward, Raizel mumbled, "This is hopeless." His voice was rough from being so tired. The thick leaves of the trees blocked out any view of the sky, making them look like silent watchers. "Are we sure we're going the right way?" Alessia said, "We don't," with her jaw clenched. She gripped the reins even tighter, and the effort made her knuckles white. "I'm to blame for our loss. We're in this situation because I put my trust in Mimic." Sirena gave her a quick look, her forehead wet with sweat. "Alessia, don't blame yourself right now. Our main goal should be to escape alive." Even though Alessia didn't say anything, her silence said a lot. She kept replaying over and over in her mind the warnings from her uncle and even Goddess Nova. Their words kept reminding her of her biggest flaw: she trusted others too quickly. It had cost them a lot, and now that they were weaker, the weight of her mistake crushed her spirit. The forest did not seem to end. There did
"Are you sure this is the right way?" Raizel complained and looked uncomfortably at the Pathweaver, who was sitting on his horse. The small, glowing thing chirped softly, and its vine-like arms and legs wrapped around the saddle firmly. As Sirena spoke, "Relax, Raizel," but her voice didn't sound like she really meant it. "This is supposed to lead us. You agree, Pathweaver?" The Pathweaver nodded in a strange way, and its small, blank face tilted forward. Alessia, who was riding ahead, felt tense all the time. It felt like they were going into a dark maze in the Forest of Nyssor because of its thick canopy. Every sound of leaves rustling made her heart beat faster, and she clenched her horse's reins even tighter. Alessia said, "I don't like this place. Every step feels like we're going around and around." Raizel looked back over his shoulder and searched the dark forest with his sharp eyes. "You're not wrong. Our journey has been going on for hours, but we still don't feel lik
"Have you two noticed something strange?" Alessia's voice broke the rhythm of their horses' steps as she reined in her mount. Raizel groaned, pulling his horse to a halt beside hers. "Strange? If you mean riding through endless trees and dirt for days, then yes, I've noticed." Sirena's brows knitted as she slowed her horse. "Wait, Alessia, what do you mean by strange?" Alessia gestured to their surroundings, her voice tinged with frustration. "Look around. The terrain hasn't changed in three days. No landmarks, no progress—we should've reached the Forest of Nyssor two days ago." Raizel glanced around, his frown deepening. "You're right. It's like we're stuck in a loop." Sirena looked uneasy. "That can't be possible, can it? We've been moving forward this whole time!" Alessia exhaled sharply. "We're not stuck. Someone—or something—is doing this. We're being played with." Raizel threw his head back with a groan. "Great. Another magical headache. Just what we needed." "This is
"Alessia, where exactly are we going?" Raizel asked, his tone frustrated and curious. He drew his dark brown cloak closer to his body as the cool morning air brushed against him. Alessia adjusted the hood of her own cloak, her now blue hair showing out slightly beneath its edges, thanks to the aqua luminous she had applied earlier. She looked back at Raizel, who was riding a powerful gray horse, and said calmly, "Pollux." Raizel gave forth a loud grunt and scratched his head. "Pollux? Do you realize how far it is? If we just travel on horseback, it may take us more than two months—if we don't have any problems!" Sirena stood beside them, silently observing Raizel's tone. Her dark cloak swung gently in the breeze as her black pony galloped beside Alessia's. Sirena's hair was tucked behind her hood, and her piercing green eyes scanned the surroundings. "I know," Alessia conceded, her voice firm, "but we don't have any other options. Pollux is my final destination, and I must get th
"You're telling me months of searching, and still nothing?" Priam's voice sounded harsh and threatening as it echoed across the great hall. His piercing red eyes, colder than the marble floors beneath him, stared into his two sons, Eryx and Olimpio. Eryx, tall and broad-shouldered, stood stiffly in a crimson tunic embroidered with the imperial insignia. Despite his noble bearing, his face revealed the strain that gripped him. Besides him, Olimpio, the younger of the two, nervously adjusted his sword belt, his thinner build and gentler features making him appear like a shadow in his brother's commanding presence. "Father," Eryx started, his tone calm but tinged with impatience, "we have been looking ceaselessly, but the marshlands, forests, and ruins have produced nothing. I still know she's dead. I witnessed it with my own eyes. Olimpio was also there. The knight struck her down." Priam's expression hardened. "Then why have you not brought me her body?" His voice was low and nas
"You can't stay here, Alessia." Aera's voice was forceful, yet her expression was a mix of concern and eagerness. "It is not safe anymore. Endymion will come after you, and they will not hesitate to convert this dukedom into a war." Alessia sat stiffly in a plush chair in her uncle's large office. The warm sunlight streaming through the tall windows did little to relieve the weight in the air. She looked to Duke Andro, who was sitting behind his mahogany desk, his countenance unreadable. "And not just for you," Aera added. "They will pursue your uncle, his knights, and anybody they suspect of helping you. Their approaches are ruthless." Alessia's hands gripped the armrests of her chair. "I know," she muttered. "I've been thinking about it for a while. Staying here... is selfish. I can't bring everyone into my battles." "And it's not just about protecting them," Aera explained, her tone softening. "Alessia, you need to grow. Your brilliance and abilities are insufficient at this
"Cheers to Lady Alessia!" Sirena's voice boomed out above the happy chatter, her cup held high. "The one who survived our test and proved she's more than ready for the battlefield!" The knights gathered in the large dining hall let up a chorus of shouts. Alessia stood towards the head of the long wood table, her cheeks flushed—not from the wine in her hand, but from the overwhelming sense of community that surrounded her. She looked down at her black gown, simple yet exquisite, with silver embroidery outlining the hem and cuffs. It was designed for ease, with a high neckline and long sleeves, but it nonetheless exuded the subtle elegance of royal dress. A tiny pendant shimmered softly around her neck, a gift from her uncle, Duke Andro, who stood next to her. The Duke looked magnificent in a dark velvet tunic emblazoned with the Carrios Dukedom's silver emblem. His towering stature and severe expression softened only a little amid the warmth of the evening's festivities. The kni
"Are you sure about this, Alessia?" Raizel inquired, arms crossed as he leaned against a post in the training yard. His amber eyes were piercing but filled with anxiety. "Ten knights plus three of us. That is not an easy fight." Alessia adjusted the straps on her gauntlets, her dazzling, fiery red hair pulled back into a high ponytail. Her handmade knight's uniform fit tightly, allowing for both mobility and protection. She tightened the belt that held the Blade of Lumina, its hilt glittering faintly in the sunshine. "I have to do this," she said, her voice firm while her heart raced. She glanced at Raizel, responding to his gaze. "I won't always have the option of choosing my battles. If I can't manage this, I'm not prepared for what lies ahead." Raizel sighed and nodded. "You make a fair point. Just make sure your stubbornness doesn't lead to your demise." Sirena, standing nearby, chuckled. "She is too stubborn to die, Raizel. Furthermore, this is a controlled trial." Duke And