CHAPTER FIVE ‘Deceit Spell’

Swords clashed in the forest, making metal sounds echo through the wild trees, scaring the forest birds into the air.

Blood poured onto the ground and soon enough, a few of the armed men dropped onto the ground, lifeless.

Sensing the situation, the armed men fought back more furiously untill most of of the Invaders dropped onto the ground, dead.

Even after a familiar person cried his last, the invaders could do nothing but put on a strong face and fight back untill there was none of the armed men standing on their feet.

“They're all dead.” Phillip said, looking at his fellow killers who were now dead.

“We haven't even reached the Star rock yet, there's only four of us remaining.” Piggy said, closing his eyes and clenching his fists.

Violet walked towards Lady Musa, the beloved Saintess of Lagsu district's carriage. Inside, she was shaking while holding her sword close to her chest.

“Get out.” Violet said roughly, yanking Lady Musa by the arm and dragging her out of the carriage, not minding that the Saintess had a sword in hand.

As soon as the Saintess was out of the carriage, Violet said, “Strip.”

The Saintess cried out, “You horrible killers! Just wait until my father find out!”

“I heard you didn't want this marriage, so I'm here to save you.” Violet said calmly making the Saintess gasp, “W-what are you talking about? Why would a killer want to save me? What a joke!”

“Your adoptive father, The chief executive of Lagsu has laid with you many times and threatened to expose you as an adulterous Lady to the entire world. What do you think will happen when the son of the Chief of the Star Clan find out you lied about your innocence? What if your adoptive father decide to expose you before then? Do you think you can live after that?”

The Saintess held her chest as she cried, “H-how— Why don't you just kill me?!”

“I would. But you're just a little kid who hasn't had a lot of happy days, I will only feel at ease if you give happy days a chance. If you still don't want to live after experiencing freedom and happiness, then you can take your own life. That has nothing to do with me.”

The Saintess shivered and fell onto the ground in shock, unable to say a word.

“It wasn't hard to get that useful information about you. If I could get it so easily, do you think your secret will be hidden for long?”

“I-i didn't expect this would happen..”

“I am willing to take on your burden and live as Lady Musa, the beloved Saintess of Lagsu. This is a good offer, will you take it or not?”

A desperate cry escaped the Saintess lips, “Do I even have a choice?”

Violet eyes hardened, “Yes, you have a choice. If you say no, I'll leave and find another way to enter the Star rock. You're not that special.”

“Violet!” Phillip said desperately.

They had fought hard just to be able to ensure she disguises as Lady Musa. The other killers death would be in vain if she didn't follow their plan.

“No.” Violet told Phillip, “Tell me now, what path shall thou choose?”

Lady Musa removed the veil she always used to cover her nose down to her neck. Unlike the rumours, she had a scar on the side of her right cheek. She could've looked pretty without it.

“I have nowhere to go if I decide to leave.” She had her head bowed as she spoke, she probably felt ugly under the gaze of the three men before her.

“Piggy will take you wherever you want to go.” Violet pointed to Piggy who stepped forward, “Yes.” Violet and Piggy shared a glance.

“Fine.” Said the Saintess and stood up from the ground.

Violet nodded and slid off the small bag on her back and tossed it towards the Saintess who caught it quickly.

“Get changed.”

Musa nodded and entered her carriage, making sure to keep the curtains closed.

“Good job. You sounded like a boss even though you're a just a kid.” Phillip commented.

“Don't stare too hard at Musa and make her uncomfortable.” Violet simply said making Phillip scoff.

“Wow you're so considerate even towards ugly sluts, that's not very cool.”

“She was abused by an older man, how is she a slut?”

Phillip chuckled, “You—”

“—Let's not talk about this right now.” Poison interrupted.

Musa got down from the carriage, clad in a plain gray dress with her dress from earlier in her hands. Violet took the dress from Musa hands and changed in the carriage.

When she got out of the carriage, she realized she was a little shorter than the purple thick dress.

“Just walk with your gown inched upwards and it'll be fine.” Poison said as Violet slipped on Musa's shoes and collected the black wig Piggy kept in his bag.

She slid the wig on and nodded, “This should be alright.”

“Wait,” Musa handed her veil to Violet, “I never go anywhere without my veil, because of that, very few people know what I look like.”

Violet took the veil and put it on, making Musa nod in affirmation, “Here.”Musa showed Violet her sword.

“This is an important possession that has been passed to the Saintesses of Lagsu for generations, take good care of it.”

“I will.” Violet snatched the sword from Musa's hand and half unsheathed it. She smiled as she ran her fingers through the blade.

“Good sword.” She looked down at her own sword hanging by her waist. It was specially made by her aunt and given on her tenth birthday when she started practicing with swords.

She held it with her right hand, feeling it one last time before handing it to Musa, “Here.”

Musa hesitatedly took the sword from Violet and unsheathed it, only to be greeted with blood stains on the sword. She gasped and dropped the sword, while taking a few steps backward shakily.

“Pick up the sword, that's only when you'll be free.” Violet urged.

Musa shook her head while crying, “T-there's blood.”

Violet frowned and walked to Musa, crouching in front of her making Musa shiver more.

“W-what d-do you want from me?”

Violet placed her hands on Musa's shoulders, slightly shaking her, “Blood is the price for your freedom, Pick up the damn sword Musa!” Violet yelled, making Musa lift her head with tears rolling uncontrollably down her cheeks.

A sigh escaped Violet's lips and she closed her eyes, ‘May Hera give you strength’ she prayed and opened her eyes only to meet Musa's gaze which struggled to be still and determined.

Musa stood up from the ground and took a step towards the sword lying a few metres from it's sheath.

Phillip scoffed and Violet glared at him as she stood on her feet.

Slowly, Musa stood in front of the sword and eventually picked it up. Then she went to pick up the sheath and sealed the sword.

“Good. Piggy take her to safety.” Poison said, boredom evident in his tone.

Piggy looked at Violet one more time, “Take care.”

Violet nodded, watching as Musa followed Piggy's lead out of the forest.

Poison rolled his eyes and whistled. Suddenly, a few leaves fell on the ground and one by one, a few number of armed men appeared from behind the thick tree branches.

And when they landed, Violet unsheathed the foreign sword in her hand and took her stance despite being surrounded by the armed men.

Seeing how alert Violet was, Phillip chuckled, “You are too tense lady, relax.”

Poison raised his right hand, “Stand down.”

The armed men bowed and chorused, “Yes sir.” while backing away from her.

Violet was surprised, “What?”

Phillip smirked, “Master Poison has people in the Lagsu district so—”

“—So, they were here even when our fellow group members were being slaughtered like dogs and you didn't order for your men to help them!” Violet bitterly said, disappointment obvious in her face as she glared at Poison.

“Those men were useless and weak anyways. People like them would give us trouble in future if we didn't let them sacrifice their lives and besides, Master Poison already them an opportunity to live but they insisted on dying. You're lucky Master Poison didn't want to get rid of you right away.”

Violet eyes darkened as Phillip smirk deepen.

“Y-you already planned this since the beginning, didn't you!” Violet yelled, as a few puzzles finally fit in it's place. No wonder Poison made them fight themselves when they were still at Keitan.

“Stop acting like a saint. Didn't Mistress Azarael ask you to get rid of us after the mission?”

Violet eyes widened and she turned to Phillip who bursted into laughter, “Didn't you also secretly get rid of those men who tried to assault you?”

“Phillip!” She warned.

“What!” he yelled back, his eyes showing no sign of humour. After glaring at each other for some moments, Violet averted her gaze, “You know nothing.”

“You're right. And I also don't want to know anything about what sort of person you are. Just get on with the plan; Pretend to be the Saintess while Master Poison and I enter Star rock and get rid of the Chief of Star Clan.”

Violet paused, “You don't have to—”

“—All there.” Poison ran his hand in front of Violet's face making her unconsciously close her eyes.

With great difficulty, she stuttered despite feeling a familiar pressure on her forehead, “W-what—”

“—Shut it.” Poison said before putting his hand down.

Before Violet could ask anything, he said, “That's a deceit spell to mask your eye colour and make you look more like the Saintess. But be careful, it has a loophole. Once you look into your reflection more than three times, the spell will fade and you'll be found out.”

“So.. you have to make sure you won't be found out. Not until, we complete the mission.” Phillip added.

Violet ignored them and entered the carriage while clenching her fists with only a single thought passing through her brain.

Piggy I can only rely on you now.