ã€ŠConvenant of Shadowsã€‹


 Prologue

    Time was ticking, yet there was no way to tell in the midst of the endless ocean, with only a scrap of land to stand on. The sun had kissed the edge of the seamless sea, and night was just around the corner.

    Clythia paced back and forth, the set of her anklets and bangles swishing with every movement, waiting for the other rulers to arrive. Of course, there was no telling when they would arrive, as each would want to make an impression on the others by arriving late, as if they had more important matters to attend to than this urgent meeting. Clythia was certain that nothing good would come out of this meeting for any of them, but a decision had to be made.

    The sound of approaching boots snapped her attention back to the present. The Vampire King, the ruler of vampires and the Cravax kingdom, Morven, had arrived. Dressed in full red with a crown glinting with rubies, he sauntered over to her. The wind blowing from the ocean struggled to ruffle his immaculate hair; unfortunately, hers was bent to follow the whims of the wind, veiling her face. She tilted her head, inviting the wind to sweep her strands back. The same breeze brought with it the salty aroma of the sea, searing her nostrils.

    King Morven was as stern as she remembered him from their last encounter, which was the last Tithe. He stopped in his tracks and gazed at her for a fraction of a moment before masking his expression in coldness. He gave a ghost of a nod in a manner of greeting, which she wasn¡¯t inclined to reciprocate. His corpse-like complexion would unnerve many, like death¡¯s welcoming embrace before you¡¯re ready. But for Clythia, he was just an animated carcass.

    ¡°I see you are alive and well, Queen Clythia,¡± he said in a deep voice.

    ¡°Did you expect otherwise?¡± Clythia grimaced.

    ¡°My, my, already rude before the meeting starts?¡± The vampire quirked his lip.

    She huffed but remained silent, resuming her pacing back and forth, acutely aware of Morven¡¯s ruby eyes on her.

    ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± He asked.

    ¡°What a stupid question,¡± Clythia muttered, turning to face him.

    The King of Vampires raised a brow with disdain, unaccustomed to people flaunting their attitudes at him. She eyed him with similar distaste.

    ¡°It¡¯s clear you woke up on the wrong side of the bed,¡± Morven said with a sigh. ¡°But my question pertains to other concerns besides the obvious.¡± He gestured toward the monoliths surrounding them.

    Clythia crossed her arms, glaring at him. ¡°Do you take me for a fool, Morven? You think I don¡¯t know you let your vermin sneak into the darker corners of my continent, unleashing them for whatever devious purpose you intend? And you expect me to welcome you with open arms?¡±

    Morven regarded her, his expression unreadable. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±

    Clythia smirked. ¡°Good.¡±

    Their subjects aren¡¯t meant to mingle; that was why each of the seven species in Zyvern lived on separate continents. Crossing into another species¡¯ territory was like volunteering a neck for guillotine. But in the brothels and taverns, it was whispered that vampires had slithered into her lands to quench the lust of pig witches and wizards who loved to hide in filth. Clythia will slaughter each and every one of them, hunt them down, and purge her land. Morven wanted to play dumb, well, the prick would get what he deserved.

    ¡°Are you concocting an evil plan in your cauldron, witch?¡± he said, tapping his temple.

    Clythia shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±

    Before he could reply, a woman¡¯s laughter filled the air. They both looked toward the sound. Queen Hypaxia of the gods and the human King Kay were giggling as if they were invited to a ball and not a meeting that could reforge or break the planet, Zyvern.

    Hypaxia was the epitome of beauty, with her skin kissed by moonlight and dark hair falling to her waist, her lips luscious, and her body curved in all the right places, her deep violet low neckline dress complimenting her skin... Clythia¡¯s breath hitched; she looked away.

    The human king was swelling with pride, whatever he was saying making Hypaxia laugh hysterically. Clythia admired his confidence in the midst of the goddess. Kay was handsome, but his swelling belly showed his carefree indulgence. It had been carefree for them all until recent developments.

    The goddess regarded the vampire, her smile fading. The human followed her gaze.

    Morven clasped his hands behind his back and offered a grin. ¡°My Queen,¡± he bowed deeply, not even glancing towards the human king.

    ¡°Morven,¡± Hypaxia pursed her lips. ¡°You can kiss the ground while you bend, but your debt is due by the winter solstice.¡±

    ¡°How could I forget, my lady? I deeply apologize for the delay. As you know, the lands are-¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s exactly why we are here, and that¡¯s no excuse, Morven,¡± Hypaxia interrupted. ¡°The gods are impatient.¡±

    Then her eyes met Clythia¡¯s with a soft gaze. ¡°Queen Clythia,¡± she bowed, and Clythia reciprocated, ¡°Goddess.¡±

    ¡°It is good to see you,¡± Hypaxia said.

    Fuck you! Clythia forced a smile. The betrayal by the goddess, the only woman she had loved, still hurt. Over the years, Hypaxia seemed unfazed by their separation; perhaps it was all a game to her, but for Clythia, it took all her power not to break right then and there. The sweet scent of jasmine and lavender radiating from the goddess wasn¡¯t helping either.

    Clythia gave a quick nod. ¡°Likewise.¡±

    King Kay gave her a broad smile.

    ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know what we hope to achieve with this meeting,¡± Hypaxia said, inspecting her surroundings. Her gaze lingered on the Well, which shimmered with a faint blue light, nestled among the timeless monoliths.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°Me and you both,¡± a deep growl turned the head of the goddess.

    The Prime, Glythia, the ruler of the werewolves and the Makefort continent, climbed the steps with the remaining two rulers trailing behind him.

    The werewolf was clad in a white fur cloak, matching his blonde hair, contrasting his dark skin. As he stood before them, his enormous muscular body came into view, towering over them all.

    Behind him, Queen Zahar of the elves and Elfive continent, gave him a wide berth, glaring at him as if he was a dumped mound of debris before her. The elf was an inch taller than the werewolf''s waist. After she finished climbing the steps, she hesitated to stand beside him. Instead, she swiftly positioned herself next to Clythia with a speed that seemed supernatural.

    The King of Fairies and the Nadir Continent, Modyr, wasn¡¯t bothered by the foreboding size of the werewolf. By his own rights, he was well-honed and muscular, clad in an ebony coat with spiked collars, and his hands gloved. He took his place beside the werewolf. The faerie was ridiculously handsome. The slant of his heavily-lidded brows, the edge of his jaw, and the hue of his deep crimson lips were mesmerizing against his honey-complexioned skin and dark hair.

    Prime Glythia assessed the rulers before him, lingering long when he met Clythia¡¯s eyes. She couldn¡¯t help but raise her brow. Unfazed by her reaction, he didn¡¯t look away, but she did.

    From her peripheral vision, the pearl earrings and chokers covering more skin than garment on Zahar, made Clythia amused. The elf queen reminded her of a dragon who hoarded jewels as sustenance, plundering the treasure of the rich and slaying them in the process. Zahar, in her own right, would have been a treasure trove. The dragon wouldn¡¯t have needed to distinguish her from the jewels as he devoured her whole. Clythia smirked at the thought.

    ¡°Sorry for the tardiness,¡± Zahar said in a sweet lullaby voice. Hypaxia¡¯s gaze swept over the elf from head to toe with scrutiny.

    ¡°That¡¯s not surprising,¡± Clythia said, gaining a grimace from Zahar. ¡°Now that we¡¯re all here, let¡¯s decide.¡±

    The night had now crept in, the moon was absent but in her stead, the stars glittered the inky sky. The scarce wave of the ocean brought a calming presence to her, washing away her uneasiness a bit in the midst of the deadliest rulers of Zyvern.

    ¡°Queen Clythia, would you do us the honor of providing a comfortable place to sit at least?¡± Zahar cocked her head at her.

    The monoliths were set in a circular setting, casting a faint ominous shadow on a well in between, the only source of a faint glowing blue light. The ground was sandy and elevated with seven steps. Hundred feet from all direction, the ocean Neut roared occasionally against the shore before receding and quite fell.

    Clythia stretched her palm, wiggling her fingers.

    ¡°You can¡¯t be serious,¡± The vampire said. ¡°As I recall, you are responsible for calling this meeting. Wouldn¡¯t you provide the courtesy of a sitting arrangement at least?¡±

    She shot him a nasty look. ¡°I don¡¯t remember sponsoring this meeting. If you are so drowned in debt that you can¡¯t provide a single pearl, I suggest you leave the meeting.¡±

    The goddess smiled at Clythia. Morven¡¯s lips thinned; his cheeks would be flushed if he was anything but what he was.

    ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get this over with,¡± Glythia said and placed a pearl in her outstretched palm. The others followed suit; the elf queen, plucking one out of her garment.

    With a wave of her hand, scarlet royal seats, gold embroidered at the edges, appeared before the seven monoliths. The rulers settled themselves.

    Clythia cleared her throat. ¡°As you all know, a blight is crawling its way into our lands.¡±

    What was she about to say next that they didn¡¯t know? Nothing. Besides, she wasn¡¯t a person of speech. She always let her right hand, Arkansov, handle such matters. But he wasn¡¯t here. She stood before the other rulers of Zyvern as required by law for such meetings. So she simply said, ¡°We need to contact the Sovereign.¡±

    The elf huffed in disbelief, the goddess'' jaw ticked. The faerie and the human regarded her with a stern face. The vampire and the werewolf glared at her in apprehension.

    ¡°Consequences be damned then?¡± Glythia asked.

    ¡°We have to risk it,¡± Clythia replied.

    ¡°Risking the wrath of the Sovereign?¡± Zahar inquired.

    ¡°Do you have a better solution?¡±

    ¡°Yes, wait it out five more years, and when the Tithe comes, we will present our concern,¡± Zahar said.

    Clythia leaned forward, squaring off with the Queen of the Elves. ¡°¡®Wait¡¯ is a luxurious option. There will be nothing to ¡®wait¡¯ for if the blight continues at this pace. Besides, this isn¡¯t supposed to happen. The prosperity of our lands is due to the binding Tithe to the Sovereign. I say, the Sovereign isn¡¯t respecting their end of the bargain. That is reason enough for me to barge into their territory.¡±

    ¡°But Stormia is hostile unless the Sovereign deems us to pass,¡± the werewolf shook his head. ¡°And surprising her with our presence is wrath enough.¡± Seeing the look on Clythia¡¯s face, Glythia added, ¡°But as Clythia said, I do not see any way around this. Magic is seeping from our land. Though I still believe we should wait it out.¡±

    Glythia referred to the Sovereign as ¡®her,¡¯ claiming the Sovereign used to visit his ancestors as a woman. But none of the rulers bought the story, including Clythia.

    The werewolf king was the first ruler she contacted about the meeting and what it entailed. He disclosed to her that despite his skepticism about confronting the Sovereign, magic was seeping away from his continent. The werewolves were having difficulty shape-shifting. Some were even locked in their wolf bodies to no avail, and even with her knowledge of witchcraft, she wasn¡¯t able to provide a cure. But he wouldn¡¯t be revealing this before the other rulers. Neither would any of them disclose the details of the setbacks in their lands, but the presence of them all here spoke volumes.

    ¡°I do not believe this concerns the gods. Surial is blessed eternally. My people and I are living exquisitely. No problem has befallen us,¡± Hypaxia shrugged.

    Clythia wasn¡¯t sure if the goddess was telling the truth or if admitting weakness in the face of a being more powerful than her, the Sovereign, was a blow to her image. Hypaxia would rather wither away than admit weakness. Once, Clythia laughed at this side of her, but her heart was the victim of its edges.

    Modyr smirked. ¡°You dare lie in the presence of a Fae?¡±

    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± Hypaxia gaze snapped to Modyr, as if recognizing his presence for the first time.

    ¡°The seven continents are touched by the blight. That¡¯s a known fact. No need to act as if Zyvern is as much a paradise as it always was. I do not like facing the Sovereign,¡± King Kay said, sparing them all a back and forth snide from the goddess and the faerie. ¡°But sometimes leaders need to make sacrifices for their land and their people to maintain peace and prosperity.¡±

    The vampire licked his lips. Whether it was because he wanted to suck the blood out of a meal or because he agreed, or both, Clythia had no clue.

    Then Kay yawned. ¡°But it is too late to be having this conversation? If I don¡¯t get enough sleep, I won¡¯t function properly.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only the first hour of the night,¡± Zahar snapped.

    ¡°So?¡±

    ¡°Look,¡± Clythia said, ¡°You are all preoccupied with your sleeps or whatever it is you do in your pits,¡± she earned a glowering face from most of them. ¡°But,¡± she continued, ¡°if you want to bask in the paradise of life you built, this should be dealt with.¡±

    Two hundred millennia of peace and prosperity led the rulers and the people of Zyvern vain. Their problems have stooped so low that now the height of a squabble between two kingdoms was over love, and the lowest was imitating fashion. The reason to create drama was getting pettier by the day that now some rulers here were executing servants for walking too loud or for interruption despite the importance.

    ¡°Let¡¯s vote then,¡± the king of the faeries said, his voice carrying the weight of the moment.

    ¡°We understand what¡¯s happening, the consequences of facing the Sovereign, and what awaits us if we do nothing.¡± He eyed each ruler in turn. ¡°I vote to confront the Sovereign.¡±

    ¡°I second that,¡± Clythia murmured.

    ¡°So will I,¡± Kay nodded in her direction.

    A heavy silence ensued. No one else voiced their agreement. Clythia released a sigh of frustration. Three against four; they lacked the majority needed to consult the well that sat between them, glowing faintly, dormant, matching the ruins etched on the monoliths. Tonight, it seemed, it would not be used¡ªno consultation, no decision. Everything would continue as it was.

    But for how long?

 The fickle

    A chill was seeping through the ominous bedchamber. Clythia curled up on the lavish vinyl canap¨¦. Her chamber¡¯s roof was high, and where it wasn¡¯t stone, it featured high-ceilinged glass¡ªa herald of frost. Sleep evaded her. Walking to her bed to warm her shivering body within the bedsheets felt like heaving a boulder.

    Clythia waved her hand, and the log on the fireplace shimmered with orange flames, but they went out as if doused by an invisible wind. Her attention fully snapped to the log; she reached within herself to summon the fire again. She could feel her magic whirling in the back of her mind... distantly. This time, the fire crackled for a few seconds more before giving in. Baffled, she leapt to her feet. She gave it all the energy she could muster to perform one of the easiest magics¡ªeven a two-year-old could perform without effort. Yet again, her magic faltered, and the flames winked out.

    What is going on? Alcohol muddled one¡¯s ability to perform magic, but not something as simple as this, and she had only had one glass of wine at dinner, which counts as nothing.

    This had never happened to her, or to any witch or wizard she knew. The blight¡ªwhatever parasite was unleashed upon Zyvern¡ªwas leeching the essence of magic. But she was the most powerful witch in Zyvern; if this happened to her, it certainly would happen to¡ª.

    "Ark?" Clythia called out. Her door creaked open, and a middle-aged man poked his head in. She waved for him to come in.

    General Arkansov was in his nightly attire, a baggy trouser and a loose shirt. Considering the cold, a large woolen cloak was draped over his shoulders. As he sauntered, his strapped sword at his waist glinted with the light of the torch in the corner of the chamber. The creases around his eyes and the scattered whites in his hair were the only telltales of his age. That put aside, he looked like a sculpted warrior hero. Clythia was sure he would turn heads wherever he went in his youth, with that grace and body, that prospect might remain. Her father¡¯s general, and now hers, stood before her.

    Clythia let out a long sigh, some of her frustration ebbing away with it. ¡°Have you... have you encountered difficulty with your magic?¡±

    He tilted his head, brows furrowed. ¡°I do not know what you mean, my lady. Is everything alright?¡±

    Clythia ignored the question. ¡°Are you sure?¡±

    ¡°I haven¡¯t faced any difficulty so far. Is it the blight you are worrying about? I¡¯m sure the Sovereign will fix it when the time comes. It¡¯s only two years away, my lady.¡±

    ¡°Light up the logs,¡± Clythia said, masking her frustration with a cold stare.

    The general waved his hand, and the flames came to life. For a minute or two, the crackling of the smoldering logs was the only sound that filled the chamber. She felt the general eyeing her and the flame in confusion. Once she was certain the flames lingered, she faced the general.

    ¡°I do not think we have that long until the Sovereign gives us answers.¡±

    Did this have anything to do with the Sovereign to begin with? The Sovereign had a reputation for upholding their end of the bargain. They didn¡¯t retract their word. The paradise and the peace of Zyvern were the price of the Tithe that the seven rulers paid every fifteen years for two hundred millennia. Yes, there were some wars every now and then, but resources were never the reason. If the Sovereign got what they wanted from the rest of the world and vice versa, who was responsible for this disturbance?

    ¡°Sorry, my lady, I know the winter is deadly. Do you want more fire?¡± He raised his right hand, and the flames grew brighter and danced fiercely.

    ¡°No, no.¡± Clythia shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary. My magic... my magic is acting up.¡± Staring at his perplexed look, she added, ¡°For the past few months, my magic has been brash. Sometimes I can¡¯t control it, and it acts on its own accord; sometimes it¡¯s a struggle to do anything with it. If people were facing the same difficulty as I¡ªhas anyone reported such a thing?¡±

    ¡°Not that I¡¯m aware of.¡± the general said. ¡°Though I have heard the Clutsweeds are performing the ritual of Eternal Youth since last summer.¡±

    ¡°The Eternal Youth ritual doesn¡¯t require magic beyond your own.¡± she said, turning her focus to the crackling logs.

    The Clutsweeds partook in the ritual of Eternal Youth every fifty years, but they did not need to use people¡¯s magic. The ritual required intent more than power. The witchdom generally wasn¡¯t fond of immortality. After a while, even paradise gets dull. Why the Clutsweeds were intent on prolonging misery? Well, they were a horde of secluded cultists, who thought they were better than everyone else. They might have felt entitled to cling to their insignificant lives, too.

    ¡°Eternal Youth is volatile. The exact nature of its consequences is not fully understood. There is a chance they purposefully or accidentally¡ªprobably the former¡ªsteal someone¡¯s magic. Someone as powerful as you,¡± the general said in one breath.

    ¡°No,¡± Clythia said with more force than she intended. ¡°One needs to use the Krakas to steal magic. The rite of Eternal Youth doesn¡¯t require Krakas as a medium.¡±

    She was a bit disappointed that Arkansov took her for na?ve. True, he had more years on her, but she had been exposed to the dark and forbidden magic Arkansov might faint from if he were aware of it¡ªthe secrets excluding anyone but the royal line of Ilyana. Her life had been training after training. As the successor of DavinSaw, she was trained by her ancestors and Wigmond Academia in every magic there was to know in the continent. No ruler is keen on unwanted surprises; it could be the end of them. Her preparation made sure to avoid the price that could be paid because of ignorance. And yet, for the first time in her life, she didn¡¯t have the faintest idea why her magic was erratic.

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    ¡°Maybe I need to reignite my magic. I need to access the Tome,¡± Clythia said more to herself than to him.

    ¡°Tomorrow is another day. Rest; it has been an exhaustive day for you, my lady. I¡¯m certain you will find the solution,¡± Arkansov said.

    Accompanied by the general, she was dragged from meeting after meeting with lords and ladies of DavinSaw. Famine was a far-fetched myth, but the yield of crops had decreased dramatically, which spiked the prices of everything. At least, the magic of her subjects was intact¡ªfor now. They were scheming ways to fertilize their lands. But all knew the reason behind every shortcomings nowadays was the blight.

    She wondered how other continents were faring. Rumor had it that Cravax¡¯s Well of Blood had decreased both in quality and quantity. The vampires that slithered their way into her kingdom were whispering about how the best blood available nowadays was mice¡¯s blood; human blood was unaffordable. Despite her warning to their king, Morven, his vermin kept flocking to her kingdom for potential meals. No stirring was noted from the other kingdoms. To its credit, the human kingdom, Zalax, was as quiet as the other five.

    Clythia let out a sigh. ¡°I will restore the stability of my kingdom. By any means necessary. If the Tome doesn¡¯t work¡ª¡±

    ¡°It will work,¡± The general said with an assuring tone.

    Clythia shot him a glare. ¡°If it doesn¡¯t work¡­¡± Arkansov waited to listen to her plan, but she only said, ¡°Good night, general,¡± marking disappointment on his face.

    She stalked to her bed and swarmed into the warm satin sheets. The general closed the bedroom door as he left.

    <hr>

    The stone stairs of the dungeon had grown so cold they seemed frozen over as dawn broke, and the air carried a bone-chilling draft that made it difficult for Clythia to stop her teeth from chattering. She leaned against the walls as she took the narrow steps to where the Tome was located in an iron-barred cell, like a dangerous prisoner who wouldn¡¯t see the sunlight. If it were sentient, the freeze would have been punishment enough.

    As Clythia approached, the bars slid open with a hollow creak, sensing her presence. Warm, humid air brushed past her, carrying the scent of wheat fields bathed in hot sunlight, the fresh waft of paper from a newly opened book, the earthy aroma of mud after the rain had ceased, and the rich scent of ripe fruit, all swirling together to envelop her senses. She opened her eyes, unaware of when they had closed. Perhaps the Tome wouldn¡¯t mind the freeze if it were sentient, for it was warmth itself.

    The Tome lay cracked open in the middle, supported by an oak dais, with ancient hieroglyphics sketched on its parchment. The characters danced on the weathered parchment like ink in water. She stretched out her palms and rested them on either side of the pages. A hot, sizzling sensation passed through her palms and arms, the ink leaving the pages, wading through her veins, leaving trails of dark lines where her bluish-green veins had been. She inhaled deeply as the ink, with its searing warmth, reached her head.

    A tornado punched through her gut. She was thrown back to the other end of the dungeon; her back collided with the stone, leaving a sharp pain up her spine. Clythia slumped on the floor headfirst, narrowly missing a hit on her head by her supporting hands. She grunted in pain and blinked; her eyelids strained under an invisible weight, and they shut close.

    A low buzz sounded between her ears. She forced her lids open; it took her a moment to take in her environment¡ªthe darkness, the frosty stone beneath her, the chilly air around her; how she was pushed by a force across the dungeon. It was a miracle the pain in her spine was no longer there; she would have doubted the pain if she hadn¡¯t been in the exact spot where she fell. How long had she been unconscious? A rat scuttled away from her side as she raised herself. She was wary of getting too close to the Tome. As she took a few steps forward, she stopped before the now-closed bars. The Tome remained on the dais, undisturbed, its ink swirling as always.

    Magic, the only reality she had ever known, the only permanence that echoed in her life, the only solace she hadn¡¯t shied away from, was now betraying her. She felt it in her bones; her powers were like distant crashing waves that required silence to be heard. Too far to call, too far to reach the surface. Soon, they would go to the deepest pit she couldn¡¯t retrieve from. She took a step back, dread and fury twirling within her. Whom could she blame now? Was it really the blight? The general had no problem with magic, none of her subjects strained under the shackles of powerlessness. The most powerful witch of DavinSaw and beyond, Clythia, couldn¡¯t light a flame, was rejected by the Tome like a heretic. A heretic never had the privilege of absorbing the holy magic of the Tome. It was the call of the ruler, as the ruler was the root of magic. And now the root was withering...

    ¡°No!¡± Clythia said out loud, the stone walls echoing her protest. This would not be the end; before her magic ebbed through the void she couldn¡¯t summon, she would pay the price like the witch she was.

    Adrenaline coursing through her, she didn¡¯t propel herself as she climbed the stairs out of the dungeons and latched the trap door. The grey clouds had begun to lighten, turning a soft white as the sun behind them started to shine through. Servants were up and swarming around for their daily duties. They gave her a deep bow as she passed them. Her face was hot as she glared at the brooms that cleaned the tiles of the throne room, obeying the wand of a servant, who gave Clythia a wide smile. Out the window, shears were trimming the grass evenly, the gardener whistling his usual morning song, ¡®The Cacti¡¯, with his wand stretched out. The gardener¡¯s whistles in the mornings were a sweet wake-up call¡ªnow they sounded like the sound of crunching glass under a boot.

    ¡°Quiet!¡± Clythia seethed. The gardener jumped, his face pale, he held his tongue.

    Clythia took a few turns until she reached her chamber. She changed her nightgown, the human way, which took more minutes than necessary, all the while mumbling and cursing. Her dark, curly, long hair was a mess, usually, all it took was a thought to change her attire and keep her hair in line. She couldn¡¯t summon a servant; it would raise too many questions. With magic at her disposal, physical effort was done only when absolutely necessary¡ªlike walking, working out, or weapon training. To hide her disheveled hair, she draped on a woolen cloak, covering half of her face, and grabbed a dagger from her drawer.

    General Arkansov was standing at her door. Clythia pushed past him, the sounds of his boots indicating that he was scrambling behind her.

    ¡°Where are you going, my lady?¡± The general asked.

    Clythia turned to him so swiftly that he narrowly missed crashing into her back. ¡°If you tell anyone about last night,¡± she lowered her voice as a servant passed them by, ¡°about my magic, if I hear even a whiff of it, I will take my time carving your skin off you, death won¡¯t embrace you, as I will let you feel the coldness of living without your skin as long as I wish.¡± She tapped her index finger on his chest. His throat bobbed.

    ¡°You have my word, my lady.¡±

    ¡°Now transport me to the edge of the Dadigon Forest,¡± she said, opening her arms. The general wrapped his hand around hers, and they vanished into thin air.

 The price

    Eventuating into the physical realm made Clythia lightheaded. She didn¡¯t recall the missing seconds when she traveled through the fabric of space and time, her essence scattered. That was alright for her as long as the will she imposed before the act allowed her to arrive at her destination. Letting someone have that much power over her body when she was completely blacked out made her feel uneasy, even if it was her most trusted general.

    They were standing at the edge of the Dadigon forest, four thousand miles from her palace seat. The morning sun was beating down on them, more ferocious than the noon she was accustomed to. The rowdy air was humid and smelled of ripe fruits a day away from rot. With the increase in its current, it brought forward a suffocating dampness of crunched leaves and wet grass instead of a breeze, the crowns of the trees animating as the impact hit them. She began to lower her hood but reconsidered. The fewer witnesses to what she was about to commit, the better; even though her bushy hair beneath the hood only accentuated the heat.

    ¡°Wait for me at the nearest town,¡± she faced the general. His face was flushed and gleaming with sweat.

    ¡°Are you sure, my lady? I can wait here and transport you back to the palace,¡± he said.

    ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary,¡± Her tone brimmed with dismissal.

    He tilted his head, unfazed by her rush. ¡°What are you planning to do?¡±

    ¡°Save my kingdom.¡±

    Clythia began trekking forward into the forest, not bothering to glance if the general obeyed her, but a faint pop was the evidence of his retreat. She whirled back. Did she mistake the popping sound?

    Diseventuating carried no sound with it, and yet... Among many gauges, the quality of one¡¯s magic was observed by the amount of less ruckus one made. General Arkansov was one of the formidable wizards of DavinSaw. This was the first time she had Eventuated with him, but she was certain the incompetence wasn¡¯t caused by a lack of ability but rather the problem she intended to fix.

    With swift motion, she unsheathed her dagger and pressed deeper into the woods.

    The grove provided good shade, but in areas where the sun breached the gaps, the shadows cast by the trees stretched no more than a foot. The sun was already at her full power, and noon was nigh. Clythia was soaking with sweat but didn¡¯t dare to lift the hood a fraction from her face. The forest was eerily quiet except for the seldom chirping of birds and flapping of their wings. She was carefully following the magical marks engraved on the barks.

    Legend had it that before the treaty, the arcane community marked trees leading to the Well of the Beast. These marks could be found from any direction one wished to press forward. Clythia was in haste to see the first marking at the edge of the forest, but it only took her a few minutes to note the second. The marking was a swirl of six levels. How it stood the test of time was a miracle, a miracle she believed was linked to the well of the Beast and the Shadow.

    After striding for what felt like forever, the forest cleared to reveal a well. Its stone was half-veiled with weathering vines. The well¡¯s mouth was accentuated by decaying moss, the suspended ropes disappearing into it. Around its perimeter stood no trees, no greenery to be seen, just dried leaves and fodder.

    Clythia stopped in her tracks and closed her eyes. Beyond the humid air and nauseating smell, she reached her Inner Sense to awaken the most primal of magic¡ªone that was and is and will be. Her fading power rambled low in her veins, more distant than yesterday; she didn¡¯t have much time. But with that fraction of power, she felt the leering energy emanating from the well, like a beast in slumber waiting for its awakening. She stretched her Inner Sense to the groves. A huntress searching for her prey.

    Were the Children of the Forest, really here? What if she didn¡¯t find them? What if they were swept away as the legends they were? But before rationality took full hold of her, she felt it. A tug. A magical presence beyond her and the well. Her eyes shot open. She scrambled to sit on the ground, tucking her legs beneath her.

    Clythia was no believer in gods or goddesses. She never paid tribute to secure a place in the afterlife for Hypaxia. But then and there, desperate, she prayed with all her heart to recall what her mother had taught her.

    ¡°The Children of the Forest are peaceful inhabitants of the Dadigon, Jarkava, and Misakin forests. Before the Sovereign, the arcane community lived in and around these forests. We hadn¡¯t conquered DavinSaw yet as a Witchdom. It was a time where we lived side by side with humans, vampires, and werewolves. We charged our magic by sacrificing the Children of the Forest, hunting them with the song of the Eldrid. The Children of the Forest are attracted to music as a moth to a flame. And more so, they can¡¯t resist the lure of the bewitching song of Eldrid as it was crafted by Ilyana the First and the immigrant witches. You only need to find the song; it¡¯s in your blood as you are a descendant of Ilyana. Meditate to bring the song from your blood and mix it with your Inner Sense.¡±

    Like all lessons her mother had taught her, she made sure to include the rituals of luring and sacrifice that took place in this forest.

    Following the treaty with the Sovereign, the Jarkava and Misakin forests were wiped off the face of Zyvern, leaving no trace of their existence. The archives in the heavily guarded library of the palace and their sister forest, Dadigon, still standing, were the only remnants of their existence. Even though it was ironic, learning this came at a time when stability flourished and thrived. Ilyana and her ancestors had passed this knowledge from father to son, from mother to daughter. This was to ensure that, should the Tome fail the royal descendants and presumably DavinSaw, they would have a second, a third, a fourth¡ªas many backup plans as needed up their sleeves.

    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    But the only reserve measure involving magic was the sacrifice that should be done for the well and Shadow.

    Clythia opened her mouth, a musical note deeper from her throat rumbled through her. The chirping of the birds was muffled, the air around her now carried the beautiful peaks and falls of the melody. To her ears, it sounded like a chorus sung by her soul, body, and flesh. If she had neglected to refine one of her essences in her lessons, it could disrupt the harmony and thus, the hunt. Fortunately, her years of preparation were paying off, not a single note was amiss.

    A crunch of a branch was her indication to slowly open her eyes. A few feet away, a boy, who hadn¡¯t hit adolescence yet, was tiptoeing to where she perched. He would pass for a human if he hid his doe-like ears and kept his distance. Because as he neared, the auburn scale on his skin glinted against the scorching sun. He was wearing a garment sewn by leaves covering his torso and thighs. His black eyes were glazed by the bewitching melody, his guard completely down. The innocence in them reminded her of Clen, a knot tightened in her gut.

    Clythia slowly rose to her feet, and as she did, she hid her right hand that carried the dagger behind her. She closed the distance between them and laid her hands around his arms. His skin was cool, unfazed by the heat. She guided him to the edge of the well. She placed the dagger carefully at its mouth, and pulled the bucket up. The bucket was made of wood, but grime and dirt had discolored it to grey; old blood was stained and splashed in it. It took all her will not to throw up from the pungent smell of decay wafting from the depth of the well and the suspended bucket. Certain the bucket was aligned to the neck of the boy, she grabbed the dagger.

    ¡°Shadows of the Sea, Beast of the Well,

    Hear my request and grant me the Spell,¡± she said.

    The haze from the boy¡¯s eyes lifted. He stared at her, woken from a slumber the song of Eldrid put him in. His gaze rested on the dagger, and he wretched frantically against her tight grip. She sliced his throat with one swift motion. In an attempt to scream, he opened his mouth but in its stead, blood gurgled out of it and the thin line on his throat. She angled the bucket for his blood to pool in. His struggle ceased slowly, all his weight upon her arms. Years of physical training kept her from collapsing under it. His limp head rested on her shoulder, and his vacant eyes reflected the sun. She poured the boy¡¯s blood into the well.

    A distant cackle sounded from its depth. A cackle of a hag. The Beast. Shadows were swirling at the pit, out of place with the brightness of the sun.

    ¡°Finally, someone recalls my plea,¡± a hollow, reverberating sound echoed the well. Another laugh.

    ¡°Finally, someone recalls my plea,

    Heretics who once forsook me, see.

    They¡¯ve come to pay their dues, in stride,

    Failed by my replacement, aside,¡± sang the Beast, in a windy hollow tone.

    Clythia rolled her eyes. ¡°Oh, get over it. Don¡¯t you have better things to do than hold grudges for all this time? One might even forget their name if they lived that long.¡±

    That was not entirely accurate, of course. Morven, Hypaxia, and some of their subjects had retained their memories and self-awareness across eras, before and after the Sovereign¡¯s reign. But a tease and banter never hurt.

    The Beast giggled, like a child caught in mischief.

    ¡°How long since you¡¯ve been here, to revisit the past so dear?¡±

    ¡°Never. It¡¯s my first time. I hope you are welcoming of a new queen.¡±

    The Beast had no sense of time; for it, the last sacrifice could have felt like yesterday, a few minutes before, or a thousand years. All events were jumbled into one and many. But in its muddled sense, it was aware it had been abandoned, sensing the land thriving without the power it provided.

    The Beast held its silence.

    ¡°So, how much magic for the blood of your foe?¡± She gazed at the restless, smoking shadows.

    ¡°Its worth 768 Garin, for magic in the land to win.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s only three years!¡± But it was enough time. Enough to confront the Sovereign. For everything to remain as it was. All magic came with a price and consequence. She had paid the price for the Shadow¡¯s magic; the consequence would come later, so she shoved the worries with it.

    She lifted the boy, hefting his corpse in her arms.

    ¡°How about one more year for fresh bone and flesh?¡± She said with a tone of eagerness one might use to recite a favorite food. ¡°I mean 256 Garin.¡±

    ¡°Eighty-five,¡± the Beast said, its voice like glass scraping across a tile.

    ¡°One hundred twenty-eight.¡± Six months more.

    The Beast went quiet for a moment.

    ¡°Deal.¡±

    She closed the corpse¡¯s eyes and threw the body into the shadows. They danced higher and swallowed him whole before a thud followed. The Beast¡¯s cackle rang out from the well again.

    A swirl of raw energy enveloped her, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake. Once again, her magic brimmed within her Inner Sense, within grasp like a wave conquering the shore. Ecstasy and relief rolled in her. She would bask in the bliss of her rejuvenated power later; now, she had to leave the forest. Someone would come looking for the boy. Dealing with the slight possibility of rebellion because of her identity was at the bottom of her list. Paradise was no more. The game of the hunt and prey had begun. Until the time came, she had to make sure she remained at the top of the food chain.

    ¡°Once more the bargain¡¯s sealed, the spell,

    The cost of magic¡¯s cast, farewell.

    Paid in full, the price at last,

    In shadows of the ancient past.¡± The Beast sang.

    She surrendered to the familiar embrace of the darkness and found herself at the border of the nearest town, Niya.

    The general stood before a field of wheat. Unlike the forest¡¯s weather, the scorching sun was balanced by the cool breeze of the wind. She strolled forward and waved her hand. Her cloak disappeared¡ªclean and folded in her bedchamber. Sweat and dirt vanished from her, leaving skin and cloth pristine. Her hair wove itself into golden braids, cascading over her shoulders and down her back. A smile of accomplishment tugged at her lips. With each transformation, the general¡¯s brows rose higher. He met her halfway.

    ¡°Mission accomplished, my lady,¡± he said, bowing and strolled alongside her.

 The consequence

    ¡°Your services are no longer needed. Retire to your duties,¡± Clythia said, not bothering to stop, advancing through the wheat fields, the golden stalks swaying gently around her.

    ¡°What are you planning to do?¡± The general was trotting trying to catch up with her quick steps.

    ¡°Nosy, are we now?¡± she said. ¡°I only needed you here to transport me to the palace, in case I failed.¡±

    ¡°You told me to wait in the nearest village, which is two hundred miles from the Dadigon forest. If your magic failed you, how were you planning to¡ª¡±

    ¡°Sometimes I forget how dim-witted you are. Summoning you, or any of my subjects, doesn¡¯t require magic¡ªnot the type that required Inner Sense, anyway. As the royal descendant of Ilyana, I can.¡± She shrugged and stared at him. He wasn¡¯t following, perplexed by the new information.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t they teach you this in Sravask?¡±

    Sravask was one of the military schools in DavinSaw, named after its city. It was known for its academic quality, producing the most lethal witches and wizards in combat. They were not only adept with magic but also weaponry. They knew their way with a spear, sword, and arrow as well as hexes, spells, and potions. General Arkansov was one of the elite this academy had produced. And yet, he or the academy had failed to disclose the source of the innate ability to answer for Ilyana and her descendants¡¯ call. Baffling.

    ¡°I¡¯m afraid not, my lady. I would have remembered. Many things about your lineage are obscured, shrouded in mystery. Until today, I thought you could summon me because of your magical prowess.¡± Was that disappointment in his tone?

    ¡°Well, if it makes you feel any better, keep thinking that.¡±

    Clythia wouldn¡¯t have disclosed this if she knew it wasn¡¯t common knowledge. Did she make a mistake by accidentally revealing ¡®the how¡¯ of her summoning ability? She needed to tread carefully; her ancestors had made it a secret for a reason. How had her mother failed to teach her this? Or had Clythia simply forgotten? This made her hesitate to tell him of the ritual she partook in at Dadigon. Despite him being her trusted general, all she would gain from disclosing was, at the very best, a bruised ego for not knowing. At its worst, well, he wouldn¡¯t take the cold-blooded murder keenly, and that would lead to undesirable consequences. The latter was a weakness a general shouldn¡¯t have. But she wasn¡¯t willing to find out if he had such a weakness.

    ¡°Summon me if you need anything,¡± Arkansov said, the banter not lost on her.

    Clythia snorted. Taking that as a cue for dismissal, he Diseventuated.

    Clythia looked around, half immersed in the sea of yellow. She stretched her Inner Sense, looking for a familiar presence. To the east, there were witches and wizards huddled. She Diseventuated, marking a small mound in that direction for her reappearance.

    A hut sat nestled on a hillside. Farmers drank and dined beneath its canopy, their pointy hats set aside at the tables. A plump woman was leaning against the support beam, taking orders and shouting them back to the kitchen. Bowls and mugs queued at her side, level with her head, waiting to be ordered; with a wave of her wand, they flew to the customers. Men wore gaudy garments¡ªpink cloaks or green tunics, blood-red breeches, or yellow hats¡ªand a blend of these and more bright colors. The women¡¯s attire was darker; browns, greys, and blacks, but they were silk or sparkly. There was no speck of dirt to be seen. It must be some magical-farmer humor because all their shoes were white. And they would remain that way, and their garments eccentric, thanks to her. Because of her sacrifice, they won¡¯t stoop low to farm like humans with dirt and sweat.

    Clythia had to ensure the laughter and joy she witnessed among the farmers remained that way. One thing was left to seal her bargain with the well of the Beast and the Shadow. Clythia walked a few steps and knelt, ensuring her actions would be visible from a distance. She placed her palms on the ground. With a slight tug to her Inner Sense, veins on her arms transformed into tendrils made of shadow. Those tendrils traveled to her outstretched palms and branched out in four directions upon touching the ground, accelerating until they reached the borders of DavinSaw.

    The attention of the witches and wizards shifted to her, sensing the strange power beneath their feet. Confusion first marred their faces, but as she rose to her feet, uncertainty gave way to awe and shock. The plump woman¡¯s wand-gripping hand went slack, causing bowls and mugs to succumb to the ground. Those in the front kneeled one by one, then the others followed suit.

    Smiling ear to ear, she let the darkness of time swallow her whole.

    <hr>

    Three months had passed since Clythia¡¯s engagement with the Shadow. Many provinces threw feasts for their newfound abundance. Values in markets steadied, crops on farms flourished. Some even exaggerated that it was better than before, expressing their gratitude to the queen, teary-eyed. Requests from citizens turned into sessions of gratitude. But the elation in DavinSaw was short-lived.

    By the end of the second month, strange things began happening. The consequences of the Shadow¡¯s magic, which she thought was at bay before the three-and-a-half-year mark, had rapped on DavinSaw¡¯s door early. The heads of DavinSaw¡¯s territory had been receiving reports of people who were using this new magic with no control whatsoever¡ªas if addicted to a drug¡ªthus leading some to unprecedented deaths.

    Consequently, a meeting was arranged for Clythia and the leaders, overseeing DavinSaw¡¯s providences under her command to come up with yet another solution to the magic none of them understood but her. Even she wasn¡¯t certain she fully comprehended it anymore, or how she should fix it.

    The five leaders had taken their places in their state chairs, edged with ruby and legs of gold. General Arkansov and some guards were stationed at her back. All eyes on the table were fixed on her, their expressions ranging from expectant to apprehensive. This wasn¡¯t one of the meetings where General Arkansov swooped in and saved the day. A tinge of regret flickered within her for hiding what she had done. Maybe if she had told the general, he would have come up with something that could ease the leaders. She felt like a child caught in mischief, standing before scolding adults, insisting she hadn¡¯t broken the glass, but rather, the glass had broken itself.

    Clythia cleared her throat, shoving the panic forming in her mind and churning her gut, into a mental box.

    This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

    ¡°Lords and ladies of DavinSaw, I¡¯m pleased to see your faces so... frequently.¡± Clythia gave them a false grin.

    The lady of Hypercas, Vina, shifted in her seat, her big brown eyes piercing Clythia with disapproval.

    Hypercas was the largest province found in the south of DavinSaw, and it was primarily known as the heart of precious stone mining.

    Its ruler was stiff-backed, her hair slick, glistening with gel, as if subdued to defy a hurricane. Her high-collared crimson dress was immaculate. Clythia wanted to slide off her seat, away from Vina¡¯s fixed gaze. Although she was adorned in a blue dress, the hem etched with sapphires the size of an egg, and a heavy diamond crown on her head. Thanks to the general, despite her protest, he had insisted "Impression, if weaponized, can do half the work for you."

    Clythia looked away, facing the others.

    ¡°So let¡¯s get on with it,¡± Clythia said, gesturing with her hands for any of them to proceed.

    Three lords opened their mouths, but upon noticing each other¡¯s eagerness, they insisted for others to speak before them.

    ¡°Lord Lupis, begin,¡± Clythia said in a clipped tone to the overseer of Idra, a land notorious for its wealthy merchants in the southeast of DavinSaw.

    The wizard had a heavy mustache. His deep-violet pointy hat was so tall it looked like he carried a pyramid skyscraper on his bald head, straining to graze the ceiling.

    He crossed his puffed fingers on the table, leaning forward. ¡°My queen, bizarre things are happening. Patients with uncontrollable shivering and sweating, flesh thin as grass, eyes hollowed, are flocking to the infirmaries. Using magic on them has worsened the disease, and many have died from it, quick deaths. Potions were the only thing that was working, until they ran out and the nurses prepared new ones with... with¡ª¡± He stopped himself, staring at Clythia with wariness.

    ¡°With the new magic,¡± Kip''s voice came¡ªso much for being polite by not speaking first.

    He was a contrast to Lupis¡¯ plump figure: slender, with a nose too big for his face. His thick brows and green eyes mercifully salvaged his appearance from being the male version of a hag. And he ruled a small portion of land in the north, too close to the capital for Clythia¡¯s liking.

    ¡°Yes, that,¡± Lupis said, nodding towards Kip. ¡°So, I¡¯m wondering, my queen,¡± his throat bobbed, ¡°what is this magic? We are thankful that our crops are flourishing once more and our flowers blooming. But it is picking us,¡± he paused, ¡°one by one.¡±

    Kip opened his mouth, but Clythia raised her palm. ¡°You speak when I tell you to. Show manners.¡± He pursed his lips into a thin line.

    ¡°Lady Casarda, what of Melop?¡± Clythia asked, regarding the woman with golden hair and soft blue eyes.

    Casarda was the overseer of a large province in the west, where art bloomed and thrived, and where Wigmond Academia resided.

    Like eccentric artists, her dress left nothing to the imagination, with a white silk undergarment visible beneath its sparkling gray exterior. Her bare cleavage accentuated her uplifted bosoms, barely concealed by the undergarment; the stares of Lord Kip and Lord Masai lingered on them longer than necessary. Lady Vina was glaring at Casarda¡¯s face, chin up, as if to avoid finding a slithering worm should her gaze lower. Lord Lupis was looking everywhere but at her.

    Casarda didn¡¯t seem to notice or care about their reaction. ¡°The same thing happening in Idra is happening in Melop. Niya wasn¡¯t affected much, but Mirya¡¯s hospitals are brimming with patients. However, I am here to discuss new information I have received.¡± Her voice lowered to a hush as she mentioned the last part.

    Clythia cocked her head. ¡°And what is that?¡±

    Casarda took a deep breath. ¡°I believe we all are facing the same issue. Some kind of sickness is everywhere. Our hospitals had zero patients on a good day and two or three on a bad. But now... I am saying this with the utmost respect, my queen, don¡¯t get me wrong,¡± she paused.

    Clythia gestured for her to continue.

    ¡°You used the Shadow¡¯s magic to stop the blight, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    Clythia¡¯s face went hot. She wasn¡¯t sure she could hide her emotions at the back of her mind now. She fidgeted with her palms under the table. The others, confused and brows furrowed, were looking from her to Casarda. There was no judgment on Casarda¡¯s face, only worry. How did she know? This was a royal family secret; she wasn¡¯t supposed to know. If Clythia held her silence, the others would take it as the truth. She had to deflect the question quickly.

    ¡°And who told you such an interesting theory?¡± Thankfully, Clythia¡¯s voice was smooth.

    ¡°I am sorry to interrupt. But what is the Shadow?¡± Masai asked in a squeaky voice, his shoulders barely above the table.

    He was the eldest of them all, with gray hair gracing his head. There was something Clythia liked about gray hair; maybe she should dye hers gray. His southwest province was where tinkerers and innovators¡ªthe minds of DavinSaw¡ªemerged from.

    ¡°It is an old form of magic used before the Sovereign¡¯s reign. This land flourished with the power the Shadow yielded,¡± Clythia said. There was no point in hiding what the Shadow was. But Casarda would pay for her brashness. ¡°It is a long-forgotten ritual, with no record of it found anywhere in DavinSaw.¡±

    ¡°Look, my queen. If you partook in the ritual of the Shadow, thank the gods,¡± Casarda said. Clythia wasn¡¯t sure if she heard her correctly. Was this some kind of joke? But Casarda¡¯s tone carried no amusement. Clythia masked her surprise with a stony face.

    ¡°Other kingdoms are facing the same issue as we are,¡± Casarda said.

    ¡°The gods have started to age.¡± A few gasped. ¡°The pearls of the elves have turned to stone. There was an earthquake in Makefort.¡±

    ¡°What is an earthquake?¡± Masai asked, his voice shivering, leaning his minuscule arms against the table.

    ¡°It is exactly how it sounds,¡± Clythia said. ¡°The earth quaking.¡± Masai visibly shuddered. Clythia knew this because she was well-versed in the world before the Sovereign. There were violent forces of nature that shook existences if nations didn¡¯t destroy each other first.

    ¡°Many werewolves have lost their lives. Their groves disintegrated, many left homeless,¡± Casarda said, shaking her head. ¡°And a volcano erupted in Cravax. Many died.¡±

    All their mouths hung open, including Clythia¡¯s. They were aware of volcanoes considering powerful witches and wizards who could command fire at their fingertips from fissures and mountains. But the radiating shock came from the mention of death in Cravax¡ªthe land of vampires¡ªwhere it was nonexistent.

    ¡°And how did you come to know all this?¡± Vina asked, her eyes narrowed.

    ¡°The only continent not affected by the blight is Zalax,¡± Casarda''s tone was quiet.

    ¡°The human kingdom?¡± Kip roared with laughter. Some snickered along.

    ¡°How is that possible?¡± Lupis asked.

    Casarda let out a sigh. ¡°The magic in all continents is tied to one or more objects. For example, ours is tied to the Tome, Cravax to a portal, Makefort has a cave¡ª¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, we know all that. Get to the point,¡± Kip interrupted. Clythia shot him a glare. Casarda¡¯s jaw ticked.

    ¡°Do that again, and I will cleave your tongue from your sour mouth,¡± Clythia said. Kip¡¯s face turned red; her irk making him find his palm particularly interesting.

    ¡°So, what I was trying to say was, every land has its own source to rejuvenate magic. The whole point of the Tithe is to access the best form of magic this land can offer. But before the Sovereign, there was another source of magic, the Shadow. All continents have them in one form or another. Species of all nations partook in rituals for the well of the Beast¡ªa joint sentient entity linked to the Shadow¡ªto give them magic. Because without it, the land would become inhospitable. Zalax remained untouched by the blight because they partook in the ritual, and an inside source from there told me,¡± Casarda said.

    ¡°Inside source from Zalax? Clythia said, rage curling within her. ¡°Relations with other nations are forbidden.¡±

    ¡°Yes, forbidden by the Sovereign. And now the Sovereign is failing us, we need to seek out each other to get past this. Besides, my queen, I am the lady of spies. My spies¡¯ abilities had wasted from snooping in worthless gossip.¡±

    ¡°And you sent them off to Zalax without consulting me?¡± Clythia leaped to her feet, her palms slamming on the table, making some of the lords jump in their seats.

 The accusation

    Casarda¡¯s face blanched, and her back stiffened against the seat¡¯s backrest. Her eyes, wide with terror, followed Clythia as she sprang to her feet.

    ¡°I did no such thing,¡± Casarda¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper. ¡°My queen, you are already aware that my father is human. My family¡ªon my father¡¯s side¡ªsent me a letter a few days before you addressed the blight.¡± She delivered the last bit of information with carefully chosen words. ¡°I was about to inform you of my discoveries. But fortunately, you were already doing what the kingdom needed, what DavinSaw needed. And King Kay planned to disclose this to you through my father.¡±

    Fraternizing or engaging in a romantic relationship with other races was prohibited by law and was considered an outright sin by those who believed in gods. But for two hundred millennia, there were rare exceptions, like weeds amidst grains. Caught by the elation of doing something forbidden, some rebelled against the perfect system that ensured peace. However, the system broke them; they were disowned by their families and executed by the leaders. It was Clythia herself who beheaded Casarda¡¯s mother after she gave birth to Casarda. King Kay should have meted out the same justice to the father, but apparently, he made a traitor a lord of Zalax.

    ¡°What would the human king get out of this?¡± Vina asked, inspecting Casarda with furrowed brows.

    ¡°He and King Modyr were the only rulers with the nerve to confront the Sovereign. The rest were a pile of waste,¡± Clythia said.

    Clythia¡¯s rage simmered down to a smolder at Casarda¡¯s justification, and reluctantly settled back into her seat, her puffy dress draping over the chair and floor. Casarda¡¯s tensed shoulders seemed to ease. But Clythia was a bit annoyed that Casarda addressed Lord Hana of whatever province he ruled by her parental relationship with him.

    ¡°If he gave you this information, I¡¯m sure he found a way to extend the courtesy to King Modyr too,¡± Lupis nodded to himself.

    ¡°Exactly,¡± Casarda said. ¡°Nadir is the only safe land right now; ours is one step behind because of the sickness. One key piece of information we missed is that we can only use the Shadow¡¯s magic three times a day if we wish to keep our heads sane.¡±

    There was a hint of accusation in Casarda¡¯s tone, implying more like, ¡°One key piece of information you missed is that we can only use magic three times a day, and now you¡¯ve put us all in danger.¡±

    But no one focused on the subtle accusation; they were all in a frenzy of panic, even Clythia brushed it off¡ªfor now.

    ¡°What?¡± she and Kip blurted out in unison¡ªfirst time for everything.

    ¡°Three times a day?¡± Lupis clasped his palms over his mouth.

    ¡°That is impossible,¡± Vina¡¯s voice was shaking despite her efforts to keep it under control. ¡°Why are we not affected like the others?¡±

    Masai snapped his fingers. ¡°They are opposites. The Shadow and the Sovereign¡¯s magic are opposites,¡± he said, squirming in his seat, his face lit with excitement. ¡°When the Sovereign¡¯s magic wavers, the effect ripples from top to bottom. From the supplies we all rely on, from the crops our farmers grow, to the queen that rules above all, and then to the rest of us.¡± He craned his head slowly, fixing his wide eyes on Clythia. The others followed his train of sight.

    Clythia nodded, the secret of her flickering magic sprawled before them. She opened her mouth, but caught in his revelations, Lord Masai continued.

    ¡°To the contrary, the effects of the Shadow¡¯s magic start from the bottom and make its way up to the top,¡± Masai pointed to the dome-shaped ceiling. ¡°Witches and wizards with less power are first in line. Sooner or later, all of DavinSaw would have fallen to its negative effects. So opposite, in every way.¡± He trailed off, shaking his head.

    But before anyone could speak, he resumed, leaving Kip¡¯s mouth hanging open. ¡°We can use the Sovereign¡¯s magic as much as we want but not the Shadow¡¯s magic. So opposite... that is genius!¡±

    Clythia raised her brow.

    ¡°I mean, that is devastating. Terrible, so so terrible,¡± Masai said, with fake vehemence, the awe on his face in contrast with his pretense of disgust.

    ¡°You are saying these magics are sentient enough to discern importance and class?¡± Lupis said, glancing between Clythia and Masai.

    ¡°And petty enough to never do what the other does?¡± Vina added, amused.

    Masai shrugged. ¡°We know the Sovereign is an omniscient being; they could make their magic sentient. Although I do not know if the Shadow¡¯s magic is sentient or pure power this planet has. Maybe the Sovereign created magic that rivals the Shadow in every way.¡±

    ¡°But three times a day? We might as well stop breathing altogether,¡± Kip scoffed.

    ¡°The limbs hanging have uses, you know, besides gripping a wand,¡± Casarda said to Kip in a soft voice. Kip cracked his knuckles. ¡°I know how to use them; I can show you what these fingers can do.¡± He wiggled his fingers. Lupis¡¯s face turned an embarrassing red as though he wished the land would swallow him whole. Clythia¡¯s lip twitched at the corner.

    ¡°Stop acting like wild animals,¡± Vina snapped. ¡°We are in the middle of an important meeting, and you think this is the time to act like dogs and harlots?¡± Her gaze fixed on the lady of Melop in fury, gaining a roll of eyes from her.

    ¡°The subject matter deviating means we have discussed everything there is,¡± Clythia said to no one in particular, but the way Vina shook her head looked as if the queen had sided with... dogs and harlots. ¡°Issue a decree in your provinces¡ªto limit magic wielding to a maximum of three times daily.¡±

    ¡°Sounds like a potion remedy,¡± Kip said under his breath, disguising it with a cough. Clythia ignored him.

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    ¡°That¡¯s it. Meeting adjourned,¡± Clythia gestured for them to rise.

    Chairs scraped against the oak floor as lords and ladies stood up and made their way to the hall¡¯s door.

    ¡°Casarda,¡± Clythia called. The woman''s wavy gold hair swayed as she craned her neck towards her. ¡°A word.¡±

    Casarda nodded and took a seat beside Clythia. They stared at each other quietly until the other leaders had left, with Lupis closing the door behind him¡ªusing his hands. No magic beckoned.

    Clythia glanced back at General Arkansov and the guards. ¡°You may go too.¡±

    The general hesitated, but Clythia dipped her chin in assurance. She wouldn¡¯t need protection. She was the protector. The guards were a ceremonial presence dragged along to meetings and balls like the trailing dress she wore. This was one of the few things she didn¡¯t take Arkansov¡¯s advice to heart. He had insisted she should be accompanied by guards everywhere. But she didn¡¯t see the point. She was only willing to go as far as painting an impression.

    Finally, Clythia was alone with the lady of spies. For a moment, she regarded her quietly, her spiky black fingernails drumming on the table.

    ¡°What is your end goal?¡± Clythia cocked her head.

    Casarda propped her chin on her palm, her elbow on the table. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you mean.¡±

    ¡°Do you know why I haven¡¯t revealed anything about the Shadow? When all celebrated me as a hero? When I¡¯ve saved all our asses? But do you know why no one knew?¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know it was supposed to be a secret,¡± Casarda¡¯s hand, once propping her chin, now descended to the table, placing her arm in front of Clythia, her crimson nails gleaming.

    ¡°I will give you a choice to live because of the invaluable information you provided,¡± Clythia¡¯s voice had lowered. ¡°I won¡¯t show mercy next time. I do not know or care if you are as stupid as you claim or if this is some game to you. Either way, I will get rid of you. But only one of the options will let you leave with your life.¡± Clythia leaned forward, inches away from Casarda¡¯s nose. ¡°Lady of spies, on a scale of one to ten, how stupid are you? One being the dumbest person alive and ten, you know, the opposite. Unless you are dumb and you don¡¯t know what the opposite entails.¡±

    Color drained from Casarda¡¯s face. ¡°I-um-I...¡±

    Clythia had no intention of stripping the lady of spies of her leadership role in Melop. This was just a stunt to show her that she couldn¡¯t act on her own accord without acknowledging the queen''s will.

    After all, Casarda was a valuable spy for DavinSaw. Until the blight, her role had been confined to mingling with the other lords and ladies, engaging in gossips of balls and love matches. But now, with the vulnerability the disruption had exposed, DavinSaw would start to learn the weaknesses and strengths of other nations.

    The tapping of Clythia¡¯s fingernails grew louder. Casarda was squirming in her seat, visibly struggling to give the right answer, like a student caught off guard by a teacher¡¯s question for not having paid attention.

    ¡°I half-guessed¡ª¡±

    ¡°Shh,¡± Clythia raised her palm, furrowing her brows, and closing her eyes before opening them irate. ¡°A number, Casarda. Don''t test my patience.¡±

    ¡°Eight,¡± Casarda¡¯s lips were trembling.

    ¡°That means you already know why I kept the Shadow¡¯s magic a secret, and yet here you are playing dumb and wise before all.¡±

    Casarda flinched.

    ¡°Why did you do it?¡± Clythia¡¯s voice was barely above a whisper.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to call you out or expose you in the wrong light. I only did it because this kingdom is not only your burden but ours too. That is why we are here. Why we serve Ilyana¡¯s line for eons. I deeply apologize if I gave you the wrong impression, my queen. I did it because I admired what you did. But I swear on my mother¡¯s grave, I didn¡¯t mean you any ill will,¡± Casarda blurted out the words in one breath.

    Clythia¡¯s laugh was low. ¡°Your mother¡¯s grave? How ironic.¡±

    Casarda held her tongue, eyes glistening and jaw clenched.

    ¡°Well, you won¡¯t join her, at least not today.¡± Clythia gestured for her to leave.

    Casarda pushed to her feet, her steps hurrying to the hall¡¯s door, as though Clythia would strike at any minute.

    ¡°And if you contact your father again...¡± Casarda went still. The rapping of nails ceased.

    ¡°Yes, my queen,¡± Casarda¡¯s voice quivered; her shoulders hunched in on her.

    The unspoken threat had hit its mark.

    <hr>

    Clythia was in the dining hall to eat dinner, located on the first landing¡ªwhere the hustle and numbers of servants were at its peak, even at this hour. But within the hall, it was ominous, eerily quiet. The intricate artistic patterns of the stained windows were a muse for brooding, for depression to slither in like vines wading their way on walls and windows. The chandelier that carried the flickering candles bathed the room in faint light, its golden rod glinting.

    The lavish spread of meals, capable of feeding fifty people, was arrayed before her. But none of the grandiosity veiled the feel of a catacomb the room held. She missed her son, Clen. He was away for his military training in Sravask. He pissed her off when he was here for winter break. Clen would have kept pestering her about everything. Asking what he had missed when he was away like a child who questions every object around him. But that kept her on edge¡ªannoyed, snapping, and yelling at him... not hollow.

    Clythia was about to wave her hand to fill her plate but remembered the decree she issued. From morning until the meeting, she had wielded magic several times. When she washed her face, styled her hair, applied makeup, dressed herself, ate... the list went on and on. Kip was right, she might as well stop breathing.

    "Umm... anyone?" She called out.

    A tall man, broad-shouldered, wearing leather breeches and a tunic, strolled in. His sword, strapped at his waist, swayed gracefully with each movement. The dim lights faintly glinted off his gray eyes... Grey eyes.

    Her undoing.

    ¡°Yes, my queen?¡± His voice was rumbling low, making the hairs on her arms rise, like skeletons called forth by necromancy.

    Clythia was unaware her mouth hung open until his voice pulled her out of a trance. ¡°My queen?¡±

    Clythia shook her head. ¡°Fill out my plate, please? No magic.¡±

    He sauntered to the long table. With no clumsiness, he loaded her plate with culinary delights. Adept hands piled food with ladles and serving tongs, as though he had done it a thousand times. She envied the ladle, held firmly by his calloused fingers¡ªshe wondered about the feel of those rough fingers, tightening around her wrist like a constricting, biting rope; like the one that leaves bruises long after it had been released.

    Her breath hitched as he finally settled the plate, a mound she wouldn¡¯t dare devour, before her. The air carried a scent of leather and dew with his nearness. It ignited a desire in her far superior to the hunger rumbling low in her stomach. She wanted to eat him, not the meal. What was she thinking?! She shook her head again. If he noticed how her cheeks burned, or her incessant head wobbling, he didn¡¯t show.

    "What''s your name?" Her voice was docile, out of character. The queen that trembled Casarda gone.

    "Tiyus." He said. Tiyus'' smile spread broadly across his face, summoning twin dimples on either cheek upon its wake. Excuse me? Gods!

    "Tiyus." Clythia cleared her throat. "I haven''t seen you before." Why is her voice betraying her? She sounded like a maiden who had never conversed eye to eye with a boy, let alone a man. And she had quite the number of body count.

    ¡°I am not one of your immediate guards. My station is way below. I guard the palace tunnels,¡± Tiyus said, slowly backing away, his gaze fixed on her. Like a dancer working his way around with muscle memory, his movement was graced, not needing to watch his steps.

    ¡°Are you married, Tiyus?¡± Clythia blurted out before she could stop herself.

    Tiyus¡¯ lip twitched. ¡°No, my queen.¡±

    ¡°Are you gay?¡±

    His lips formed an inverted arc, failing to hide his surprise. ¡°No, my queen.¡±

    Clythia heaved a sigh. ¡°Would you do me the honor of distracting me?¡± She cocked her head.

    Everything felt warm around her. Hot.

    Tiyus'' stare intensified, awakening a fire with every lingering moment.

    "With pleasure my queen." His growl settled into a deep resonant alto.

 The pleasure

    Clythia leaned against the door of a bedchamber, closing it shut. This room was less spacious than the one she usually retired to at night. There was a grand bed, taking up almost half of the room¡¯s size, in the center. Its sheets were crimson, embroidered with delicately woven vines of gold, matching the drapes. The room was dimly lit by torches mounted at its corners.

    The oak floor creaked as Tiyus turned to her, pinning her down with his gaze. His mesmerizing grey eyes, like a pure pool shimmering at night, along with his strong scent of leather and dew, addled her senses. Her knees nearly buckled; she wanted to squirm on the floor, to serve the piece of art before her. All logic out the window. There were beads of black diamond adorning his arched brows on either side, something she hadn¡¯t noticed in the dining hall.

    Tiyus took a step closer; his cool nose brushed hers, causing a tingle to rush down her spine. His body shifted from merely teasing to pinning her hard against the wood. Beneath his tunic, muscles honed with years of discipline, claimed her breasts, eliciting a sharp pang. Her breath was constricted, the rise and fall of her chest pushing against his steel torso. Tiyus grazed her lips with his knuckles; she arched her back to his touch. His deep growl of approval vibrated through her body, turning her arousal to headiness no wine could imitate. He pressed his index finger against her lips and brushed them lightly.

    ¡°My queen, do you want me to?¡± he whispered against her lips.

    ¡°Want... want what?¡± Her voice trembled.

    ¡°Punish you,¡± Tiyus purred and took a step back, leaving a cool air in his stead. There was no mercy or fear in his eyes, only a piercing gaze. His stance was like a lord commanding a legion. The title of Queen and guard left behind the closed door.

    Clythia removed her crown and set it beside a table near the door. Her dress pooled at her feet a moment later. Not a spark of ire was triggered in her as she used her hands. In a way, it was humiliating toiling like a human. But she reveled in the feel of it. Letting go of ego and title, baring her desires to the lord before her. She was about to remove her white silk chemise, but a sharp ¡°Stop¡± from Tiyus froze and trembled her at the same time.

    ¡°Answer me,¡± he growled. She wanted to be annoyed by his audacity, to be angry at the disrespect of being spoken to in such a manner. Yet, the courage to be angry had ebbed away. Instead, her body yearned to crawl to him as if she were under a Binding spell.

    ¡°Do your worst.¡± A voice escaped her throat. Wait, that was not something she should say. What if he truly hurt her? Yet, the mere thought of it sent a dull throb to her core. Before she could process the panic, before the queen behind the doors slipped in through the door gap, he was upon her.

    With a swift motion, her wrists were within his grasp. He put them above her head and pressed his lips to hers. Every stroke was like a wildfire ravaging a forest, turning everything in its path to ash. She was swearing allegiance to his touch, breath, tongue, teeth¡ªas it devoured hers.

    He released her wrists; his left hand moved to her throat, sliding up and down before lightly squeezing¡ªconstricting. The pressure was not strong enough to elicit breathlessness. It carried a subtle message of reminding her who was in charge, that he could suffocate her if he chose to. Her pulse throbbed wildly against his hand, and her core echoed the rhythm.

    His other hand flicked her nipple, prompting her to jump and whimper. He did it again, with more force. A helpless cry, foreign to her own ears, escaped her.

    He glared down at the chemise. Jaws ticking, he shredded it in one go. A muffled gasp, allowed by his fingers collaring her neck, left Clythia; she was naked save for the undergarment. Her breasts peaked, pointing to him as if they were ready for service. His grey eyes rested on them; a shiver not related to the chill ran through her. With a touch that sparked a tickling sensation, he gently traced his hand down her breasts, along her belly button, circling it before journeying down south. She lifted her feet to his touch. Panting. Shivering. Aching for more. Then his hand cupped her sex and gently moved her her undergarment to the side. His fingers lightly brushed the lips where dampness was dripping.

    His hot breath tickled her ears. ¡°Do you know what I see in your eyes, Clythia Hoverlow?¡± She stopped breathing, waiting and dreading what was to come next.

    ¡°Hunger to lose control.¡± He plunged a finger into her. A wave of pleasure surged through her body, soul, spirit, spreading like vines racing through a forest at a blinding speed. It made her forget who she was¡ªwhat she was. Tears streamed down her cheek, dropping onto his finger wrapped around her neck, some making it to her chest. Her legs shook frantically, as if trying to free herself from the crushing, mountainous pleasure. She whimpered like a dog that had lost its bone.

    How was this possible? She had never experienced something like this before. No one had made her lose control with their eyes or touch or... plunge. Not with such magnitude. He hadn¡¯t even touched the bundle of nerves, and yet...

    ¡°A hunger to be collared.¡± Another plunge. This time, it with two fingers. Her eyes rolled back in her lids. Her knees shook like a weed in the wind. She began to slide down, but his firm fingers on her neck pinned her tightly. Unable to reposition herself even an inch, a desperate screech left her throat, and tears spilled down her face. She opened her mouth to plead, Please. Please, let me go. I can¡¯t take this anymore. Please, Sir! But no words formed on her tongue; only drool strolled down her chin.

    ¡°Just for the teeny tiny prospect of release you didn¡¯t think you needed until you experienced it.¡± Three fingers forced their way into her, causing slight pain as her muscles stretched. Then, the rhythm picked up. Surprisingly, her body adjusted to the overwhelming pleasure. Clythia was half-listening to the woman that possessed her as she moaned. Release began making its way to her spine. With each thrust, a storm she couldn¡¯t control gathered within her¡ª

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    His fingers slid out, nudging at her entrance. With it, the storm dissipated, hiding in a corner to be summoned again. Clythia jerked her head toward him. Relieved and annoyed by the sudden stop. One side of his lip kicked up.

    ¡°That wasn¡¯t your punishment,¡± he said quietly, tongue clicking. Clythia gaped at him. She wanted to say something, to think something, but her mind was like molten butter.

    ¡°Tell me, my queen,¡± he leaned into her ear and grazed the sensitive spot beneath with his teeth. She heaved a sigh, futile in swiping away her exhaustion. Her pounding heart roared in her ears. ¡°How bad do you want your release?¡±

    It was not her mouth that did the talking but her hand, acting on its own accord. Despite the protest her mind dished out, screaming ¡®no¡¯ with every move. She was about to grab his crotch, but his fingers, slick with her wetness, gripped her wrist.

    He chuckled. ¡°Remember, if you want this, there is no going back.¡±

    Clythia nodded hastily. ¡®What the fuck? No!¡¯

    Then, Tiyus took a step back. Once. Twice. Thrice. He snapped his fingers, her wetness glinting off of them in the soft light of the torches.

    The storm that had been humming low rose. A jolt enveloped her from head to toe, ten times stronger than the Binding spell. She slumped to her knees. Her vision blurred, registering only the fuzzy outlines of boots and the legs of the bed. Release after release after release crushed through her. Her knees gave out. She sprawled headfirst onto the floor, propped by her shaking arms. Her body writhed uncontrollably as a deafening scream erupted from her throat. The pain triggered by the jolt and the pleasure in her core worked in tandem in an unbearable¡ªtorturous¡ªyet beautiful craft. She wanted it to end; if it lasted one more minute, it would be her demise. Died from orgasm, her tombstone would read. She wanted to chuckle at the thought but her body wasn''t hers anymore. But if it ceased, she would be forced to return to the dull world, and that was death itself. For what felt like an eternity, it went on; dragging her close to unconsciousness. The last thing she recalled before oblivion claimed her was the vibration of footsteps on the ground.

    <hr>

    Clythia stood on a balcony, staring down at the garden facing opposite of the ebony palace gates. The cool breeze fluttered her wavy hair. The sky was clear, and the sun was on the horizon. Flowers and grasses, arrayed in perfection like a trained troop in line, lay below her.

    Clythia had jolted awake after the bizarre experience of last night. She had found herself tucked in the crimson, luscious bed, wearing a nightgown she recalled was in her original bedchamber¡¯s closet. Tiyus was nowhere in the room, only a light scent of leather and dew lingered. Her muscles, joints, and bones screamed in protest as she stepped out of bed. She had planned to change her clothes the human way, but that felt like a mountainous chore. So she wielded magic¡ªone down two to go. The exhaustion and strain on her body were even worse than the Final Tribulation she had faced in Wigmond before graduation.

    And the Final Tribulation consisted of climbing the highest mountain without wielding the Inner Sense. Only tools imbued with magic were allowed. One had to carefully choose the right magical objects that wouldn¡¯t lead to their demise as they took on the difficult trek. There was sword fighting, taking on ten people at once. Archery to aim at Sleipnir, the fastest creature in DavinSaw.

    Death was a high prospect in any of the trials. Getting out with your life with only bone crushing exhaustion was a mercy on itself.

    Clythia needed answers, but from whom? She couldn¡¯t possibly tell General Arkansov everything; that would be embarrassing. However, she could ask where Tiyus was¡ªand possibly punish him. The logical side of her brain, which had been screaming ¡®no¡¯ yesterday, laughed at the thought.

    ¡°Ark?¡± Her voice was barely above a whisper. General Arkansov appeared out of thin air behind her. She turned to see him wearing armor made of gold, his slick hair sparkling in the sunlight from too much gel. In DavinSaw, the more gel men or women applied to their hair, the more professional they believed themselves to be, absurdly. No wonder some scowled at her unbound hair. But they knew better than to voice their opinions; any comment on her rebel hair could become their last memory on Zyvern.

    "Sorry I had to summon you at this hour, I believe you were with the troops." Clythia rested her elbows on the handrail.

    The general wasn¡¯t listening. Instead, he squinted at her face. She hadn¡¯t seen herself in a mirror since she had come up here in haste. She touched her cheeks self-consciously.

    ¡°Are you alright, my lady? Did you have enough sleep last night?¡± Worry gripped his tone.

    ¡°Why? Do I look tired?¡±

    ¡°Tired is an understatement. There are dark circles beneath your eyes, and you look like you haven¡¯t slept in months. Not even makeup can hide it. I know you well,¡± Arkansov said, his voice gentle.

    Despite the unease she felt in his searching eyes, she held her chin up.

    ¡°I want Tiyus summoned immediately,¡± Clythia said, noting the confusion in the general¡¯s eyes. She added, ¡°For execution.¡±

    Arkansov cocked his head. "Tiyus? Who is Tiyus?"

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. You tell me,¡± Clythia shrugged. ¡°You know all the guards stationed in this palace and the tunnels.¡±

    ¡°No guards are stationed there. Ilyana¡¯s magic is the only ward protecting the palace and tunnels,¡± The general''s tone shifted to a warning stance.

    ¡°I know there aren¡¯t any guards around the palace. But the tunnels...¡± She shook her head. ¡°There was a guard last night who served me dinner. He was wearing a guard''s uniform. And he told me he was stationed at the tunnels!¡±

    The night uniform of the guards, seldom seen in the palace, consisted of a black leather tunic and breeches. During the day, it was a purple cloak with silver armor.

    ¡°A guard served you dinner?¡± Arkansov asked in disbelief. ¡°Huh, but only maidens serve the queen or king in that manner. And many servants don¡¯t get the privilege of serving the ruler directly in their lifetime. Plus, The job of guards is not within the palace but outside.¡±

    With magic at the fingertips of DavinSaw¡¯s rulers, they didn¡¯t need people tending to them all the time. Food was cooked, clothes were cleaned, and the palace was kept tidy by the servants. However, it was the rulers themselves who filled their plates, chose their attires, and sometimes even made their beds.

    ¡°Then how can he waltz in like it¡¯s his mother¡¯s house?¡± Clythia made a motion of sliding with her hands. ¡°How did he get past the wards?¡±

    Ilyana''s magic had nothing to do with the Inner Sense which was directly connected the land''s magic. As mysterious as Ilyana''s magic was, it was immune to the effects of the Sovereign''s or the Shadow''s powers. That was why no one would take the price for the protective ward around the palace, thankfully.

    "I do not know, my lady." The general responded, his tone genuine. "Did he do you any harm?"

    Yes. No. Clythia didn¡¯t know the answer to that. Did hurt include the notion of a beautiful pain? She had given Tiyus permission to punish her. Now that her logical mind had taken full control, she realized it was a bad idea, one only a gullible fool would make. Damn the three glasses of wine she had. But what she experienced was beyond supernatural. No one can elicit that kind of pleasure not even with the use magic.

    Her mouth hung open to answer, but no words came out.

    The general¡¯s eyes swept over her. When his gaze returned to her exhausted face, his jaw dropped as understanding flickered in his eyes.

 The seer

    ¡°Oh no, no. It¡¯s nothing like that. We didn¡¯t do anything at all.¡± Clythia shook her head in a supposed effort of vigor, which felt like craning not one but three heads. Everything hurt. Everything felt heavy. The polished ebony tiles rose up to meet her, but then strong hands¡ªArkansov¡¯s hands¡ªgripped her by the arm, confusion and shock addling his face.

    ¡°My lady, is this the doing of this... Tiyus, or are you drunk?¡± The general drawled the name as though it were a hair he had found in his meal. His hazel eyes was inspecting her, inches away from her face.

    ¡°Hangover,¡± Clythia lied. ¡°I need a strength potion.¡±

    The general slowly let go of her arms, leaning her against the handrails. Once he was sure she wouldn¡¯t collapse like a drunk, he stretched out his palm, and a vial of violet liquid appeared.

    Clythia snatched it and gulped down its contents in one go, as though her life depended on it. The spicy and sugary taste of the vial seared through her tongue and throat. It took a few seconds for the effect to kick in. Her body felt lighter and stronger. She moved her arms and legs; the exhaustion had ebbed away. Mostly. To her surprise, she felt a slight strain in her muscles¡ªthe kind one would feel after a simple workout.

    She wasn¡¯t supposed to feel any weakness. The strength potion had the ability to eradicate any exhaustion from its drinker and give super strength in its stead. However, Clythia only managed to regain some of her strength, while the rest was lost beyond the potion¡¯s power.

    ¡°Are you alright now?¡± the general asked.

    ¡°Yes. Fine as a gazelle,¡± she said with a clap. The general didn¡¯t look convinced but didn¡¯t press her further.

    ¡°Good. In that case, we need to talk,¡± his expression turned stern.

    ¡°Oh yes, we do. First, assign guards all over the palace. I don¡¯t want any surprises anymore. Second, ask anyone if they have seen a man with gray eyes, black hair, broad shoulders, and six feet tall on the castle grounds. Third, I want hairdressers and waiters to be assigned. Immediately,¡± she said with a cold tone.

    ¡°Yes, my lady,¡± the general bowed his head with a curt. ¡°But I haven¡¯t heard anything after you mentioned ¡®grey eyes.¡¯¡±

    Arkansov said it with such a smooth face that she barked out a laugh. "Asshole."

    ¡°He really does sound like your type. Are you sure you haven¡¯t invited him in?¡± His lips quirked up.

    ¡°And here I thought you were a responsible general, who would worry for his queen¡¯s safety,¡± she heaved a sigh. ¡°When I get back from the market¡ªand I know you haven¡¯t missed a word of what I said,¡± she pointed a finger at him, ¡°get it done.¡±

    ¡°My lady, I wanted to talk to you about... why haven¡¯t you told me about the Shadow¡¯s magic?¡± Clythia was hurrying past him when his words halted her abruptly.

    The tint of mockery had faded from his tone.

    For a moment, Clythia pondered if she wanted to disclose her reasons to him. If she was ready to deal with his reaction after he discovered what it took to keep DavinSaw intact-ish. But another time would do. She had many things to sort out now, and dealing with Arkansov¡¯s tantrum was at the bottom of her list

    "Get it done." Was the only thing she said again, before storming down the spiraling stairs.

    It took her thirty minutes before the mirror to flatten her unyielding hair with a copious amount of gel, put it in a bun, and drape over it a yellow thawb with a headband of emerald stones¡ªa sign of a wealthy merchant. She changed her silver dress for a black tunic and leather pants.

    With a flick of her fingers, her brown eyes turned green, her lips became fuller, her skin a bit darker, and her rear more rounded. With a hum of approval at the reflection of the woman before her, she left.

    No one stopped her or asked for her identity as she spiraled down to the castle grounds, past the gardens, and emerged into the vibrant capital city. The magic she wielded made her invisible to all residents of the castle and entirely someone else to the outside world. No one would recognize her as their queen.

    The rays of the scorching sun were swallowed by the ominous, black castle behind her¡ªa foreboding presence with spiked turrets and towers. Its dark-glassed domes faintly allowed light to flicker in. Though it wasn¡¯t the highest building in the capital, the elevated ground allowed it to tower over all the other buildings.

    On the other hand, the capital was bustling with people. The wide cobblestones were busy with witches and wizards in chariots and on foot. The houses arrayed on either side of the cobblestone street ranged from quaint dwellings to grand villas and imposing towers¡ªmost with spacious grounds. The taller buildings had spiked roofs or domes like her castle.The crooked houses had adopted darker hues, while others were vivid, glowing under the scorching sun with flowers blooming in their small gardens.

    Clythia took a few turns, leading her through alleys and squares where the business of the city thrived. The breeze made her trek tolerable as it diminished the might of the scorching sun. Here, the buildings were uniform; instead of reflecting personal taste, they were built for convenience. The infirmaries were a bland white, while the inns were painted with colors designed to attract customers, like blue or red. Guards clad in silver armor and purple cloak were stationed at squares and some buildings.

    It didn¡¯t take her long to notice there was almost no one wielding magic. No Eventuating or Diseventuating. No floating of objects or gliding. No summoning or flying. Perhaps it was the change in lifestyle or the usual stress of the day, but the faces she gazed at were aloof and grumpy. She had encountered only some children playing in a hidden alley. The game, Magipond¡ªa challenge of scoring how many bounces one could make without touching, within a limited amount of time, a few inches above their heads. The children¡¯s gleefulness was short-lived as a guard appeared, and they scattered off in all directions.

    Stolen story; please report.

    Finally, she arrived at the biggest market in all of DavinSaw. The Highway Market. Instead of buildings, a never-ending array of vendor booths and canopy tents sprawled on the sandy ground before her. Merchants screeched at the top of their lungs at people making their way through, waving clothes, seasonings, and herbs in their faces. Clythia brushed their outstretched hands off her face as if they were twigs in the forest, ignoring the temptation of the alluring aromas.

    The merchants that blocked paths mostly wore a thawb with rubies as a headband¡ªa sign of a low-status merchant who couldn¡¯t afford an emerald or a diamond. While, the wealthy merchants, adorned with the most precious stones of Zyvern, had wider canopy and never left their tent even if no customer was with them.

    There were more gatherings at the potions and magical items section of the market. There were many "sold out" signs too, with tents that had finished their magical products though the day was still young.

    Clythia was going nowhere in particular. When she was bored and cocooned in the castle, she liked to lose herself in the market, where the heartbeat of DavinSaw bloomed. But now, it wasn¡¯t boredom that drove her feet here, but a sense of overwhelm. She needed to think, and the chaos helped with that.

    Would it be a bad idea to confront the Sovereign? Could she live with the scrap of magic the Shadow was providing? She mumbled an apology as she bumped into an elderly woman.

    A cherry-hued tent, harboring a very long queue, stole her attention. The line was so long that it disappeared between canopy tents to an end her train of sight couldn¡¯t trace.

    Clythia approached a tall man wearing a yellow cloak, gaining scowls from people who thought she was cutting in line.

    ¡°What¡¯s in that tent?¡± She tilted her chin toward it.

    A couple, faces grim and pale, were coming out of it as a man who was next in line disappeared within.

    ¡°A seer,¡± the man whispered, stooping his head towards her.

    ¡°A seer?¡± Clythia was taken aback. ¡°So you are all foolish enough to stand in the blazing sun to be scammed out of your money?¡±

    Those who were within earshot glared at her, annoyed and a bit surprised by the authority in her voice.

    The last recorded seer in DavinSaw was Ilyana, but after the pact with the Sovereign, the gift had never manifested in anyone. There had been no seer in DavinSaw for the past two hundred millennia unless...

    ¡°You can find out if you want,¡± he said, his eastern accent from Melop discernible. ¡°The seer told my neighbor he would die after two weeks, and he did.¡±

    ¡°My sister married a handsome man last week because the seer told her they were fated together,¡± came a soft voice from behind the man. The woman was a plump and short merchant, clad with ruby headband. ¡°He was like one of the princes you read about in fairy tales, perfect in every possible way. Handsome and rich. We had such a grand wedding,¡± she said wistfully.

    ¡°And how long has this been going on?¡± Clythia glared at the tent¡ªtwo men emerged, one cackling and the other pissed off.

    ¡°A month,¡± the man from Melop said.

    ¡°What?¡± Clythia bellowed. ¡°How? When?¡±

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask the queen?¡± a short man with a hoarse voice said, gaining a few sniggers. ¡°She ruined the land¡¯s magic, changing it for a strange one that¡¯s killing us off one by one. At least knowing our fates is the only good thing coming out of this shit.¡±

    Clythia wanted to barrel her knuckles into the man¡¯s crooked face. She bet he and Lord Kip would make excellent friends if class wasn¡¯t a barrier.

    ¡°It is not the queen¡¯s fault the blight happened in the first place,¡± Clythia said through clenched teeth.

    ¡°But she could have confronted the Sovereign. Instead, she is rolling in her lavish palace, bathing in honey and milk, while the rest of us suffer,¡± another man spat. Some grunted in agreement.

    These wretched, ungrateful people. It took Clythia all the discipline she honed to not snap their necks one by one.

    ¡°People are getting their wishes, at least.¡± The merchant woman was gazing at the red canopy as if her knight in shining armor was there.

    ¡°And omens,¡± the tall man added grimly.

    Clythia ignored the cries of protest as she made her way to the tent. Some stepped out of the queue to block her, but they found themselves on the sandy ground with a precise hit of elbows and knuckles. After a few of them spat red and their noses bled, no one dared to stop her.

    Clythia barged into the tent. A woman with auburn hair snapped her attention towards her, first shocked, then angry.

    ¡°Get out. It is my turn,¡± she yelled at Clythia, her red dress swaying as she scrambled to her feet.

    Clythia¡¯s attention shifted past the woman¡¯s shoulders to another figure sitting still, like a statue. Her skin was as white as paper, so much so that it would put Morven¡¯s countenance in the full-of-life section. Her shoulder bones jutted out, and the terrain of her ribcage was visible beneath the white garment, complementing her ghostly skin. Dark circles as deep as charcoal surrounded her eyes. The hair at the back of Clythia rose as those eyes rolled up to meet hers.

    ¡°Off you go.¡± The woman in red was waving her arms for Clythia to leave, as though she was a pet leaving grime on a tidy floor.

    ¡°Finally, the person I was looking for,¡± came a smooth, melodious voice from the ghostly face.

    The woman in red turned to the seer in disbelief. She opened her mouth to protest, but Clythia quickly said, ¡°If you don¡¯t leave this tent right now, your corpse will.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah?¡± The woman snorted, arms crossed, her auburn hair dancing.

    Then she observed the dried blood on Clythia¡¯s knuckles¡ªshe flinched, and scuttled out of the tent without looking back.

    ¡°Sit,¡± the seer stretched a bony hand towards the chair.

    Clythia settled herself warily. ¡°So, seer, let¡¯s hear it. I heard you¡¯re the buzz in town.¡±

    The seer¡¯s shoulders shook as she snickered. It was a miracle her bones didn¡¯t snap. ¡°I am flattered by the attention, but I am only here until I have served you, my collared queen.¡±

    A nauseating dread settled low in Clythia¡¯s stomach. She leaned back against the back of the seat. Not only did she know her concealed identity, but she had referred to her as¡ª

    ¡°Collared?¡±

    The seer¡¯s chin twisted, her neck still. ¡°Are you not collared with the Shadow? Didn¡¯t you swear your allegiance to a god your ancestors had abandoned?¡±

    ¡°I worship no god,¡± Clythia said. ¡°And I am not collared. My proposition with the Shadow was a give and take.¡±

    But why did that feel like a lie? Why did it feel like the Shadow was getting the upper hand instead of her, gaining the most out of this proposition?

    ¡°Now heed my words before you fall into the wrong hands,¡± the seer hummed.

    Her black eyes went out of focus, as if she was peering through the veil of the spirit world.

    ¡°In land forsaken, dreams awake,

    With the wisest one, a pact was made.

    It swooned the queen to abandon her bed,

    Leaving her land for the flair to take,¡± the seer sang in a beautiful voice.

    Then her eyes came into focus.

    Clythia stared at her for a moment, hoping for elaboration, but the seer went still.

    ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± Clythia felt really dumb.

    ¡°My queen, that¡¯s for you to figure out,¡± said the seer, condescension etching her tone.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe people pay for your shit show.¡± Clythia leapt to her feet, the seer¡¯s eyes following her, unfazed. ¡°That can have like a million meanings.¡±

    ¡°It-t i-is f-for you to f-f-f-find the r-ight one,¡± the seer struggled to form the words. ¡°M-m-y q-q-uest is over.¡±

    A gurgling sound escaped the seer''s throat before she turned into a pile of ash¡ªshowering the table, the chairs and Clythia.

 The son

    Clythia stared at the spot where the seer had been moments ago, now sprinkled on and around her like powdered sugar on bread. She gagged¡ªpushing down the breakfast coated with bile climbing up her throat. With a flick of her wrist, she became pristine; with another, her essence scattered in the fabric of time and space.

    When she reemerged in her bedroom, a deafening boom sounded. Without paying much heed as she transformed into her old self, she bolted out to investigate the source of the ruckus.

    Flying minuscule toy dragons made from wood were whirling in the Grand Hall, zooming in and out, crushing and scorching anything in their paths. Portraits lay on the tiles, half burnt with their glass splintered; the canap¨¦¡¯s fabric melted under the heat, emanating a stinging smell of burnt leather. The air was turning gray, like mist from a cold winter, only warmer. Clythia coughed off the smoke.

    The murky air revealed the red dragon inches away from her. She lurched backward, almost losing her footing. Orange flames danced past her, a mark away from her neck with biting heat¡ªaiming at the statue of the wizard king Eris holding a bow. If the statue had been a shade brighter, the soot would have been visible. But like everything else in the palace, its darkness shone¡ªunflinching, as the angry flames poured out of the dragon and onto its stretched arm and shoulder.

    Servants were scuttling away from and towards the chaos, trying to put the fiery toys under control. Wands were shooting out sparks, and shouts of spells and hexes from the servants elevated it to what felt like a full siege.

    The blue dragon was spitting fire at the banister leading to the first landing when Clythia snapped her fingers, and the fire ceased to dance as if it were captured in a painting, inches away from flaying the handrail. The dragon, along with his fellow troublemakers¡ªred and green¡ªfroze in mid-air.

    The servants craned their necks at Clythia, eyes bulged, and jaws dropped. Guilt and shame splashed across their faces.

    ¡°What in the hell is going on?¡± Anger was seething in her. She had left not more than two hours ago, and already the castle was on its tiptoes. Who would be daft enough to unleash these headaches and trigger her wrath?

    Only one.

    She was so caught up with the meeting and Tiyus that she had forgotten¡ª

    ¡°Clen!¡± Her voice boomed, carrying menace.

    The servants emptied out of the hall in a hurry.

    A dark-haired boy, with full lips and brown eyes, tall¡ªtaller than Clythia had seen him last spring¡ªwaltzed in through the main gates as if he was without fault, whistling¡ªmist swirling around him as he approached. His shoulders were broad, his muscles bunched, and his jawline edged. Year after year, Clen was leaving the soft features of boyhood behind and transforming into the man before her. But he would always be her boy. Despite her rage at the ruckus he caused, her heart warmed at the sight of him.

    She blew out a sigh. ¡°You fucking idiot.¡±

    Clen gave her a broad, mischievous grin, splaying out his arms. Before she could scold him, he wrapped them around her torso, squeezing. His sweet scent of alderwood threatened to open the gates of a river in her eyes. She hugged him back and rapped his head with her knuckle¡ªhe yelped.

    She pulled back. ¡°Fix it.¡±

    Rolling his eyes, Clen waved his hand, and the dragons disappeared into thin air; the mist retreated, and a pure gust washed away the scent of smoke. The portraits and canap¨¦¡¯ returned to their original glory as if someone had rewound them back in time.

    Like Clythia, her son was able to perform magic without the aid of tools such as wands, staffs, or charms. After all, he was the heir of DavinSaw and a powerful wizard. Status in DavinSaw was earned by how much power one possessed; the higher the hierarchy, the greater the power lodged there. It helped that it transferred through generations¡ªthe reason why those at the top, remained at the top.

    Clen was still in his school uniform, a brown cloak with matching breeches and a shirt etched with the Sravask¡¯s badge of three red snakes crisscrossing in a golden chalice.

    ¡°These were my projects for a quiz,¡± he said, reaching into his pocket and revealing the three immobile dragons.

    ¡°That¡¯s no reason to be irresponsible and lose them in the castle,¡± she flicked his nose, gaining another ¡®Ouch¡¯ from him.

    ¡°One day, you are going to be the heir of this kingdom. You need to stop acting like a child. How are you going to rule on the throne if you set the palace on fire?¡± she scolded him. He drooped his eyes to the tiles.

    ¡°Now, get changed and join me for lunch.¡±

    A few minutes after Clythia arrived in the dining hall¡ªnoting the guards arrayed at each corridor and entrance, and the servants busy serving the meal¡ªClen joined her, wearing a green tunic. His flip-flops slapping against the tiles with unnecessary volume, which he could have avoided if he was a compliant kid. But pestering his mother was an entertaining hobby for him. Asshole. She glared at him, but without a glance, he slumped into a seat beside her.

    She was a bit taken aback by the flowing harmony of the servants and guards. They were on their tasks as if they had been waiting their whole lives for this. The general had heeded her orders, it seems. Good. But it wasn¡¯t as good as the dark prince who had served her here, his taut muscles wrapping around the ladle as they had around her¡ª

    Clen snorted. ¡°Who are you thinking about?¡±

    "No one." Clythia said avoiding his eyes, with a new interest for the meal before her. A pork pie with stew, and salads with bread made of teff.

    ¡°Your face says otherwise¡± He grinned. "Is it Hypaxia?¡±

    ¡°What? Ugh,¡± Clythia scoffed. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought about her in ages.¡± That was true, but ¡®ages¡¯ was only one night, and ¡®lover¡¯¡ªTiyus, was not actually her lover... right?

    The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

    He pointed a fork at her. ¡°That look is the same one you had when she wrote you a letter¡ªbefore you read it. Plus, I have a keen sight when it comes to people.¡±

    The precision of her son¡¯s observation unnerved her. Was she that much of an open book?

    Twenty years ago, Hypaxia had written her a letter. Before reading it, Clythia foolishly thought it was to rekindle their relationship, but the soulless goddess stung her heart once more. It was just an apology for giving her false hope and wishing her the best in life. Cruel.

    Clythia huffed, ¡°Keen sight my ass. Why don¡¯t you use this keen sight of yours as a spy? Maybe go to Melop and sniff around with Casarda.¡±

    At the mention of her name, his back stiffened, but in a blink, he retained his carefree poise.

    ¡°What was that?¡± she drawled, with a hint of amusement¡ªpleased she had turned the tables.

    He said nothing, avoiding her eyes and munching his food.

    Clythia hesitated for a moment. Clen was an adolescent turning fifty-seven this year. He was bound to keep secrets of his indulgences, but she needed to know as a responsible mother and to drift off his speculating eyes of her.

    ¡°Are you fooling around with Pelta?¡±

    Clen made a startled, choked sound. ¡°What? Oh gods, no. Fuck no.¡±

    Pelta was the daughter of Casarda, as breathtaking as her mother. Clen and Pelta used to play in the palace gardens as kids, and when they grew up¡ªfor reasons Clythia wasn''t aware of nor cared about¡ªthey became distant.

    "Yeah, that sounds like a yes," Clythia said, enjoying how his neck was turning an embarrassing red.

    His fork clanked on the half-finished plate. "I swear, Mom, nothing is happening between me and Pelta. Stop acting weird."

    Clythia chuckled. "You are the one acting weird."

    "You know what?" Clen lurched to his feet. "I''ve lost my appetite."

    "Sit," Clythia''s voice was commanding.

    Grumbling, he slid back into his seat.

    ¡°Finish.¡± As he hesitated, she said, ¡°I will not repeat myself, Clen. You do not leave before finishing a meal. Stop being defiant and have respect for your culture.¡±

    He returned to his meal with less vigor.

    ¡°Now stop pouting and tell me about school,¡± The edge in Clythia''s voice softened.

    She had missed him so much. The palace felt hollow without his presence. The sun that poured in through the stained glass seemed brighter, as if heralding the gem in her life. Clen.

    Her son whirled to face her with new fire in his eyes. ¡°Do you know that Nik killed Lon because he was cheating with Mari? She claimed she was bewitched by a love spell¡ªof course, no one bought it but dumb Nik. So, he did nothing to her. And now we have a new Sorcery History teacher, and he is the most boring teacher I have ever met. I mean, history by itself is boring, and when he teaches, you could find yourself asleep in a grave, and not even Ilyana would wake you.¡±

    Clythia snickered. ¡°Poor Lon, he and Mari were a thing even in my day.¡± Clen gasped dramatically. ¡°Oh yeah, she was in Wigmond and he was in Sravask, and they used to sneak out of school to meet. I always wondered how she ended up with Nik in the first place. I thought love would triumph over fortune¡ªwhen I was young.¡±

    Clen stared at her. ¡°What changed your mind?¡±

    ¡°Age,¡± she said, without elaborating any further, and Clen didn¡¯t press her.

    Then he went on and on about his time in Sravask: about the blossoming romances, the fights that broke out, the mean teachers and the kind ones, and about the pranks he pulled on one of them, which made Clythia laugh at first, then take on the gait of a responsible mother and scold him for it. Even after the table was cleared, they were chatting like old friends who had met after a long time, catching up on what she had missed in his life.

    ¡°What about you, Mom? What¡¯s new? I have heard the magic has changed now. No one in school was affected yet, but the city was in chaos for a while.¡±

    "First show me your grades." The light faded from his face. "I expect better from last year. If those muscles of yours aren''t proof of your Weaponry marks, I will kill you."

    Out of thin air, a blue-black scroll appeared on the table, tied with a red ribbon.

    "The real one." Clythia said with a bone-chilling tone, glaring at him.

    He blew out a sigh, and the first scroll vanished as another materialized in its place. It was the same as the former for the naked eye, but the magical luster was visible to advanced witches or wizards like Clythia, marking it as the authentic copy.

    She tugged the ribbon and the scroll splayed open.

    Sravask Military Academy

    Name: Clen Hoverlow

    Status: Heir of Ilyana''s seat and DavinSaw

    Class Year: seventeen

    Subjects**************************************Score

    Elemental magic----------------------------------455/500

    Sorcery History------------------------------------357/500

    ¡°357!¡± Clythia snapped her head towards Clen. ¡°You are the prince of DavinSaw. You are supposed to know everything about sorcery. Do you have any idea how Sorcery History could be as important as every other subject you are taking?¡±

    Clen opened his mouth, but a raise of her palm sealed it shut.

    ¡°I don¡¯t care if your teacher drags you to an eternal slumber. You don¡¯t need a teacher to study! Back in my day, we didn¡¯t care if a teacher did their job or not. We studied hard enough with little or no help. It¡¯s a military academy, for fuck¡¯s sake¡ªyou can¡¯t expect to be spoon-fed!¡±

    Clen was looking everywhere but at his mother.

    Weaponry---------------------------------------------475/500

    She grunted in approval, her rage dying down as quickly as it came. ¡°You¡¯ve improved your weaponry skills. Good. I won¡¯t be going easy on you then.¡±

    ¡°Going easy?" Clen gasped. "You almost killed me last time. Your spear was inside my arm.¡±

    ¡°It would have been inside your heart.¡± Clythia said without looking up at him.

    Clen mumbled something like ¡®being the son of a cruel hag.¡¯

    Alchemy-----------------------------------------------498/500

    Her brows rose at her son. ¡°I¡¯m not surprised, given your affinity for blowing things up. I can¡¯t believe you are old enough to take this class now.¡±

    It felt like yesterday when Clen was a boy, forming his first words and steps, playing in the mud¡ªhis princely status discarded, and starting school at the age of ten, crying to be anywhere but there, as though it were a torture chamber.

    Tinkering and Innovation-----------------------------469/500

    Bead Magic--------------------------------------450/500

    Advanced J.H.N----------------------------------------320/500

    ¡°I can explain,¡± Clen said abruptly, fidgeting under her fiery gaze, before she could say anything.

    But the ember of her rage didn¡¯t last long. As if someone had doused her with cool water, she became void of emotion. She blinked; a strong scent of brimstone invaded her nose.

    Nothing mattered.

    No one mattered.

    And she was just a feather floating over the ocean of the universe.

    She began to drift away from her seat¡ªaway from the ground¡¯s gravity and towards the skies. The dining hall bled away into an inky canvas with stars drizzled on it. She was hurtling towards something essential, and the stars became whirls of rays against dark smoke.

    With a loud thud, her feet were planted on a meadow, like a cat thrown from a height.

    A wolf the size of a two-story building towered before her. His lightning-blue eyes were peering at her. His fur was as dark as the sky, swaying with the cool breeze wafting through the meadow.

    Then her memories returned to her fickle mind, as if she was jerked out of a deep slumber. Clythia was still sitting in the dining hall¡ªat least her physical body was. Clen probably freaked out by her frozen demeanour.

    Out of all subjects, how could he possibly be getting a low score in Advanced Jinxes, Hexes and Necromancy? What kind of leader would he be if he couldn¡¯t curse his enemies properly or raise skeletons to fight his battles? He should be ready by all means necessary. The golden age of Zyvern was coming to an end.

    The wolf groaned. That snapped her out of her thoughts and directed her annoyance at the distraction.

    Prime Glythia.

    King of Makefort and werewolves.

 The plea

    ¡°Tell me why I shouldn¡¯t burn Makefort to the ground for the fucking stunt you just pulled?¡± Clythia¡¯s voice in the astral plane didn¡¯t carry the same menace as it should have; it was soft, its vibration like a peaceful stream.

    Wait, how did she know it was the astral plane? She had never been here before, nor was she aware that such a plane existed. But somehow, the knowledge felt like recalling her name.

    ¡°No need for the threat. Makefort is already collapsing on itself,¡± the wolf replied, his eyes like those of a wounded dog. ¡°I deeply apologize for what I just did, but I need your help, Witch Queen. I have heard that DavinSaw, Nadir, and Zalax are the ones who have found a solution, and my kingdom needs this right now.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t fucking care,¡± said Clythia.

    The wolf¡¯s expression didn¡¯t falter; he was still, staring down at her with soft eyes.

    ¡°You have just committed a huge violation of privacy. This might be normal for you dogs, but snatching my spirit out of my body because you felt like it¡ªthat¡¯s fucking unnerving. How can you do that? I never knew you could do that. Is it a wolf thing? And you have the audacity to ask for my help? You know you can send a letter like the last time.¡±

    ¡°Like the one I sent you hoping you would share my concern. Like the one you read and ignored, disregarding my warning about the blight in front of every other leader in Zyvern. That¡¯s the reason why you¡¯re in this exact mess. It¡¯s your fucking fault your kingdom is screwed, Glythia.¡±

    ¡°Yes, it is my fault. I let this happen,¡± the wolf¡¯s chin dipped, lowering his eyes to the swaying grass. ¡°I thought this blight was just a fluke that would pass. And now, I am paying for it gravely. My kingdom is suffering because of it, and that¡¯s why I came to you. You had expected me to be at your side during the meeting, and I didn¡¯t comply. But please, I wouldn¡¯t have invaded you in such a manner if it weren¡¯t necessary. I couldn¡¯t send a letter because it would take weeks for it to reach DavinSaw. I don¡¯t have the luxury of that amount of time. I had to contact you here¡ªthe fastest way.¡± His gaze fixed on her. ¡°And yes, it¡¯s a wolf thing.¡±

    Between his furry paws, a silver bracelet appeared. ¡°Take this. It will help protect you from any mind intrusion. Including me.¡±

    Clythia lowered herself, her eyes still on the wolf, and picked it up.

    The bracelet featured beads designed as a wolf and a crescent. ¡°And why should I believe you?¡±

    "Before the blight how often did we met?"

    "Every fifteen years."

    ¡°Yes, not even our fathers and our father¡¯s fathers met beyond the obligation of the Tithe. But how many things have changed since the blight? Changes we are incapable of controlling?¡±

    The werewolf king was right. Forget the notion of  ¡°since the blight.¡± What Clythia had encountered in the last forty-eight hours amounted to more unwarranted adventure than her entire lifetime. Perhaps the Final Tribulation could come close to that, but even then, she knew what the challenges were.

    Within the span of two days, she had an emergency meeting with the lords and ladies of DavinSaw about the unprecedented consequences of Shadow¡¯s magic. That night, she met Tiyus¡ªwhich she had now started to believe might be a fabric of her imagination, given the shock and all. Then came the seer; she didn¡¯t know what to make of her yet. She blabbered something about a queen who left her bed for a pact with the wise and scattered on her face like a torn sack. And now Glythia had introduced her to ''astral plane kidnapping¡¯ in the most unnerving way possible.

    But the king of Makefort and the werewolves, the Prime, was begging her for help despite his methods¡ªan unbecoming deed for any Zyvern ruler.

    ¡°You owe me, Glythia. If I share this knowledge with you, I will ask you for a favor one day, and you won¡¯t back away from it,¡± she said.

    ¡°What will you ask of me?¡± The wolf shifted his paws and the grass beneath rustled.

    Clythia did everything in her power not to flinch at the slight movement. She was so small before him; he could crush her if he wanted to. Could she even die in the astral plane? She hoped their conversation wouldn¡¯t lead to that.

    ¡°Things are changing for Zyvern. There might come a time when I could need to pull a favor. Need.¡± She sighed. ¡°Need will be the new factor for all of us, and I might need something from you, something important.¡±

    The wolf said nothing.

    ¡°Take it or leave it, Glythia. You need my help, strike a bargain you won¡¯t back away from.¡±

    The wolf¡¯s nostrils flared, and a gust of wind rushed out, fluttering her hair. For a moment, Clythia dreaded he was about to squash her, but then she realized the monumental beast was just sighing, contemplating her offer.

    ¡°You have my utmost loyalty, Witch Queen. I hope it won¡¯t be as expensive as one¡¯s dignity.¡±

    She snorted, crossing her arms. ¡°No wonder your kingdom is in shambles. What is dignity before your crown? Isn¡¯t it just a twisted form of ego? The price to keep your kingdom safe is steep, Wolf, and its consequences are great.¡±

    ¡°That is a way to lose one¡¯s self. You can¡¯t lead a kingdom without setting boundaries,¡± the wolf¡¯s expression hardened.

    ¡°My boundary is my kingdom, and I will do anything for it,¡± Clythia chuckled. His condescension, coated with an idealistic train of thought, should have annoyed her, but why would it? Soon, his conscience would be tortured¡ªforced to choose between sacrifice and the destruction of his kingdom... that would be an interesting sight to behold.

    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

    ¡°We will see how long your smugness will last,¡± she grinned, cocking her head. ¡°I made a sacrifice to The Shadow. It is a mag¡ª¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t,¡± the werewolf sneered, revealing his blinding white teeth.

    ¡°Oh, so you do know of it. Then why are you here?¡±

    ¡°For the hope of the right cure and the Shadow is not it." His sneer elevated to a growl, the sharp fangs gleaming with saliva. "Everyone in my kingdom knows it. It is whispered in our fairy tales, to scares naughty kids into doing what they are told. The Shadow is the demon, the darkness, and the villain of our stories. And you have succumbed your land and your kingdom to it?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I did. And get your smelly breath off my face,¡± she said, swatting the air between them. His breath didn¡¯t actually smell; it was merely an excuse to deflect her anxiety. If those teeth sunk into her...

    ¡°I want no part of this price.¡±

    ¡°Then what are you going to do? There will be no kingdom for you to rule without the Sovereign¡¯s magic. Your land will decay,¡± she warned.

    The canine¡¯s mouth closed.

    ¡°You will be responsible for the loss of millions of lives. So, are you saying your ¡®dignity¡¯ is worth all those lives? Are you that selfish, Glythia?¡±

    The wolf went still for a moment, blue eyes intense on her.

    ¡°I will confront the Sovereign.¡±

    ¡°You can¡¯t possibly be daft enough to barge into Stormia alone when your kingdom needs you the most. Do you think I would have called for an emergency meeting if I could do it alone, least of all with you people?¡± His ears perked up. ¡°No offense, but the Sovereign won¡¯t be pleased by your intrusion, and Stormia is the most dangerous continent.¡±

    ¡°If my memory serves me well,¡± his snout zoomed towards her, filling her field of vision, ¡°the Shadow¡¯s magic has its own limitations. My kingdom¡¯s infrastructure is constructed by magic; without it, it will turn to ruins. And to stay sane, the Shadow had to be wielded only three times a day, did it not? Unless that was only a myth.¡±

    Clythia¡¯s silence was his confirmation.

    ¡°My kingdom needs a steady supply of magic to remain as it is, and if I use the Shadow¡¯s magic continuously, I will lose its inhabitants, and only the land will remain standing. And if I don¡¯t use it, the land will be in ruins.¡±

    A musical chuckle left Clythia¡¯s throat. ¡°And here I thought it was because of decency. You might think you are better than us, Glythia, but at the end of the day, you are only doing what¡¯s best for your kingdom. At least I got a deal out of this mishap, while you wasted your time.¡±

    Disappointment splattered on the wolf¡¯s features.

    ¡°I am curious though,¡± she said, ¡°what does the Shadow demand in Makefort?¡±

    ¡°No one knows until they gain an audience with it.¡±

    That made sense. The Shadow was a sentient entity. In DavinSaw, it had its reasons for the sacrifice of the Children of the Forest. It was because of a feud they had a long time ago, even before the current settlers of Zyvern, before the seven kingdoms, before the Sovereign. The Shadow was distantly related to the Children of the Forest, and the mystery shrouding their feud was a family secret even Ilyana wasn''t aware of.

    ¡°Well, I wish you all the best of luck in your endeavors,¡± Clythia said with a clap. ¡°To die a quick death and not an agonizing one in Stormia.¡±

    ¡°You will come to regret your choice, Witch Queen.¡±

    Then his blue eyes shut tightly.

    Clythia began to fall away, the scent of brimstone filling her nose, her surroundings bleeding into a painting of shooting stars in a dark night. The dark pages turned, revealing the dining hall, her spirit racing towards her body before she could make out the two blurs in the room.

    She inhaled deeply, as though she had been underwater for a while, her lungs burning for air they had been denied. Her eyes bulged open.

    Clen was on his feet, joined by Arkansov. Their countenances were pale with shock.

    ¡°My lady, are you alright?¡± Arkansov scuttled forward, the sun pouring through the stained glass sparkling on his gold armor.

    ¡°Mom, what happened?¡± Clen asked, his tone filled with dread.

    Once her breath had steadied enough for her to form the words, she assured them she was fine.

    They stared at her in silence, Clen settling back in his seat.

    ¡°It was the Prime. Apparently, he has the power to contact¡ªmore like kidnap¡ªyour spirit.¡± Then, remembering, she opened her palms; the silver bracelet was there. It was impressive that objects could be transported from the astral plane, but it also confirmed her concern that death in the astral plane was as permanent as a physical one.

    She clasped it around her wrist. ¡°He wanted to know if there was a way to stop the blight. But he already knew about the Shadow.¡±

    ¡°The Shadow?¡± Clen asked, but Clythia was staring at the general who had been pondering it for a while until he found the courage to ask about it this morning.

    But more than for the general, she was going to explain for her son. For the prince who would take the throne one day. For the future king of DavinSaw. He needed to know what it would take for him to rule a vast continent with a whopping millions of people.

    She began to recount, not sparing a detail about her failed magic and the Tome. Then, she delved into the lore of the Children of the Forest in Dadigon, followed by the Shadow. Its reign before the current era. When she reached the part about the sacrifice, her son¡¯s face blanched. He was staring at his mother as if seeing her for the first time. A new creature with the wings of a demon. Arkansov was shaking his head, restraining himself from interrupting.

    ¡°...So that¡¯s the reason why DavinSaw isn¡¯t collapsing on itself.¡±

    A silence rippled in the dining hall. No one moved. No one blinked. The flabbergasted looks on her son and the general lasted for a while before the general broke the silence.

    ¡°You killed a boy? A child?¡± The general¡¯s voice was a whimper.

    ¡°I did.¡±

    Why was everyone making such a big deal about the sacrifice? She had felt a tinge of guilt for her action, but it wouldn¡¯t have been a sacrifice if she hadn¡¯t. Besides, it was a cruel humor of fate. It shouldn¡¯t have mattered; any Child of the Forest would do. ¡°Child¡± was just a general term for the mysterious race residing in Dadigon. But, unfortunately, an innocent boy waltzed into the trap, marking him as a martyr of DavinSaw.

    ¡°You are a mother yourself. How could you slaughter a child and admit it before your own son?¡± The general furrowed his brows.

    ¡°Have you ever eaten beef, Arkansov?¡± Her voice was calm.

    ¡°What does that have to do with¡ª¡±

    ¡°Answer me,¡± she snapped.

    ¡°Yes, I have.¡±

    ¡°The beef you ate was a child of a bull and a cow. But it ended up in your belly. A far more selfish reason to end a life than saving a kingdom.¡± Clythia began rapping her fingernails on the table, the sound reverberating through the hollow room.

    Clen¡¯s gaze dragged from her face to her nails.

    "Anyone can be the beef before its hunter." She said holding Clen''s gaze. "I could be the cow and you could be the calf. It won''t matter in the eye of the monster. I hope the analogy didn''t offend you, son."

    The whites of Clen¡¯s eyes glistened. ¡°So, Mother, where is the bull?¡±

    Clythia was taken aback, her brows lifting. Not in a million years had she expected Clen to inquire about his father after thirty years, the time he had dropped the question completely¡ªor so she thought. It was a topic she had avoided since he became aware of what a father was and questioned his whereabouts, saddened by the fact he didn¡¯t have a father to give him presents like the other kids did.

    Clythia had only planned to reveal his whereabouts when he was older, when he could muster the truth, when he was ready. But now, ready or not, he was old enough to fathom.

    ¡°The cow slaughtered the bull and blamed it on another bull, who became beef the very next day. The best day for the cow... One stone, two bulls.¡±

 The duel

    ¡°It was you who killed Din?¡± The general took a step back, stunned. ¡°Adik didn¡¯t kill him, did he? He was never jealous of your marriage with Din. He was the scapegoat.¡±

    ¡°Din¡ªmy father.¡± Clen¡¯s voice quivered.

    After a moment, as if cracking out of a shell, Clen¡¯s expression went cold.

    ¡°You killed my father,¡± his voice came in a growl that belonged to a beast before it pounced on its prey.

    A vein bulged on his temple¡ªlike Din when ire swallowed him whole and glasses burst forth to shower Clythia, her skin marred with a red net as the shards found shelter on her face, and neck, and arms.

    She shouldn¡¯t think like that. Clen was nothing like his father. He was sweet and kind. This anger was only momentary; he would get over it once she made him see the reason behind her deed.

    ¡°Clen, I didn¡¯t have a choice. I needed to protect myself. And I needed to protect you,¡± her tone etched with boredom, despite the dread coiling in her gut.

    ¡°You are a soulless monster!¡± Clen lurched to his feet as his seat tipped over with a thud, revealing the tremor in his bulky body, the smooth expression cracking as crimson flashed on his neck and face, more veins bulging, palm fisted.

    Well, there was a first time for everything, and this was the first time she witnessed her son swelling with a torrent of fire. Even annoyed, he had always brushed things off, never affected for longer than a minute. She was the dancing fire, and he was the splash of winter. Sometimes, even his teases went beyond smoldering her rage and ended up putting a smile on her face.

    But what would happen if a fire met another of its kind? She was about to find out. Part of her was proud to discover this side of Clen; fury was good, it was an instinct for survival and leadership. There was still hope that he would make a fine king after all.

    ¡°I am fatherless because you wanted all the power of the throne for yourself,¡± he pointed a finger at her. ¡°You never wanted to share the glory. All heads must bow to you, right? The presence of a man at your side will jeopardize that; it will make you invisible, so why would you? Get rid of him. Problem solved!¡±

    The edge of a servant¡¯s yellow garment flashed at the gate before disappearing with a whoosh that belonged to a run.

    Clythia darted a warning look at the general. Despite the stun splashed on his face, he ambled out to deal with the eavesdropper.

    ¡°That was never my intention, son,¡± Clythia said, as the general closed the door behind himself, leaving the two alone. ¡°I murdered your father to protect you.¡±

    A hysterical howl left Clen¡¯s throat as he shook his head. ¡°Do you even hear yourself? Who would say ¡®protect¡¯ and ¡®murder¡¯ in the same sentence?¡± His gaze stilled on her.

    ¡°Why the fuck do you even care? He had never been in your life¡ªlike, ever. I am the one who raised you, who fed and clothed you, and wiped your ass!¡± Clythia rested her palms on her waist.

    "I. Hate. You." He seethed. "I fucking hate you!"

    ¡°Hate me all you want, Clen,¡± she blared, matching his tone. ¡°But I don¡¯t regret what I did to Din.¡±

    ¡°Like you don¡¯t regret what you did to the innocent child? Like you don¡¯t regret never telling his guardians that you gutted him like a lamb? Like you don¡¯t regret asking for zero fucking consent to do so? Like you don¡¯t regret sneaking away like a coward after the deed was done? Of course, Mom, I believe you. You never regret your actions. I¡¯m happy to see you for the monster that you are, finally. And I want no part with you.¡±

    Clen turned, aiming for the gate, and snatched his grade report from the table, scrunching it.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you dare walk away from me,¡± Clythia grabbed his wrist. ¡°You don¡¯t understand what Din was. He would never have been a kind father to you. You are right; I am a monster. But isn¡¯t it better to live with one than with two? With the one who would truly care for you?¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the point?¡± He craned his neck to her, with a grin that didn¡¯t reach his cold eyes. ¡°At the end of the day, a hug from a monster or its throttle is the same. Despite its motivation, despite the justification, or affection, whatever reason it can give, its hug would crush bones to dust like grain in a sack as much as its choke does.¡± He leaned toward her nose, his hazel eyes burning with hatred. ¡°No one wants to befriend a monster, let alone be parented by one.¡±

    Clythia¡¯s grip went limp. A lump surged down her throat, settling in her gut. Her eyes stung, and a tear trickled down her right cheek.

    She had never cried when glasses tore her body¡ªnever cried when she trekked up the highest mountain, dueled with ten foes, or limped with pain after a spear entrenched in her leg during the Final Tribulation.

    Her efforts of fifty-seven years, hurled back at her face, seemed to do the trick. She wished for the ground to swallow her whole and end her existence right there.

    Her son didn¡¯t look back as he stormed towards the gate.

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    He might have been done with her, but she wasn¡¯t done with him.

    She summoned a dagger to her palm and, with precision, darted it towards Clen¡¯s exposed neck. He was a step away from the gate when he whirled around and caught the tip of the blade between two fingers, red liquid trickling down his thumb.

    His brows shot up. But before he could say anything, she bolted towards him.

    ¡°You don¡¯t fucking walk away from a monster exposing your back,¡± she seethed, clenching her teeth. ¡°If you aren¡¯t willing to hear me out, then fucking fight me like a warrior. Kill me if you have to!¡±

    He flinched, but before Clythia feared he would back down from the challenge, his expression was doused with fury again. He tossed the blade aside, eliciting a clunk when it met the marble tile.

    Then he settled his grade report back on the table.

    Good.

    Scrunching it was one thing, though he would pay for that later. But if he had tossed it too, may Ilyana have mercy on him, he would have been a dead man. Guaranteed.

    As Clen¡¯s fingers wrapped around her arm, blackness enveloped her, and they reemerged in the Dueling Hall.

    The Dueling Hall was a dome-shaped room with an exposed ceiling to the sky. Swords, spears, javelins, katanas, arrows, axes, and maces decorated its ebony walls, held in place by nothing but the gust of magic. They gleamed silver as the sun poured into the room. The floor was a merciless tile on which one could crack a neck if one slipped the wrong way.

    Clen grabbed a sword, hoisting it up, his arm muscles bulging, revealing veins protruding behind his dark skin.

    Clythia clutched a katana, its handle made of wood, offering a lightweight experience with a deadly edge that sparkled against the sun.

    As soon as the katana was in her hands, Clen was onto her. He threw his whole body at her, his sword slicing through the air, met halfway by her blade as muscle memory kicked in.

    For a few minutes or so, they danced around. Clen was grunting as he poured his hate into the blade he wielded, throwing all his weight into the blows he meted out, giving her the advantage to use his momentum against him.

    ¡°Your rage is getting the better of you, Clen,¡± Clythia said as she swatted his blade away from her face, making him stagger back. ¡°Throw your momentum only when you deliver the final blow, to make it more dramatic. Or do it only if your opponent is too strong and you are desperate to end them.¡±

    He didn¡¯t say anything. He came at her from all directions, but she easily blocked his attacks with a dancer¡¯s grace, further irking him as he observed her effortless defense.

    Clen¡¯s skin was glistening and flushed. The heat from the scorching sun and the swaying of her body were drenching her in sweat too.

    ¡°Why did you kill him?¡± He grunted, his voice quivering, his blade stilled above her face, propped by her katana.

    She swung away his sword, and they began circling each other like wolves ready to pounce. ¡°Because he was a fucking asshole who never liked to be challenged and instead enjoyed silencing anyone who opposed him.¡±

    Then she sprang, giving Clen the impression she was aiming for his head, but at the last minute, she swept him off his feet. He landed on his back with a thump, a muffled grunt escaping his throat.

    She didn¡¯t give him a second to breathe as her katana aimed at his head¡ªhe rolled away, and the blade sliced the air with a whooshing sound. He whirled to meet her blade with his.

    ¡°Was that a good enough reason to murder him?¡± His breath was labored, his chest rising and falling rapidly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know, you tell me,¡± she said.

    Their blades resumed their dance, holding back the killing blow as it was time to hear each other out¡ªa tradition they have maintained since Clen was old enough to fight.

    ¡°We started courting when your grandfather, Lord Lupis, and your other grandfather, King Dayona Hoverlow, saw the bonding between the two families as a way to strengthen Ilyana¡¯s seat,¡± her voice came accompanied by the clashing sounds of the blades.

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°The Lupises are the most powerful arcane family in DavinSaw after ours, the Hoverlows. Connect the dots.¡± She caught him off guard as she ducked under the slice of his sword and jabbed him in the waist with her elbow, staggering him forward.

    As her blade sliced to meet his back, he whirled and blocked it.

    ¡°So your father, Din, and I started courting. It wasn¡¯t bad at first. He did all the romantic stuff men do. He even ordered a diamond throne from Hypercas for me.¡±

    Clen¡¯s brows shot up, his attention still focused on her katana. ¡°The one in the throne room?¡±

    ¡°The very same,¡± she grunted. ¡°But things started going downhill once we tied the knot. Your father never liked his opinions to be challenged. He never lost an argument without behaving like a buffoon.¡±

    She swung her katana with a clean sweep, landing in a lunging position as he blocked it with a defensive poise. He did it better than last year. She gave him a curt nod of approval.

    ¡°He disliked it when I challenged his opinions. When I pointed out the architectural mistakes in Melop¡¯s fort and suggested reconstruction, he shot down my concern. And if it weren¡¯t for the guards, people could have died when it collapsed.¡±

    Their movements stilled once again, their blades crisscrossing.

    ¡°When I suggested that Jin was better fitted to be a Lord to rule Aryan instead of Lord Kip, he took that as an attempt of mine to cheat with my former suitor. Though we only spent one night with Jin in Wigmond¡ªan awful one at that¡ªno skill¡ªand my suggestion was purely political.¡±

    That last detail about Jin evaporated all focus from her son¡¯s face. She swept his feet from under him with such force that his back hit the ground with a thud. ¡°That is a jarringly unnecessary detail I want to erase from my memory,¡± he grunted.

    ¡°Second lesson,¡± she said, stretching out her arm to propel him to his feet. ¡°Don¡¯t be distracted by your opponent¡¯s words. Your opponent will do anything to distract and kill you before your next blink. Your emotions are always on your face, Clen. You¡¯re an open book; it¡¯s easy for your opponent to predict your next move.¡±

    ¡°You sound like my Weaponry teacher.¡±

    Their blades began swaying with smooth motion once more.

    ¡°Then listen to him instead of pulling a prank,¡± she said. ¡°Where was I¡ªoh yes¡ªso, like I feared, Melop¡¯s fort collapsed. If it wasn¡¯t for the guards, many people would have died. He was furious at me and blamed me for using magic to bring the fort down. Can you believe that?¡± She cackled, while Clen¡¯s breath came raggedly and his balance faltered as she attacked him with the hilt of her katana.

    ¡°So, like a madman, he struck me. He kept on striking me with his bare hands like a low-life human until I was wheezing, blood gushing out of my nose and mouth,¡±

    The force of her blow increased, Clen¡¯s face unable to decide if it should remain alert, shocked, or both.

    ¡°Until my eyes were so swollen that opening my eyelids was an agonizing torture. He blamed me for using magic to bring down the fort just to prove a point. And he killed Jin in the name of disobeying the prince. The general doesn¡¯t know, so keep this a secret.¡±

    Jin had been Arkansov¡¯s most favored lieutenant. To this day, the general compared the other soldiers to Jin. When they slacked on their duty, Jin¡¯s competence was his card to shame them.

    ¡°Why haven¡¯t you killed him sooner? It¡¯s not like you to be patient.¡± Clen was busy blocking, brows furrowed¡ªshe wasn¡¯t backing down for him to mull over her revelation.

    ¡°Then miss the opportunity to bear an offspring who will be the most powerful king of DavinSaw? I think not.¡± Her motions became swifter, and thankfully, Clen matched her rhythm.

    ¡°You must understand that protecting the royal seat and the continent is a duty that comes above all. I might sit on the throne, but I do so only to serve the land. I bore the pain your father caused for the same reason, I killed him once I knew I was pregnant with you for the same reason, I swore allegiance to the Shadow for the same reason. That¡¯s what it takes to be a responsible leader, sacrificing yourself for it all. And even choosing one innocent life for the rest to breathe clean air won¡¯t be off the table. Nothing is as black and white as you would wish it to be, Crown Prince.¡±

    Then they began circling each other, Clen with less vigor, his breath coming raggedly.

    His fury had completely ebbed away.

 The slaver

    ¡°I am sorry, I didn¡¯t mean what I said about your parenting,¡± Clen said as they trudged out of the Dueling Hall.

    They were at each other¡¯s throats until their frustration was drenched with exhaustion, and they both called it quits.

    Clythia¡¯s panic had sparked when she realized she had lost count of how many times she had wielded magic. If Casarda¡¯s notion was true, nothing would happen to her until all others were affected, but she decided not to tempt fate. Thus, besides chastising herself, she had warned Clen not to use magic for the remainder of the day, despite his grumbles.

    ¡°I am glad to see the fire in you,¡± Clythia said. ¡°Though, I am a bit disappointed that the death of your father is what brought it forth.¡±

    Before Clen could respond, General Arkansov met them at the top of the second landing. Behind him, a state room¡¯s door was ajar, revealing canvases and lavish seats with paintbrushes arrayed neatly.

    ¡°No one dead, yet,¡± Arkansov¡¯s brow perked up, his tone wary. ¡°Good.¡±

    But Clythia¡¯s attention had drifted past his broad shoulders to the room. A glimpse of long auburn hair, captured with stunning hue and texture on a canvas, was peering through.

    Clythia strolled past the General and into the room. The painting portrayed a very young girl with auburn hair fluttering in the supposed wind, gold eyes filled with sharp sapphire tears, clutching a wooden toy, with children playing in mud behind her.

    And those honeyed eyes seemed to echo loneliness and yearned protection and screamed helplessness. Her clothes were neat white but despite her vibrant background the child had succumbed to despair.

    It was surprisingly lifelike, so much so that it didn¡¯t feel like a painting but rather a girl frozen in time and captured in a frame. Clythia traced the edges and curves of the girl¡¯s eyes, nose, and shoulders, igniting a mellowness within her.

    ¡°It is beautiful,¡± her tone reflected the cathartic feeling swelling in her. ¡°Who has such talent?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s one of the servants,¡± came the General¡¯s voice from behind. Clythia, still mesmerized, didn¡¯t drift her eyes off the painting. ¡°She¡¯s friends with my daughter and she gifted her a beautiful portrait on her birthday. I was so stricken by her talent that I asked the seneschal¡¯s permission for the servant to use this room.¡±

    ¡°You did well.¡± She faced the General. ¡°Wait, your daughter is friends with a servant?¡± The General gave her an I-believe-so shrug. ¡°And now I¡¯m more intrigued to meet this person, but for now, I am exhausted.¡±

    Clen was gazing at a painting of a bow and arrow shooting down on Zyvern¡ªa blue ball interrupted by greenery, portraying islands and continents. Zalax was the smallest at the north, and below it was DavinSaw, the largest. To its right, Makefort and Surial were rendered with accurate precision. On the southeast, Nadir was painted, and on the northwest, below DavinSaw, Elfive was depicted. The foreboding Stormia was underneath them, acting as a god supervising from below¡ªthe only land hued chalky.

    ¡°The servant drew this too?¡± Clythia approached the painting.

    ¡°No one else is as talented as Afia in this castle,¡± said the General. ¡°Or anywhere, if I¡¯m being truthful.¡±

    ¡°Afia,¡± the name rolled off her tongue, coated with curiosity. ¡°Only a gifted artist can portray like this, and a knowledgeable one,¡± she trailed off, her chin tilted. ¡°And one could wonder how a servant came to have both.¡±

    But her fatigued limbs were screaming for an ounce of rest for her to summon the servant right then.

    She turned to Clen. ¡°If you make any ruckus while I¡¯m sleeping, you won¡¯t have fingers to do your dirty work anymore.¡±

    Clen wasn¡¯t listening, his false grunt confirming it. She didn¡¯t bother to repeat herself, so she stepped out, the general falling into step beside her.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t return to give you two space,¡± he said. ¡°And I¡¯ve dealt with the eavesdropper with a memory potion. Is everything back to normal?¡±

    ¡°As normal as it can be for Hoverlows,¡± she shrugged.

    The general remained quiet; it was clear he had held back all the gnawing questions about the assassinated former prince, simmering within him until Clythia had at least rested.

    <hr>

    Clythia was half-awake, thanks to her rumbling belly after a dreamless slumber. It must be dinner time, but she didn¡¯t have the courage to open her lids even a fraction, encouraging the smolder of exhaustion to let her mind roam free to her rather bizarre day.

    In a land forsaken, dreams awake; with the wisest one, a pact was made.

    For Clythia not to disregard the seer, she had shown all the symptoms that overusing the Shadows¡¯ magic would cause. Sickness being scarce in Zyvern, that was an alarming omen one wouldn¡¯t ignore unless one was a fool. Moreover, she had warned her not to fall into the wrong hands, and there was no such thing as being too careful.

    Clythia tossed, mumbling, the silk sheets caressing her exposed thighs.

    The hair on her back prickled as if she wasn¡¯t alone and someone was watching her. She opened her eyes slowly, and instead of the foreboding dark wall, a flash of grey eyes was peering down at her.

    Her eyes bulged open, registering sharp jaws, dark brows adorned with faintly gleaming beads, honeyed skin, and a magnificent body clad in a dark tunic and leather, lying on the blanket.

    Tiyus.

    She jumped out of her skin, rolling off her bed, gravity taking advantage of her imbalance and pulling her back to the matted floor. Then, fingers wrapped around her arms, sending a jolt down her spine.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Tiyus¡¯ face was expressionless as he pulled her back to bed.

    ¡°How¡ªwhat¡ªhow¡ªwhat the fuck are you doing here?¡± Her voice was quivering, as thousands of emotions flowed through her¡ªnot one of them rising to the surface¡ªanger, surprise, rage, relief, curiosity, dread¡ªchasing exhaustion away from her.

    ¡°Do you ask your subjects¡¯ permission to have an audience with them?¡± His voice was barely above a whisper, and the purr sparked goosebumps on her skin.

    She struggled to free her arm from his grip, but his free hand coiled around her other arm, pinning her on the bed. ¡°Let go of me, you madcap!¡±

    ¡°Behave yourself.¡± He clenched his teeth, his vocal cords bobbed¡ªwas that an attempt to flutter her bones or loins like grass? Because either way, it was working. And that infuriated her further. It didn¡¯t make sense. She wasn¡¯t frenzied over coitus all the time, and yet the god¡ªno¡ªthe man before her was drowning her in it.

    ¡°Nicely, you say?¡± She wriggled¡ªor tried to¡ªbut his steel hands were biting against her skin, forcing her to still. ¡°You are in my chamber, uninvited, and how did you get past¡ªno one can Eventuate into the castle¡ªhow did you get past the guards and the wards?¡±

    ¡°Answer my question first,¡± Tiyus rasped, pulling her inches towards him. His grey eyes, like a pool in twilight, peering through, exposing every fiber of her essence to his light.

    ¡°No.¡± Her mouth betrayed her before her mind processed the saner option, like beckoning a spear to ram through his heart. ¡°I don¡¯t¡ªdon¡¯t ask for permission. Are you referring to yourself as my master?¡±

    His lip quirked up, parting for his exquisitely white teeth to flash. Her heart skittered. ¡°I don¡¯t have to refer to anything. You gave me your consent to be my subject.¡±

    ¡°I did no such thing.¡± But her tone, like the night before, was that of a docile maid, not that of a queen.

    Tiyus let go of her arms, but before she could scramble out of bed, a tug pulled her neck forward to his chest.

    Something was wrapped around her neck. Her eyes traveled to the source but halted midway¡ªTiyus¡¯ calloused fingers were clenching a chain, the other side ending on the wrapped coolness on her neck.

    Her hands met smooth metal instead of skin. She tried to pull the metal off her neck, but as if it were part of her skin, it didn¡¯t budge¡ªtailor-made to fit her neck perfectly.

    Another tug.

    The tip of her nose grazed his tunic as she lurched forward, dew and leather wafted through her nose, erasing any common sense. She leaned further, propelled by her own will. Tiyus¡¯ low rumble of laughter was barely felt through the fabric, but her body shivered as the fabric fluttered against her skin.

    He let the chain loose, pushing her shoulder back. A moan of frustration left her.

    ¡°As much as I want you to grovel for me,¡± he said, ¡°Another time.¡± His lips formed an arc. ¡°You will go to Stormia with the Prime.¡±

    ¡°And who the fuck do you think you are¡ª¡± This time the tug wasn¡¯t only a force; it stirred a piercing sting that doused her whole body. She whimpered, powerless against the pain.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t start behaving, I will torture you. And it won¡¯t be the kind of torture you will enjoy. You have submitted your freedom willingly, and now I get to do what I want with you, my queen,¡± he gritted.

    The warning was fracturing her limb by limb, shock and dread making her feel small¡ªthe smallest matter in the universe. She needed to get out of here¡ªout of his grip.

    Clythia reached out to her Inner Sense, imagining a spear forming in her palm, but as if sensing her thought, Tiyus¡¯ face was doused with fury, his lips forming a thin line. He yanked the chains, the pain he delivered worsening tenfold.

    Her whole body succumbed to uncontrollable tremors, and her neck burned like a tongue marred with chili. A helpless screech rolled off her throat, her head sinking between his legs, dangerously close to his loins.

    ¡°The seer,¡± she whimpered, ¡°The seer said¡ªhow did she know?¡±

    ¡°Ah, you met one of my minions?¡± he chuckled. Her vision only allowed her to see a thigh clad in smooth leather¡ªhow would it taste if her tongue run across it? No! That was not something she should think. She closed her eyes tightly shut.

    ¡°You are no wizard are you? The seer said she was only there until she served me.¡± Collared queen was her words but Clythia wasn¡¯t going to admit that out loud. ¡°You sent her. What are you? Who are you? How can you have such power over her?¡±

    Over me.

    ¡°Honestly, I am a little disappointed you were ignorant when you begged me for release,¡± he said. ¡°But only a bit. Your cluelessness would make our adventure more fun.¡± His fingers began running up and down her hair, like a dog being soothed by its master. It took all her will not to moan and lean close¡ªclose to the bulge she wanted to see unleashed.

    ¡°Stormia is a dangerous territory I don¡¯t want to be disintegrated by the Sovereign.¡± She gritted out, against her soft will who wanted to obey without question. At least for the moment, her cogent side won.

    ¡°I will protect you from whatever unprecedented occurrence you will face there. You only have to obey.¡±

    ¡°And what if I don¡¯t?¡± she asked.

    ¡°Pick,¡± he said. ¡°Should I take out a potential friend or the apple of your eye?¡±

    Clythia¡¯s instinct propelled her to remain quiet¡ªthe only right answer. The apple of her eye was Clen, obviously, but she didn¡¯t want to confirm that or who her potential friend was.

    ¡°Good girl,¡± he purred, fingers running softly on her scalp. Her core jolted with the words.

    What was wrong with her? He was not offering her a choice between forbidden dalliances, but to kill people who meant and would mean something in her life.

    This was wrong on so many levels, and yet...

    ¡°Just to make a point,¡± he continued. ¡°One of the two will trip over themselves today. A small mercy.¡±

    Silence rippled through the room, her neck felt lighter, the room felt lighter.

    Clythia opened her eyes slowly and jerked her head up. Tiyus was gone. Her fingers trailed over her neck¡ªher skin. She let out a sigh of relief.

    Through the window, she saw the night draped over, jeweled with a crescent moon. She didn¡¯t linger long, afraid Tiyus would reappear¡ªhence she scurried out of her bedchamber as if a ghost was chasing her.

    After taking two rounds of steps, a silver tray gleamed at the edge of her vision.

    Downstairs, a servant holding a tray of wine was making her way to the Dining Hall. Her hair was red, cascading down her back in a braid; her face, tan-skinned.

    She was strolling forward, task at hand, unaware of the wet floor a few steps away.

    Clythia raised her hand, yelling, ¡°Watch out!¡±

    The servant¡¯s attention snapped to her, not halting. Her feet slipped forward, and in a desperate attempt to regain balance, her body tilted backward at an awkward angle. The other foot skidded sideways. The jar clashed on the ground, spilling the violet liquid on the tile.

    Clythia raised both palms; air gushed under the servant, inches from cracking her neck, her red hair soaked with wine, giving it a burgundy hue. She made a motion, and the servant stood on her feet.

    Damn it, she had used magic yet again.

    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Clythia was aiming for an assuring tone, but it came out as intimidating.

    The servant¡¯s golden eyes followed her as she finished the steps, then dipped her chin in reverence.

    ¡°Thank you for saving me, my queen.¡± Despite the slip she just faced, her voice was smooth yet sincere in her gratitude.

    ¡°What is your name?¡± Was this the potential friend Tiyus spoke of?

    ¡°Afia,¡± my queen, she dipped her chin again.

    ¡°Of course, you are.¡± Clythia heaved a sigh, palms on her waist.

    ¡°Pardon me, my queen?¡± Afia stared at Clythia. She really did have the spine many servants didn¡¯t possess. From the steel in her honey eyes, Clythia could tell Afia was a strong-willed person.

    Clythia grasped her cloth at the neckline, jerking her forward. ¡°Tiyus sent you, didn¡¯t he? What are you two conspiring against?¡±

    Afia¡¯s eyes bulged, her brows shot up, fear creeping through her features. ¡°I don¡¯t know who Tiyus is, Your Majesty.¡±

    Clythia released her, a bit ashamed that she sounded like a mad person. Tiyus was eating away at her sanity. ¡°Damn that man¡ªbut he wasn¡¯t a man, was he?

    He was something else.

    And she would do anything in her power to find out who or what he was.

    ¡°Your paintings are just jaw-dropping. How do you possess such talent?¡± Clythia beamed at her, locking her arms around the startled servant¡¯s elbow and leading her to the dining hall.

 The omen

    Clythia was affixing her signature to scrolls required by the lords and ladies of DavinSaw for approval.

    There was the construction of new infirmaries; despite the decree, it was challenging to break a habit suddenly, and people were still suffering from it.

    Also, there were curriculum changes to be enacted when the new term started for Wigmond, Sravask, IlyanKram schools, and other smaller educational institutions scattered throughout the continent. Changes that accommodated the altered magic system. The curriculum that had withstood the test of time for countless millennia was now being dethroned by her seal.

    There were also other requests she hadn¡¯t had enough time to approve in the past, now piled up like horrendous trash; perhaps she should hire a steward. Neither in her lifetime, nor in her parents¡¯ lifetimes, did she recall urgent matters with such magnitude. There were only minor tasks, and most didn¡¯t make it up to the royals.

    So, it was a long day for her as she waded through them all, reading carefully one by one and signing them until her eyes stung. Having been at this task for the past two weeks, boredom was killing her.

    In the afternoon, she was at the Dueling Hall, relaxing the muscles that were cooped up all day. If there was anything Clythia hated, it was sitting for an excruciating long hours; the reason why she wouldn¡¯t perch on her throne like the preened queen her mother was. When was the last time she visited the throne room? Decades ago.

    She swung the spear with a wide sweeping motion, pivoting on her back foot, allowing the spear to arc to the side. Then vertical lift. Shift grip. Rotate spear around body. Twirl in an out of arm''s reach. Straight thrust. Lunge thrust.

    ¡°Mom, I have been looking for you,¡± a feeble voice sounded from the gate. Clen¡¯s voice.

    Clythia whipped her attention to the gate, spear frozen in her hand, swiftly positioning her legs together.

    ¡°Back so soon?¡± she smirked. ¡°No girl fancied you today?¡±

    Clen would always leave after lunch, after setting the palace on fire with his loud singalong with the gardener, who hummed ¡®Cacti¡¯¡ªan atrocious alarm to wake Clythia¡ªor with whatever ominous explosions resounded from his chamber.

    Then, past midnight, he returned with one or more girls climbing on him as bees did on flowers. Clythia was thankful she didn¡¯t have to see the monstrosity as she tucked in early, but sometimes in the morning, she would see a girl scuttling away like a caught mouse or the bolder ones bowing to her before escorting themselves out of the palace.

    ¡°I don¡¯t feel so good,¡± he stumbled forward. Clythia flung the spear to the floor and grabbed his body as it was heading halfway to the ground. His heavy weight pressed against her arms, making her stagger back. She grunted as she lifted him off the floor.

    ¡°What happened to you?¡± Clythia ran her fingers over his head, cheeks, and neck. ¡°Ilyana save me, you are burning!¡±

    <hr>

    Clythia waited to see if Clen¡¯s health would improve, casting spells and enchantments as they came to mind, but his state had deteriorated rapidly, with no witchcraft able to restore him to vigor.

    He was shivering and sweating, his eyes shifting in and out of focus. She had brought him to his chamber, and no amount of blankets or the summoned ring of flames around his bed seemed to ease the coldness his body was fighting against.

    The dark stone walls, prompted by the flames, scorched the atmosphere into an unbreathable thickness. Her body was soaked, and she whimpered as she inhaled and exhaled. But nothing blocked her lungs as much as the panic that ravaged through her upon seeing her son captured by a cruel malediction.

    Had someone cursed him? Someone jealous of his status? Someone who wanted to bargain with his health in exchange for something? Clythia bet it was one of his mistresses. She would behead each and every one of them until she discovered the culprit.

    Clythia summoned the royal mage healer, who appeared immediately at the door but staggered when the full blast of steam from the chamber hit him as he stepped in. He was wearing a green gown of a healer, woven with gold around his neck, and his pale skin had turned tomato-red in an instant.

    The healer cast spells, muttered enchantments, and poured potions down Clen¡¯s throat, but he only achieved to halt Clen¡¯s shivering.

    Clythia''s frustration was growing by the minute.

    An hour passed, then two, then three.

    ¡°There is nothing I can do, my queen.¡± The healer gave her a curt, sympathetic nod, frowning his heavily bushed eyebrows.

    ¡°What do you mean you can¡¯t do anything?¡± Clythia¡¯s voice thundered. ¡°You fucking better fix him, healer,¡± she hurled the last word as a mingle of insult and threat, ¡°Or I will torture the shit out of you!¡±

    The healer balked at her words, and he began blurting out all the means he had tried to save Clen, but Clythia¡¯s attention had dunked to the word she had shouted.

    Torture.

    ¡°If you don¡¯t start behaving, I will torture you. And it won¡¯t be the kind of torture you will enjoy. You have submitted your freedom willingly, and now I get to do what I want with you, my queen.¡±

    Tiyus¡¯ words rang through her veins.

    She was a fool, such a damned fool, to think that Afia¡¯s slipping on the wet floor was a mere coincidence rather than a warning. In the first few days, she was certain it was Tiyus¡¯ doing, but as many matters flocked to her attention, she postponed contacting Glythia and there were no consequences whatsoever. Thus, some part of her had started to believe that the lack of consequences was a confirmation that the only responsible culprit was the wet floor.

    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

    ¡°Pick,¡± Tiyus had said. ¡°Should I take out a potential friend or the apple of your eye?¡±

    And now Tiyus had picked for her; he had picked the apple of her eye, the center of her life¡ªpast, present, and future¡ªand the hope of the kingdom: her one and only son.

    Clen was dying.

    The realization barreled through her, forming a crate of bone-crushing agony in her heart.

    No.

    ¡°Out,¡± she said, her lips trembling. The healer was still blabbering, his gruff voice like an incessant fly as his words were swallowed by her own thoughts. But his tone conveyed a politeness a healer would use before sharing an inevitable doom of a news.

    As soon as he left the chamber, Clythia¡¯s knees collided with the floor. She must have been crying because her eyes were blurry, and dampness was streaming down her cheeks.

    ¡°Tiyus,¡± she sobbed, covering her face with her palms, ¡°Tiyus, please, I beg of you. I will go to Stormia. I will do whatever you want, but please don¡¯t take my son away from me. Please.¡±

    Nothing happened.

    After what felt like hours on the stone floor, she willed the fire to vanish and opened the window for fresh air. She removed the pile of blankets from her son. Despite his glistening features, the color had drained from his face. What kind of pain was he enduring for his mind to blackout? Clythia didn¡¯t want to linger on the thought.

    ¡°Casarda,¡± she called.

    The lady of Melop, adorned with a red transparent dress, appeared before her. At first, confusion marred her features as she had never been summoned by Clythia for over a hundred years, but then her eyes fell on Clen and her face blanched. A sorrow only a mother possessed flashed through her eyes.

    Clythia summoned a parchment and began scribbling, all the while aware of Casarda¡¯s eyes on her.

    To Glythia Amandaw

    The Prime of the werewolves and the king of MakeFort

    I will join you on the journey to Stormia. If you agree to accompany me, let¡¯s meet at the island Neut.

    From Clythia Hoverlow

    Queen of mages and DavinSaw

    Clythia didn¡¯t even care enough to proofread her letter before she sealed it with DavinSaw¡¯s insignia, which was just the initial ¡®D¡¯.

    DavinSaw was the only continent with no flag or intricate symbol to represent its kingdom, and the lack of it ironically was an identifier by itself. The ¡®D¡¯ initial on letters was as far as it would go to inform other nations of its involvement in the affair at hand.

    Casarda extended her slender fingers, the back of red-painted nails poking through like talons as Clythia slammed the letter onto her palm.

    ¡°Deliver this,¡± Clythia¡¯s voice was hoarse, fixing her gaze on her. ¡°And I will know if you opened the seal, just a warning before you get snoopy.¡±

    ¡°No worries, my queen,¡± Casarda gave a quick nod, ¡°I will deliver this message with no interference from myself or my messengers.¡±

    The spies of DavinSaw were also the messengers sent to other nations if need arose, but it was so rare that there was a possibility it wouldn¡¯t occur in one¡¯s lifetime.

    Casarda Diseventuated, giving Clen a final pitying look.

    As soon as she did, General Arkansov bolted through the door. His gilded armor was stark against the dark aesthetic of the room, the metal rattling as he approached.

    ¡°I came as soon as I heard. The healer was blabbing about your son¡¯s sickness, so I had to erase his memory alongside with others he told. No reason to feed the hungry belly of gossipers,¡± he snarled.

    Clythia didn¡¯t care if the whole world was aware or not; right then and there, all that mattered was her son¡¯s well-being. His smile, his deafening ruckus, even his rage when he claimed he hated her. She was starved for his presence. Anything but the still, cold boy before her, anything but the rippling silence no one was able to disrupt.

    ¡°What happened?¡± The general rested a hand on her shoulder.

    ¡°It¡¯s Tiyus,¡± she blurted before she could stop herself. Given the general¡¯s bewildered face, she continued, ¡°I think it¡¯s him.¡±

    And then she told him what happened on the first night with Tiyus, not the nitty-gritty, but how they had almost shared a bed because of some unexplainable headiness Tiyus possessed when he was around, emphasizing how he was something beyond a handsome face and a provocative body. And then of the second night and his claim on her, and also that he sent the seer, which Clythia went on to provide a whole other explanation of her encounter at the market.

    All the while, the General was composed as he heard the story, not even a flicker of emotion passing through his face.

    ¡°There is still something I don¡¯t understand about this... Tiyus,¡± he finally said, the name rolling off his tongue in disgust. ¡°What did he mean by ¡®claim¡¯? Also, you said the seer can see the future because of the Shadow¡¯s power and she was one of his minions. What does that make him? Is he an agent of the Shadow?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Clythia grimaced. ¡°Whatever he is, he is not a wizard. Look what he did to my son. No spell or potion is working on him.¡± Her gaze landed on Clen, on his slow rising and falling chest, tears crowding her eyes.

    ¡°How did he claim you?¡± The General inquired, eyes narrowing slightly.

    Damn it, she had been hoping Arkansov would forget about that for a moment. ¡°Well, we didn¡¯t¡ªyou know¡ªdo anything, but uh, how can I say this¡ªyou know what, fuck it. As I told you, he is charming in every possible way. You can¡¯t stop thinking about being intimate if he is around,¡± she confessed. The general¡¯s brow shot up. ¡°And he asked me, you know, to...¡±

    ¡°To be intimate with you?¡± The general¡¯s tone was soft, as if he was reassuring his daughter that everything would be alright.

    ¡°No.¡± Clythia¡¯s cheeks were burning, and that had nothing to do with the dissipating heat. ¡°He asked me if I wanted the finality of pleasure from him without doing the deed.¡±

    ¡°Aha.¡± The General¡¯s eyes were scouring everywhere, possibly regretting he had peered further.

    ¡°And he said there was no turning back if I said yes.¡±

    Then she filled him in about their conversation the next night, the leash that appeared around her neck, which prompted fury on the General¡¯s face, and he completely exploded when she told him about Tiyus¡¯ order to go to Stormia.

    ¡°That¡¯s absolute insanity,¡± the General yelled. ¡°That vile beast is only trying to get you killed!¡±

    ¡°Yes, and that vile beast almost killed Afia.¡±

    Arkansov¡¯s startled gasp was her cue to continue, and she went on to explain how Tiyus coerced her into doing his bidding. Now that she had ignored his warning, her son was¡ª

    ¡°Mom, why on Zyvern are you shouting? Can¡¯t you keep it down?¡±

    One minute Clythia was gazing at the General, slumped and despaired; the next, she was on top of Clen, wrapping around him, pulling him to sit, and squeezing him tight.

    ¡°Clen, my dear son,¡± she began, another round of tears streaming down her cheeks, mingling with the sweat that soaked his neck and tunic. ¡°You are finally well.¡±

    A startled sound, etched with mockery, left Clen¡¯s throat. ¡°You are scary when you¡¯re nice, Mom. Just stick to throwing knives, not this.¡±

    They all chuckled.

    ¡°Glad you¡¯re better, Clen. How are you feeling?¡± the General asked as Clythia let go of her son.

    ¡°It¡¯s weird,¡± Clen ran his fingers over his body, brows bunched. ¡°I don¡¯t feel any pain.¡± He lurched to his feet and began jumping up and down. ¡°I¡¯m as husky as a fine steed.¡±

    Clythia snorted, but a huge relief washed through her. She wanted to hurl an insult at Tiyus, but that was as stupid as testing if a needle would poke.

    It was annoying and extremely humiliating that her greedy, lustful self got the better of her; she was the one who had asked Tiyus to be a distraction the first time, didn¡¯t bat an eye as she invited him to her bedchamber. She was embarrassed.

    What would the General think of her? Her gaze darted to him, and as if he was reading her mind, he gave her a ghost of a grin and a nod. He didn¡¯t seem to judge her, but Clythia wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

    ¡°Next time, it will be a spear,¡± Clythia scowled at Clen. ¡°Now shower the stink off your body. Even a steed smells better than you.¡±

    Clen grinned from ear to ear, splaying his arms wide. ¡°There she is. My beloved hag.¡±

    The general muttered something like, ¡°Unhinged royal line.¡±

 The preparation

    Clythia was perched on a settee, with her legs tucked under her and covered by a white cotton dress. Her chin was supported by her arm, and she was wearing bangles and a sapphire circlet on her head. Her hair was swept up into a braid woven with gold strings.

    Afia was glancing every now and then at Clythia, her vibrant red hair swaying with the cool breeze that breached through the window, smoothing the edges of the spring sun.

    ¡°So, we didn¡¯t get to finish our last conversation,¡± Clythia said, her gaze fixed on the artist¡¯s golden eyes. ¡°Where did you say you learned it all?¡±

    The first time, Clythia was in such a panic that she hadn¡¯t heard Afia¡¯s response, as a myriad of emotions flooded her. Her mind had wandered to Tiyus¡¯s coercive request, drowning out Afia¡¯s husky voice. Thus, she had dismissed her afterward, half aware when she did so.

    ¡°My mom is a Clutsweed,¡± Afia said. Clythia didn¡¯t hide her scowl at the mention of the family name. ¡°My father was from the Hatara tribe¡ª¡±

    ¡°Hatara tribe...¡± Clythia chipped in. ¡°Isn¡¯t that around south of Hypercas?¡±

    ¡°No, you are talking about the Hadana tribe, my queen.¡± Afia resumed her stroking. ¡°The Hatara are found in the southwest of Hypercas and are known for bringing paintings to life.¡±

    Clythia grunted in surprise at the revelation of new information. There were so many ways that magic was wielded; it was hard to keep track of all the unique gifts across families and tribes, thanks to Bead Magic. ¡°Those two have such confusing names.¡±

    Afia gave her an unflinching grin, something Clythia wasn¡¯t accustomed to. The servant seemed at ease in her presence, while even Arkansov maintained professional alertness around Clythia.

    ¡°Then how did you end up in my palace?¡± Clythia tilted her chin, her eyes darting out the wide-open window and to the green hedge maze.

    ¡°My father sold me,¡± Afia said, as if she were talking about the type of wine she would serve at dinner.

    ¡°After my parents divorced, my mom took all the fortune with her, cursing my father that if he ever came for it, he would die. That left us to live on the streets. We had enough to eat, but finding shelter was hard. So, I applied for servitude at the palace.¡±

    She snorted, as if lost in memory. ¡°My father said I was mad to consider the palace before applying to rich merchants¡¯ houses, at the very least, or to mage teachers, even the lord and ladies. But fortunately, my winery skills passed with flying colors, and here I am.¡±

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Clythia said. ¡°You truly are something. How long have you been here?¡±

    Before Afia could respond, a guard appeared at the door, wearing silver armor. He was one of the guards stationed at the gate. Clythia had made a point of noting the identity of the guards stationed in and around the palace after Tiyus¡¯s intrusion.

    ¡°What is it, Dinka?¡± Clythia asked.

    The guard gave her a bow. ¡°Casarda is at the gate, requesting an audience, my queen.¡±

    ¡°Let her in.¡±

    It had been a month since she had sent the letter through Casarda. Clythia lowered her hand from her chin and sat with anticipation, fretting over what response she would receive from the King of werewolves.

    If Glythia had already set off for Stormia, her son wouldn¡¯t have recovered, right? She hoped that was true because if Glythia rejected her partnership for the journey, she wouldn¡¯t be able to escape Tiyus¡¯s wrath.

    In due time, Tiyus would be the one to worry about her wrath.

    Clythia had scoured every book she could find on the era before the Sovereign, looking for any clue of Tiyus-related incidences.

    But the only thing she could find was what she already knew¡ªabout the masters who enslaved the seven species, the Shadow that charged Zyvern, and the seers prophesying about the First Zyvern War that would end the era of slavers.

    A sparkling grey at the edge of her vision dragged her out of her thoughts.

    Casarda approached her, extending the scroll she held to Clythia. The thin grey fabric of her attire was as sheer as usual, her nipples and nether part covered with a patch of black.

    It must have been the first time Afia had seen the Lady of Melop; her jaw had dropped, her honey eyes flicking up and down Casarda, her brush frozen between her fingers.

    Clythia broke the brown seal of a viscous wolf snarling, and the scroll fanned open.

    From Glythia Amandaw,

    The Prime of the werewolves, the King of MakeFort, the Lycan Lord, the Lupine Sovereign, Protector of the Pack, the Alpha Sentinel, King of Makefort.

    Clythia rolled her eyes, already regretting her plea to the werewolf. This was but a subtle way of reminding her how one should address themselves in a noble form, unlike her rushed scribble. Dickhead.

    To Clythia Hoverlow,

    The Queen of Sorcerers, Witches, Wizards, Mages¡ª

    "Filthy dog." Clythia muttered.

    Glythia had the audacity to remind her on how she should address herself as well? Tiyus would pay for this with blood. If it weren¡¯t for him, she wouldn¡¯t have stooped so low.

    ¡ªand of Davinsaw,

    I am pleased to hear you had a change of heart to join me on the journey to Stormia. The faster route would be through Nadir, and I have contacted King Modyr to let us pass through his territory. He has complied, though he won¡¯t be joining us unless you changed his mind¡ª

    ¡°Me? Why on Zyvern would he think I can do that?¡± Clythia scoffed.

    From her peripheral vision, she saw Casarda shifting her stance, trying to get a better peek of the parchment. Clythia lifted it up, hindering her view. The Lady of Spies retreated; instead of hovering around Clythia, she approached Afia, admiring her painting with a sultry tone.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    I also have contacted the remaining rulers. Surprisingly, King Morven was more than willing, claiming he had a change of heart after the disastrous volcano. There was no response from Queen Hypaxia, King Kay, and Queen Zahar thus far.

    Hence, within the coming week, prepare yourself before we meet at Island Neut, as you had suggested, and head to Nadir.

    Sincerely,

    The Prime of the Werewolves, the King of MakeFort, the Lycan Lord, the Lupine Sovereign, Protector of the Pack, the Alpha Sentinel, King of Makefort,

    Glythia Amandaw

    ¡°This man is so full of himself,¡± Clythia scrunched the letter, snorting. ¡°Who fooled him into thinking repeating his title every time he was addressed was formal?¡±

    ¡°Next week, we are going to Stormia. Put your affairs in order,¡± Clythia said, glaring at Casarda and making her jaw drop. Afia didn¡¯t stop sketching; only a twitch of her eyebrows betrayed her surprise. ¡°That includes you too, Afia.¡± The servant stopped brushing; when her gaze met Clythia¡¯s, she made an effort to tamp down her excitement, puckering her face into nonchalance.

    ¡°This is not a vacation, girl.¡± Clythia leaped to her feet, stretching her muscles. ¡°Besides your compelling aptitudes, I have a feeling you have keen observation and a thirst for knowledge; it might come in handy in a hostile environment.¡±

    The presence of Afia had made Clythia¡¯s choice easier when picking an erudite companion, as she had been mulling over whom she should take with her to Stormia for the past month.

    Lord Masai would be a short-sighted choice because the land needed him and his innovators to discover efficient methods for DavinSaw to cope with the new stranger, the Shadow. True, she would take some of them with her. However, she would not pluck someone from the top of the pyramid.

    ¡°Yes, my queen,¡± Afia dipped her chin.

    ¡°Do you know your way around weapons?¡± Clythia asked.

    Afia shook her head. ¡°Not really. But I can be creative enough when my survival is in jeopardy¡ªI mean your survival, apologies.¡±

    Observing the witty tongue and the devastating beauty of Afia, Clythia felt a sudden relief that her son hadn¡¯t discovered her yet. At the very least, Afia was capable of making Clen crave a visit that extended beyond one night.

    ¡°But Stormia is not a safe place,¡± Casarda winced.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I said ¡®get your affairs in order¡¯,¡± Clythia tapped her temple, as if explaining to a thick-headed child, ¡°Use your ears, Lady of Spies. I need your nosiness when the other rulers join me. You will be a tipper on their ulterior motives,¡± her stare scanned Casarda from head to toe. ¡°Also, you could put your... exotic tendency to some use.¡±

    Casarda blanched, her jaw ticking. ¡°I am courting, my lady. I will do no such thing.¡±

    Clythia¡¯s palms landed on her hips. ¡°Dionays, the chief guard?¡±

    ¡°No, we ended our courtship two months ago. I have been courting the mage teacher Lon¡¯s cousin and the Hadana tribe leader, Abin, since then.¡±

    ¡°In two months?¡± Afia¡¯s amused voice came.

    Casarda¡¯s gaze bounced from Clythia to Afia, startled by Afia¡¯s audacity before she collected herself in a sneer. ¡°Know your place, girl! Just because you are a servant who had a chance to paint for the queen doesn¡¯t give you the right to address me with disrespect.¡±

    Afia didn¡¯t cower an inch; instead, she grinned.

    ¡°You are the expert on parting ways; I¡¯m sure you will find a way to dump Adin in a gutter,¡± Clythia shrugged. ¡°You don¡¯t want me to go into the whole threatening speech now, do you?¡±

    <hr>

    Twenty guards, twelve scholars and innovators, five servants including Afia, the lady of Melop, and Clythia gathered in the Grand Hall, readying to depart.

    Arkansov and Clen were in one corner as Clythia approached them. Fixing her gaze on the General, she gave him a subtle flick of her chin. With the cue, he strolled away to a spot where the two won''t be heard.

    ¡°I hope I would find DavinSaw in one piece when I return, Ark,¡± she said.

    If she returned, that was. To be honest, she didn¡¯t believe it, but if it would give Clen a chance of surviving...

    ¡°I have done this before; you don¡¯t have to worry, my lady,¡± Arkansov said with a confident tone.

    The General had been regent when her parents and she journeyed to Surial for a meeting with the gods¡ªshe still had no idea what it was about.

    But it was the time when she first met Hypaxia, when she fell in love with her, and during their stay, when she had her heart broken.

    That did make her a hypocrite, of course, meting out judgment on those who eloped against kingdoms when she was no better. But, well, she was a queen after all. Above the rule of law.

    Why was she thinking about this, least of all at this moment when she was a lamb heading for slaughter? Clythia shook her head, annoyed at herself.

    ¡°Take good care of Clen. Before school starts, take him to the military camp, involve him in meetings,¡± Clythia lowered her voice. ¡°He has to know what¡¯s at stake; he has to learn to carry responsibility.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s better if you say that in front of him,¡± Arkansov said skeptically. He was right; Clen was the rebellious sort, even for her, and no one would convince him to drag himself to camps and meetings if Clythia didn¡¯t.

    Clythia called Clen and repeated the instructions; as expected, he pouted.

    ¡°What¡¯s the point of taking a break if I am not taking a break?¡± Clen protested.

    ¡°Welcome to realizing you are not like other boys or girls,¡± Clythia gave him a sarcastic smirk. ¡°Crown Prince.¡±

    Clen glowered. ¡°There¡¯s something that I don¡¯t understand though,¡± he bunched his brows. ¡°Why are world leaders putting their eggs in one bag? The eggs being you all, by the way. Can¡¯t you send someone to the Sovereign? I mean, what if something happens to you?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a risk I am willing to take,¡± Clythia said. ¡°I can¡¯t speak for the other rulers. Besides, the Sovereign will definitely see sending someone else as belittlement of their authority. We are already risking their wrath by barging into Stormia before the due time; it wouldn¡¯t be wise to irk them more.¡±

    ¡°But isn¡¯t the Sovereign omniscient? Wouldn¡¯t they know you are coming? How can they stay silent about the blight or your new alliance with the Shadow? Also, what if you don¡¯t find them? You said you have never seen them before.¡± Clen shook his head. ¡°There is something fishy about this.¡±

    Clythia glanced at the General, who was scanning Clen intently, then her gaze landed back on her son. ¡°Those are important questions, I will give you that. I¡¯ve asked them myself, but I don¡¯t have the answers.¡±

    Clen opened his mouth, supposedly for another round of drilling questions, but Clythia closed his lips with a finger.

    ¡°Patience, son,¡± she said, staring into his hazel eyes and lowering her finger. ¡°You can¡¯t have all the answers you want immediately. Sometimes you have to work to get them. That¡¯s what I¡¯ll be doing. In the meantime, use your curious brain on your education. If I see a horrendous score like your Advanced J.H.S., you will be digging your grave.¡±

    ¡°I expect no less,¡± Clen muttered, his hazel eyes twinkling.

    Clythia wrapped her arms around Clen. ¡°Goodbye, son, until next spring.¡± He hugged her back.

    Clythia didn¡¯t want to settle on the thought that this could be the last time she would see Clen, so she turned on her heels, giving General Arkansov a final nod of dispensing the load of the kingdom and Clen on his shoulders. He nodded back, eyes lingering on her with a tinge of sorrow, the prospect of her not returning visibly glistening on his features.

    Then she prompted everyone to form a link, like holding hands or clothes, or resting a hand on the other person¡¯s shoulder. It was through her that they could Eventuate to Island Nyat, a privilege accessed by Zyvern rulers.

    A slender figure with sharp features waltzed in at her side. Clythia¡¯s eyes rested on the intruder, taken aback. ¡°What do you think you are doing, Lady Vina?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m coming with you,¡± Vina gave her a chilling smile that didn¡¯t reach her brown eyes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t remember inviting you.¡±

    ¡°The precious stones will still be here when I return, and don¡¯t you miss our adventures like old times?¡± Vina¡¯s jab was caked with mockery.

    But instead of being annoyed, as Vina expected, Clythia smirked in satisfaction. ¡°Indeed, I won¡¯t pass up the opportunity for good riddance.¡±

    Vina¡¯s face was hollering the message, ''Not if you are gotten rid of first.'' But she held her tongue; threatening the queen would at least release the blades from the guards¡¯ scabbards before Clythia lifted a finger.

    Holding the hem of Casarda¡¯s cloth on the right¡ªif one could call it cloth¡ªand squeezing Vina¡¯s arm with unnecessary force, Clythia blew out a sigh. She gave each and every face, whether scared, neutral, or apprehensive, a look in one go.

    ¡°Here goes nothing,¡± Clythia whispered as darkness enveloped her whole.

 The companions

    The blazing sun didn¡¯t give Clythia and her companions a moment¡¯s respite as its rays pounded on their heads the second their feet vaulted onto the unmistakable sand of Island Nyat.

    A servant approached Clythia, carrying a parasol, easing the stinging from her scalp.

    Everyone was taking in their surroundings, some of them pointing at the upright monoliths a few feet away, before multiple soft grindings of sand snagged their attention.

    Glythia was approaching them, his companions trailing behind, not that far in number from Clythia¡¯s. They were carrying sacks, water skins, and canteens wobbling at their sides, taking in their environment and staring at Clythia and her companions with weariness, gobbling them up from head to toe¡ªas if they were strange creatures that had dropped from the skies.

    The Prime¡¯s figure looked less formidable, with no shadow or looming darkness present to exaggerate his mountainous body since it was noon. He was wearing a tunic garbed with leather and a blond sash wrapped around his waist. The choice of attire was the same for his men and women, save for his guards, who were wearing bronze armor¡ªa cheap shot.

    The balmy air was enhancing the sharp, salty stench of the sea, sending nausea to flip her stomach.

    As Glythia neared, her chin angled upward, his height towering over her, his loose blonde hair like a dancing white flame swayed by the rhythm of the wind.

    ¡°It¡¯s good to see you,¡± his face split into a broad smile.

    ¡°Likewise,¡± Clythia gave him a forced grin. ¡°We need to get going.¡± A strong whoosh of wind, heavy with salt, forced its way through her nostrils. She forced down a bile, covering her mouth.

    ¡°Are you all right? You¡¯re turning green,¡± the Prime peered at her. ¡°You have been here before, though.¡±

    ¡°I know that,¡± she snapped. ¡°The heat and salt are not an appealing combination.¡± A huff left her throat. ¡°We have been here when it was dark and the air cooler. Do I need to point out the obvious?¡±

    ¡°You have to brace yourself then,¡± his eyebrows shot up in amusement. ¡°The ocean is the only thing we will see before Nadir.¡±

    ¡°Cocky bastard,¡± Clythia muttered, well aware his canine ears had caught on the insult.

    He didn¡¯t seem to mind, his gaze shifting to the horizon. ¡°Morven will be arriving soon.¡±

    ¡°He is late. Why do we have to wait for him? I¡¯m sure he will find his way to Nadir on his own.¡±

    ¡°Morven has the fastest ship in all of Zyvern,¡± the Prime¡¯s eyes swept over Clythia¡¯s companions. ¡°And I don¡¯t see any sign of a ship from you.¡± He tilted his chin at her. ¡°Any sign of anything... Where is your packing?¡±

    Clythia lifted her fist, showing the bead on an orange ring that was hugging her middle finger. ¡°It¡¯s in here.¡± The Prime¡¯s scouring eyes noted the same ring on the fingers of the arcane travelers. ¡°Including the ship we are going to travel with. So, I say we go. Now.¡±

    Surprise lit the Prime¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m impressed with your very efficient method of packing. But how fast does your ship travel?¡±

    ¡°Like any other fast ship,¡± Clythia shrugged.

    ¡°It will take us three to five weeks to reach Nadir with an ordinary ship. But with Morven''s, we will arrive in less than two days.¡±

    Clythia was very displeased by the information. ¡°And why is his special? Does he have a magic to make it fast? Because we can do that too.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I trust in your abilities, but sailing a ship with unnatural speed will require constant use of magic. I know a thing or two about that. And we know its consequences.¡± He grinned at her, a contrast to the sorrow twinkling in his blue eyes. ¡°Morven¡¯s ship relies on a different ability beyond magic. You can ask him when he arrives. You know how he likes galivanting around the skies; I think he got it from his adventures.¡±

    They were gazing across the mass of shimmering blue for a while, but there was no disturbance, except for the occasional crashing of the waves.

    Clythia was growing impatient by the minute, muttering curses at the vampire king.

    Finally she retreated her eyes from the ocean and ordered her companions to pitch tents.

    With a tap of their respective rings, tents began popping out of the orange bead, and nestled on the sand perfectly, a myriad of colored canopies huddling within the small space. Clythia did the same; the largest tent, hued violet, sprung out beside her.

    All the while, the werewolves were gawking at them, jaws dropped, immobile, as the mages were busy making places for themselves.

    Clythia entered her tent, swatting the sandals off her feet eagerly before she sprawled on the soft futon matching the tent¡¯s color.

    She must have dozed off, thanks to the suffocating heat, when a yellow-haired servant emerged through the tent flap and informed her that lunch was served.

    A series of kang tables were arrayed horizontally, with a variety of meals served on them, the aroma swallowing out the salt in the air. Clythia took her place at the head of a table, and following suit, the scholars and innovators settled on either end, with Vina and Casarda taking her immediate left and right.

    Some of the guards surrounded them, carrying parasols, as the servants shoveled food onto their plates, with Afia pouring wine into silver chalices.

    ¡°Where are the werewolves?¡± Clythia asked distastefully.

    ¡°On the other side,¡± Casarda pointed towards the monoliths with her chin. ¡°I must say, the monoliths and the shining well are beautiful.¡±

    ¡°Tell me you were not stupid enough to approach the well,¡± Clythia''s tone was coated with warning.

    Vina snorted. ¡°Oh, the werewolves were more than stupid; one of them climbed up the steps and was only two feet away when he was hurled backward by an invisible force.¡± A chuckle rang out from her throat. ¡°No one had taught the barbaric werewolves not to test magic they don¡¯t understand. Then again-¡± Another chuckle.

    Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

    ¡°He cracked his neck at the most comical angle you can imagine, neck twisted like a doll¡¯s, jaw hung open as if he were a lady moaning before climaxing,¡± Casarda said, struggling with laughter that finally burst out.

    Vina didn¡¯t scold Casarda for the obscene remark; instead, she carried on with the tale, her face settling into a stern expression, though her eyes were twinkling with amusement. ¡°And now they are conducting a wolf funeral.¡± The last two words together sounded like a gobbledygook.

    Clythia scrunched her face, feigning ¡®false¡¯ pity, then guffawed laughter left her throat. Casarda was laughing harder, and Vina joined with a collected chuckle, earning curious eyes from the table.

    ¡°This journey could be more fun than I thought,¡± Clythia said with an expectant voice, taking a bite of bread.

    It seemed the misery of non-mage species was the bonding ground for the ladies of DavinSaw and Clythia. The three ladies, who didn¡¯t see eye to eye in their land, were now picking on and thrashing the MakeFortians, gossiping about the werewolves¡¯ whimsical attire, the outdated canteens and sacks they carried, and the accent they spoke with.

    A wailing of werewolves reverberated, ceasing discussion and laughter around the table.

    After a moment or so, Glythia, flanked by two guards, arrived. His face was grim, fury dancing on his features at the feigned nonchalance among the witches and wizards, who now were retiring to their tents or taking a walk as if nothing of importance had happened.

    ¡°My condolences, Glythia,¡± Clythia said, leaping to her feet, wiping her mouth with a cloth, done with her meal, not a smear of sorrow etched in her tone.

    ¡°The least you could do was attend the funeral,¡± Glythia gritted.

    Her glare fixed on him. ¡°It¡¯s not my fault you haven¡¯t warned your subjects not to approach the well. You are putting your blame on the wrong person, of course, the right person is dead so...¡±

    A muffled chuckle rang from behind her. Glythia¡¯s eyes darted to the source, his cheek turning crimson. He spun on his heels and disappeared into the ¡®wolf territory¡¯, with a hair-prickling growl like a dog denied a piece of meat.

    Truth be told, she hadn¡¯t warned hers either. But exploring strange magic one didn¡¯t understand was bad juju, something that was drilled into the minds of witches and wizards since they understood the concept of magic.

    <hr>

    Morven didn¡¯t arrive, so they were all forced to stay the night there. Clythia, despite her blissful nap during the day, was struggling to be conquered by the evasive sleep. Hence, after tossing and turning, she went out of her tent.

    The sky was embellished with a drizzle of stars, some twinkling brightly, others fading out. A crescent moon had graced the black canvas, not a full moon, thankfully, or the silence would have been displaced by a ruckus jiving of the werewolves.

    It was all quiet, save for the ocean waves. The chill, despite being bone-throbbing, was thousand folds better than the heat of the day. Some of the tents had lights in them, and others were winked out.

    A groan and a muffled moan, the slapping of skins, and creaking emitted from one of the scholar¡¯s tents. Clythia froze when what was happening clicked; disgust rolled in her stomach, her feet leading her away to the shore.

    She settled on the sand, the silk nightgown gliding against her skin as she shifted against the textured grain beneath. Water lunged over the shore, dousing her feet and sending a shiver through her body.

    The salt was not as stomach-flipping as it once was, still, it wasn¡¯t the best aroma to inhale but a tolerable one.

    Clen was probably snoring away his exhaustion from his night out, cuddling with his mistresses. Tomorrow he would be off to Sravask; he would focus on his education, which was good. She had done this for him, but she felt like a complete idiot for doing so.

    She hadn¡¯t had the faintest idea of why she was in the middle of hostile weather, gobbling in salt as though it was an expensive perfume from Idra, and taking the werewolves or, worse, the upcoming vampires as companions. In any case, those two knew the purpose of their trek.

    A footstep, crunching against the sand, spun her head to its source, shattering the thoughts of her son with it.

    Glythia was approaching, a pair of blue light orbs where his irises should be¡ªor his irises, animating towards the shore with his alpine figure. His gaze was peering towards the horizon, an indistinguishable line between the night sky and the ocean.

    ¡°King Morven has arrived,¡± his tone was grim, as if he was struggling to convey the message to her, avoiding eye contact completely.

    It seemed the Prime was still pouting because of her indifference towards his dead werewolf... if she had known wolves were so dramatic... she stifiled a snort of disbelief as her gaze snagged on the empty ocean.

    Dark shapes were looming above the straight line, growing in size, cylinders making way for rising rectangles and triangles, animated flaps, and ominous shapes until an unmistakable silhouette of a ship formed.

    Clythia had only blinked when the ship was darting towards the shore with fascinating speed, as if the masts were its wings fluttering with the wind the ship had conjured.

    Clythia took a step back, dread coiling in her not to be overrun by the soaring ship. But as the ship approached the shore, revealing faint yellow light glinting on the wooden deck, it slowed down, inches away from the shore. A gangway wedged out of the ship and slammed onto the sand with a thud, sending grains floating.

    A lean figure, with a spiked coat, appeared out of the cabin, the lights revealing his sharp jaws and slick hair, seemingly identical to the sky¡ªthough it triumphed for being raven black¡ªa stark contrast to his ashen skin, marking him as Clythia¡¯s least favorite ruler, the Vampire King, Morven.

    As much as she tried to catch a whiff of a footstep, the vampire was taking the steps down the gangway with no creak or thud, akin to a ghost gliding, feigning the action of walking to mock the living. Goosebumps raked all over her body until she visibly shuddered, the small action drawing the coal-black gaze of the vampire onto her.

    But instead of addressing her or the Prime, his neck craned back to his ship. ¡°Kay, wake the fuck up. We have arrived.¡±

    King Kay appeared from one of the cabin doors, wearing a heavy cloak that was the best option to fight the chill. What was Clythia thinking when she roamed out of her tent in a nightgown? Remembering how sheer her fabric was, she wrapped her arms around herself.

    The human¡¯s eyes scanned the surroundings as he took the steps down, his footsteps audible¡ªthat¡¯s how anyone walking should sound like!

    Clythia was surprised by the presence of the human king, as was the werewolf. When she glanced towards Glythia, he was following Kay with an intense gaze. Her eyes then darted back to the human. It must have been an illusion caused by Glythia¡¯s fiery blue eyes because when she stared at Kay¡¯s eyes, they appeared ashen. She blinked, and they were hazel brown once again.

    ¡°You are late,¡± Clythia said with a clipped tone, glaring down the vampire, though he had a few inches on her.

    ¡°I am a vampire; you can¡¯t expect me to travel during the day,¡± Morven replied as Kay joined him. ¡°And the human also decided to travel with us, so...¡± He finished his sentence with a shrug that said, Here we are.

    Kay beamed, his white teeth faintly visible against the moon¡¯s glow. ¡°Hello, werewolf,¡± he waved his hand towards Glythia. ¡°Hello, witch,¡± his brows danced up.

    Four more people came down the gangway, and none of them were vampires, but humans, two males and two females wearing similar furry coats like their king and tight leather with boots.

    ¡°Welcome,¡± Glythia¡¯s voice rang out. ¡°We will set on our journey when dawn breaks. Until then, make yourselves at home.¡± He gave them a smile. A genuine one. Weird.

    ¡°I can¡¯t travel at night,¡± the vampire snapped. ¡°Or haven¡¯t you been listening?¡± The werewolf growled at the remark, closing the distance between them. ¡°So we will do it my way,¡± Morven continued, unfazed by the snarl. ¡°If you all want to travel on my ship.¡± His eyes flicked around, landing on Clythia, then the tents forward, and back to the Prime.

    ¡°You don¡¯t need to use those sharp teeth of yours on a werewolf,¡± Clythia was about to put her hand on her waist, but then remembered that her nipples would be poking through her clothing. ¡°You already have plenty of options,¡± she pointed towards the huddled humans, ¡°if you use them wisely for the remainder of the journey.¡±

    Clythia had barely taken her gaze off the vampire when one of the human girls darted towards her, and a fist flew to connect with her jaw, sending her head flipping to the side.

    A second passed. Then two. Then three.

    Clythia let go of her arms, nakedness be damned. Her hand was grappling at the air, the human began floating off the ground, clawing at her neck as an invisible rope willed by Clythia was squeezing her windpipe.

 The monster

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to do this,¡± the human king said as he took two sneaky steps towards Clythia, grain scrunching beneath his boots. ¡°Look, Hilin¡¯s head acts way later than the rest of her body. Probably her mind has caught up with her actions by now. If you let her go, she will apologize. We shouldn¡¯t start off on the wrong foot. There¡¯s a long journey ahead of us.¡± He stretched out his arms in a gesture for her to calm down and let go.

    Clythia hesitated, not because she felt an ounce of mercy for the weakling human who could have done anything less stupid but instead chose to raise a hand at her¡ªsealing her miserable human life with an agonizing death. It was because of what killing a civilian from a foreign kingdom might entail. It could start a war if Kay was the dramatic sort, or as he said, it could be the beginning of stepping off on the wrong foot. The rest of the journey would involve constantly watching her back and that of her travelers, lest one of the humans wish to avenge Hilin¡¯s death.

    But it could also mean, for Clythia and MakeFort, for Morven and Cravax, for her fellow travelers¡ªwho would spread the news when they got back to DavinSaw¡ªa sign of weakness. A sign of weakness that could make anyone stomp on her whenever they wished, because they would start to believe she was the forgiving sort, and tarnish the reputation of the arcane community as spineless, letting other species get confident about crossing the Witch Queen, fearing no consequence.

    She could feel the drilling stare of Glythia, the anticipatory stance of Morven and Kay, pondering what the Witch Queen would do next. A stutter and a choke were spurting out of Hilin¡¯s throat. Clythia increased the gap between the invisible rope and the human girl¡¯s neck by a fraction, allowing a stifled whimper to break out before tightening her grip again on the air. Hilin¡¯s veins were bulging, her face flushed, faintly visible beneath the feeble glow of the moon; her lungs, denied even a single inhale, triggered her legs and arms to wriggle in midair.

    Clythia would rather watch her back than make a fool of herself. She would rather start a war that could last as long as the blinking lifespan of a human than give the three rulers before her the wrong impression.

    Crack.

    Gravity welcomed Hilin¡¯s corpse with a thud, causing sand to puff up from the impact. The corpse was buried in the sand headfirst, save for the face, which, due to its wrong angle, was directly facing the inky sky, vacant eyes reflecting the crescent moon.

    The vampire whistled, hands in pocket. The werewolf was gazing at the corpse grimly. Her cold stare found the human as he let his arms fall to his sides and went rigid.

    Clythia clicked her tongue. ¡°A slippery hand tends to trigger another.¡± She craned her neck toward the corpse. ¡°Don¡¯t start a fight you can''t win, especially when your hand is your most impulsive organ.¡± She shrugged and met King Kay¡¯s gaze, whose nostrils were flaring like a bull ready to charge. ¡°¡®Don¡¯t start off on a wrong foot,¡¯ you say, but one of you just did. And a wrong foot is meant to be amputated, or it will cause harm to all parties near it because it tends to trip over again and again.¡±

    ¡°We cannot continue like this,¡± the Prime strolled toward Clythia. ¡°The journey hasn¡¯t started yet, a thousand deaths await ahead of us, and two of our people are dead. We can¡¯t survive what is about to come if we are already divided amongst ourselves.¡±

    ¡°We? Our?¡± Clythia¡¯s chuckle was low. ¡°My people are those I have brought with me. It is your fault you have a dead werewolf in your hands. Don¡¯t pin it on ¡®us¡¯¡ªthe spirit of family or whatnot¡ªto exempt yourself from your responsibility as the Prime.¡±

    ¡°I know it¡¯s my responsibility,¡± the Prime snapped, cutting her off with outrage in his tone. ¡°I went away to relieve myself before I could warn them not to approach the monoliths. How could I have known someone would be dead within that fraction of time?¡±

    His stare was innocent; he was being honest¡ªtoo honest, proving a point with an embarrassing bathroom detail none of the rulers here should bother to know.

    ¡°Well, it depends on how long it took you to dump off... things,¡± Morven¡¯s amused voice came. Clythia couldn¡¯t help but chuckle alongside the vampire. But the werewolf didn¡¯t find it humorous; a growl reverberated through his throat. A wolf¡¯s growl.

    ¡°Lay a finger, and you won¡¯t have a sanctuary in my ship,¡± Morven warned, though his tone was still cooing with mirth. With that, Glythia¡¯s growl ceased.

    The human king was oddly quiet, and his control was enough to snag Clythia¡¯s attention. His gaze still boring into her, perhaps imagining a thousand ways of dismantling her, limb from limb, picking the most agonizing way of turning her into a corpse.

    She yawned, unbothered by the death-promising gaze of Kay, nor by the growing tension between the vampire and the werewolf. The evasive sleep was now lurking in her joints, urging her to go back to the tent and cuddle in fine sheets.

    The three humans were huddled together behind their king, staring at her apprehensively. None of their gazes held fear towards her, but a uniform icy flame of hatred burned brightly on their features. And some part of her admired them for it; humans have more spine than they were credited for, after all.

    Then she turned on her heels, her bare feet getting tickled by the sand beneath.

    ¡°You will regret this,¡± came Kay¡¯s gritted voice, pausing her stroll for a moment.

    She shrugged off his hollow warning before she continued on to her tent.

    <hr>

    As soon as the sun dunked in the horizon, everyone had boarded the ship. The left side of the vast deck huddled the werewolves, while the opposite was dotted by Clythia and her travelers. Kay and his three companions were with Morven as he maneuvered the ship to a gut-wrenching speed, his cloak fluttering with the gust, and his marble-white fingers clenched on the wheel.

    The wind was a lash of frost whipping against her skin violently. The acceleration was weaving the background into a blur of navy blue and lines of white, a smudge of the blended sky and water, the latter foaming ferociously around the ship.

    Vina had retched her guts out three times due to being seasick, and Clythia was smug at the sight of the reserved woman¡¯s control out of leash¡ªsave for her hair, which was in a tight bun, not even a strand out of place.

    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

    The scholars were scribbling on parchments, eavesdropping on conversations among the other species. There was an emerald earring attached to their earlobes, a magical ornament capable of heeding distant sounds.

    The earrings were borrowed from the lady of spies. When Casarda insisted some of her spies tag along on the journey, Clythia had refused. The innovators and scholars were more loyal to DavinSaw; they were not as sly as the spies, capable of toying with words, withholding information, or acting on their own accord¡ªsomething Casarda did often.

    And a leader reflects its subjects.

    Clythia wasn¡¯t ready to have ten more Casardas on this journey. Perhaps she should evaluate the loyalties of the unchecked spies once she returned. Thus, she chose to rely on the blunt recording of some of the best minds of her kingdom, who were eager to learn new things like their lord, Masai.

    Casarda was flirting with a group of stoic werewolves, their gaze ravaging her body, which was barely shielded by a sheer gown. Even in the cold, this woman chose vanity.

    Clythia peeled her stare off the lady of spies, taking in the ship. It was as regular as any other sailing ship; its hull was made of teak wood, and its cabins were square rooms with vast space¡ªno wonder, given the sheer size of the ship. And It had funnels emitting gas.

    The only thing that stood out was the sail, which was mahogany at first glance. But due to the lashing wind, Clythia was forced to squint, revealing it to be cadmium yellow. She rubbed her eyes and squinted again; it turned violet. She kept squinting like a fluttering torch until a range of colors blinked in and out before her. Emerald. Sangria. Ginger. Mauve. Cerulean. Magenta. Then she bulged her eyes, and it was mahogany yet again.

    Some had caught the bizarre sail¡¯s coloring, their faces scrunching funnily and whispering their strange discovery to those unaware.

    Afia was fluttering her eyelids, her face lit with excitement, as if she had discovered a hidden gem. Clythia wondered what was going through the artist¡¯s mind with the throng of hues she was observing.

    Clythia''s late mother would have had the same reaction; she had had a knack for hues and colors. More often than not, she was scolded for picking a juniper shade instead of moss for a ball dress.

    Clythia walked to the ship¡¯s wheel, flanked by two guards.

    ¡°What is the fabric of your sail made of?¡± Clythia¡¯s voice was barely audible against the rumbling of the water.

    Morven turned to her, descending the steps. Kay took the wheel. So, the human king knew how to steer this strange ship? Interesting.

    But that wasn¡¯t the only interesting thing about the man who had begun maneuvering the ship with precision. His figure was different from the one she recalled a few years ago.

    Enshrouded in a thick cloak, she hadn¡¯t had the chance to see the drastic change in Kay yesterday. But now, the leather short coat and tight pants were revealing his accentuated broad shoulders narrowing at the waist, his arms were bulged, and his thighs and legs were toned.

    ¡°I stole the fabric from an alien ship,¡± Morven¡¯s voice whirled her attention to his sculpted features. ¡°In that world, different colors or the combination of them defines matter or energy. Mahogany,¡± he pointed at the flapping sails, ¡°is speed, and when you squint, you can see how that speed came to be, what colors are used for this beautiful ship to sail with amazing swiftness,¡± his eyes scoured around fondly. ¡°For instance, emerald, cerulean, and mauve will give it the ability to be locomotive.¡±

    Observing the confused look on her face, he continued. ¡°It¡¯s not magic, per se, but a different law of nature from another world. A parallel world. Another Zyvern.¡±

    Now he was talking pure gibberish.

    But before she could probe any further, she lurched forward, colliding with his chest. Clythia was usually unnerved by the vampire, but nothing compared to coming in contact with his stiff skin that was felt beneath layers of garments. There was no pulse, no heartbeat, no life. He was like a well-preserved corpse of a prince, minus the smell of rot. Goosebumps raked through her body as she staggered to balance herself and took a step back.

    The sudden bump had caused those not holding anything to lose their footing. The wind and the rumble of water had abated, and the crescent moon, larger than yesterday, was an unmoving glow, surrounded by sprinkled dots.

    The ship had come to a complete halt.

    ¡°Have we arrived yet?¡± The concerned voice of Glythia came.

    They hadn¡¯t. There was nothing but water mass around them.

    Morven darted to the wheel in a blink. ¡°What happened? Did you stop steering?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Kay began twirling the wheel, ¡°Look for yourself.¡± He let go, peering at the wheel as Morven tried different motions.

    Another bump.

    This time, Clythia and everyone else were hurled backwards as the force became more aggressive, except for the vampire who was holding the wheel firmly. A wave of murmurs and panic reverberated through the crowd.

    ¡°I think we have a situation,¡± Afia said, her face ghostly as she peered down the hull. Vina and Casarda followed her gaze, whatever they were gazing at, draining the colors off their faces.

    Clythia bolted to the side of the deck. A scaled, navy-blue mass was coiled around the hull, unnervingly akin to the ocean. The ominous creak of the strained oak was accompanied by gasps and panicked whispers.

    ¡°What is that?¡± Casarda inquired, her voice shivering.

    As if in response, all hell broke loose.

    The ship tilted sideways, tossing those onboard towards the other end. Inks, parchments, and sacks littered the floor. Screams of terror and grunts filled the air as throngs of bodies collided with one another.

    Clythia grabbed a mast pole. From her line of sight, a dark bulk of water was sliding up slowly, as thick as a dragon¡¯s neck, its scales gleaming dark green like a net stretched over water. She knew it was water because the lamps placed on the porches of the cabins revealed it as such. But the problem was it was growing as if the ocean wanted to take a peek at its intruders before it drowned them whole.

    This was no manipulation of water magic; no one could pull off such a theatric act, no one was this powerful. She wasn¡¯t this powerful. This was a creature that belonged solely to the ocean.

    A small circle formed where its mouth was supposed to be and began growing slowly. As it expanded, the gust emitting from it cloyed the air with the smell of death and rot, lurching her gut and scaling bile up her throat. The broadening circle exposed yellow and black jagged teeth that were jutting inwards, poised to grind anything to ash.

    Morven was walking towards the monster, his feet adhesive on the sloped deck floor¡ªa vampiric perk¡ªand holding a dog in his arms.

    Is he insane?

    ¡°That¡¯s impossible,¡± he muttered.

    ¡°What. Is. That?¡± Clythia seethed, darting her gaze from the mouth that was further expanding to the madcap vampire.

    ¡°A Charybdis,¡± Morven stared down at the whimpering golden puppy. ¡°It¡¯s going to be alright, Mimi. Nothing will happen to you, okay?¡±

    It must have been during the chaos that he fetched his pet. Who knew the vampire had a soft spot for pets? But that would be something she would wonder about later if she got out of here alive.

    ¡°What is a Charybdis?¡± Glythia shifted his stance to a pounce, still slanted and leaning against the railing, the werewolves doing the same as they nocked an arrow and aimed at the mouth.

    ¡°A sea monster, I only read about when I was a young boy.¡±

    ¡°That was eons ago,¡± Clythia shrieked. Before the era of the Sovereign.

    ¡°If we don¡¯t jump into the water right now, we will all be swallowed whole,¡± Morven warned.

    ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± Glythia shrilled. ¡°There is nothing out there; we can¡¯t outswim this thing!¡±

    The monster darted forward, teeth caving in two werewolves.

    That was enough for the travelers to plunge into the water, swinging down the railings. Clythia let go of the mast, rolling down dangerously close to the imminent mouth before she willed a wind to hurl her towards the water. The last thing she glimpsed was Afia conjuring an orb around the puppy¡¯s head, and the glint of Morven¡¯s gratified look, before she sank into the frothing ocean, protected by a fort of wind around her.

    The arcane travelers would be as fortunate as her, if they weren¡¯t clumsy enough to die. The other species, well, may luck be with them.

 The overpowered

    Bodies were pebbling down into the ocean, the hull was viced by the crushing Charybdis, denting the structure, with planks trudging down to the bottom. The Charybdis was like a chameleon, blending in with the dark current, its web coiling around¡ªthe only tell of its presence. Its scale had a shimmering attribute, salvaging it from the almost complete darkness.

    The current, thrumming around her, wasn¡¯t completely swallowed by darkness, as there was a faint iridescent moon breaching the water¡¯s surface, giving enough vision to see the silhouette of the floating ship above and the fishes swimming close by. So, she summoned an orb, giving her a better vision of the bodies snaking underwater.

    Witches and wizards were plummeting in, like her, ready, protected by a gulf of draft, wriggling away from the ship akin to fish in no need of air. However, the werewolves and humans were weaving in and out of the surface, as they scattered away with the speed their natural abilities provided. Until the humans reemerged, their heads tucked in glass cubes.

    These little creatures.

    After inhaling a fair amount of air, a werewolf dunked in, letting his arrow fly. A futile effort, as the pressure of the water veered it off toward the pitch-black bottom. Hence, he meandered to the bottom of the hull, flanked by other werewolves, as they wedged their daggers into the coiled...water. The monster didn¡¯t budge from the incessant intrusion. There was no blood gushing out as they kept on poking at the scaled liquid.

    The arcane group was hovering like a seahorse from a safe distance, bombarding the monster with fire enveloped by air so as not to be doused by the current. But instead of scorching the Charybdis, it passed through, ambushing the hull. And some of the werewolves were caught in the crossfire, earning angry snarls towards Clythia and her companions.

    However, it wasn¡¯t the perfect time to start a fight within a huge fight, so they retreated, slithering out to the surface for another gulp of fresh air. The humans were dragging out those that were passing out before they reached the surface.

    Clythia was getting annoyed, what kind of monster didn¡¯t get affected by fire? What could they possibly use against a water monster that could devour them but they couldn¡¯t scathe? Once the monster discovered there was nothing to devour on the ship, it would change its attention the surface below. To them.

    ¡°Use thunderbolts.¡± A muffled male voice came, she whipped her head.

    Kay was beside her, face encased in a cube, his exhales smudging his features of the glass. ¡°There is salt in the water, probably in the Charybdis body too,¡± he pointed at the vicing web. ¡°There are elements in salt and water, with the presence of a thunderbolt it could transform its essence it to be acidic.¡±

    ¡°Why should I trust you? I just killed one of you yesterday, and you have threatened me for it,¡± Clythia narrowed her eyes at him, not entirely sure he could hear her.

    The human king shrugged, rather a slow motion under the influence of the liquid. ¡°Because we are all going to die if you sorceresses can¡¯t do something about it.¡±

    Clythia studied his face; there seemed to be no ulterior motive, no coy to lure her to death¡ªonly a shared sentiment of survival above all.

    Clythia stretched out to her Inner Sense, which was vibrating with her continuous use of magic; thrumming more as thunderbolts began lacing her free palm. She approached one of the scholars who was darting a ball of fire, with a frustrated, scrunched face. She told her to use thunderbolt instead and to relay the message to others, warning her to release it with air, lest they all get shocked and became underwater toast.

    Soon enough, a beam was dancing around her companions¡¯ hands. In unison, the vines of bolts licked through the water, viced around a draft, pinning the Charybdis with aggressive bolts from all sides.

    It was Afia and she who were using only one hand. The former¡¯s arm was occupied with a frantic dog, its palm digging into Afia¡¯s chest, staring up at her with sorry eyes, mouth yapping.

    Finally, they got the attention of the viscous beast.

    Its tail loosened its grip on the hull with a violent jerk, ricocheting away in a wide arc, scattering them all to dive low. Those who got in the way were violently tossed away to the darker corner, no incandescence of thunder could reveal. Two of her companions, a guard and a scholar, were plummeting down, plunging her heart into her stomach before the guard managed to repivot her position and shot down to save the scholar.

    The werewolves weren¡¯t so lucky; most hadn¡¯t reemerged to the fight, but some that did had resumed their poking, unaware of their futile effort. Unfortunately for them, they were heading to the pit with no chance of survival.

    The Charybdis zoomed underwater, its pit twice as wide as when they were on the ship. The liquid before it began gyrating towards the gigantic mouth, with small fishes twirling into the imminent doom.

    Some witches and wizards were dangerously close; Clythia could make out the black leather of the guards and the yellow garments of her servants. The whirlpool claimed them as she feared, tossing them toward the grinding void like spinning coins. Limbs flailed within the tunnel, their concentration breaking as water flooded through their draft wall and choked them.

    They arrived at the jagged cave with spiked teeth. She averted her eyes. But her ears caught the muffled grinding of bones¡ªthe only sound that emanated from the muted, terrifying monster. The agonizing death of her servants drenched her gut with sorrow. Clythia¡¯s gaze whipped back; blood was diluting the current, and everyone was zigzagging away as far as they could, clinging to dear life. She shot far away, still facing the Charybdis.

    The monster charged forth with blinding speed. Nothing could come out of this fight except a full belly for the monster, which was hunting the lambs. They were alone, the witches and wizards now scattering in the dark current. Kay wasn¡¯t there, his companions weren¡¯t there, the werewolves weren¡¯t there, and there was no sign of Morven. That cunt! Hiding in his holes when he had risked their lives.

    But Clythia wasn¡¯t ready to die without pouring every last bit of power within her. So, with all the might she could muster, she sent a wave of thunderbolts towards the Charybdis¡¯ mouth. That broke the whirlpool, and from afar, a blinding beam was charging towards the monster, then another, and then another¡ªstronger and brighter. Its mouth brimmed with light, beams dancing on its yellow teeth, giving it no space to form a whirlpool.

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    The Charybdis¡¯ teeth began to shatter like glass met with an axe, scattered in the dark current until nothing but toasted flesh remained, its greenish web melting away, leaving the beast formless¡ªindiscernible from the ocean¡¯s current.

    But Clythia was feeling feeble in her joints; her magic faltered, and water spurted in through the wall. This never happened when she used the Sovereign¡¯s magic¡ªthat power knew no limits, harbored no ill-fitted consequences. But now, the Shadow¡¯s magic, with its undesirable consequences, seemed to have its curbs, and if it happened to her, it definitely could happen to the others. The slack would lead to charging the water when one couldn¡¯t hold the draft, and that could kill them.

    She had to leave now; they all had to leave now. The monster was still weathering, dwindling to a shapeless glob. But as someone who practiced necromancy, part of her believed that as long as there was water¡ªthe main part of its essence¡ªit could revive.

    Clythia Eventuated before Vina, startling the Lady of Hypercas before she masked her expression with the coolness that matched the encased gust around the bone chilling current.

    "We need to get out now." Clythia began, as if helping her case, the beam escaping Vina''s palms tremored. She gave Vina an emphasizing gesture at the weakling rays.

    Clythia willed the wall of draft around her to whirl her out of the blue, growing its restlessness into a tornado. Its force shot her out of the depthless water mass; she kept on soaring until her eyes met the moon unveiled, until there was nothing but air around her. Then she let go of the summoned squall of air, until she could see the ship below¡ªa big chunk of planks missing here and there¡ªand landed with catlike reflexes.

    Thuds clanged around her; her companions were landing gracefully like their queen, huffing and puffing. Some of them sprawled on the deck as soon as their feet touched the floor.

    The masts were bent forward, akin to a weak stem. The sails, for the most part, were torn, littering the cabins and deck. Planks were missing from the cabin roofs and the railings.

    Shivering werewolves and humans were clad in cloaks, their clothes torn, hair tattered together¡ª

    Speaking of hair, Clythia whirled, searching for the Lady of Hypercas. Her gaze found Vina, crossing her arms and taking in the ship with the familiar scrutiny that ennobled her face.

    Clythia let out a hollow chuckle that grew into hysterical laughter, earning confused looks. Nothing was alright¡ªthe deaths would soon be crushing them all into despair, but until then, her eyes had found something to ease its edges. Vina raised her eyebrows, uncertain why the queen found her particularly amusing.

    ¡°If a Charybdis¡¯ mouth or its whirlpool or a tornado can¡¯t pluck a teeny tiny strand of your hair, I don¡¯t think any force from the skies or on Zyvern will,¡± Clythia said, gurgling with a chuckle.

    Vina ran her slender fingers over her tight hair self-consciously as laughter rung the hollow deck, cutting through the aftermath of shock.

    ¡°Maybe, when we get back, my queen, there should be a contest named ¡®Plucking the Hair of Hypercas,¡¯ with a fat prize,¡± Casarda offered, earning more laughter from Clythia and her companions. Vina¡¯s cheeks were turning a deep shade of red.

    ¡°Not a bad idea,¡± Clythia nodded at Casarda, her hair now a golden fleece, seemingly overblown by the gust.

    ¡°With that you could send The Lady of Melop out to the skies, perhaps Morven could oblige for that journey, and let us see where on Zyvern and beyond she could actually wear A. Descent. Cloth.¡± Vina cooed, gaze flicking from Casarda¡ªwho wasn¡¯t the least embarrassed by the tint of mockery¡ªto Clythia.

    ¡°I never knew I was distracting you,¡± Casarda chimed, fluttering her eyebrows at Vina.

    Vina¡¯s jaw slacked, taken aback and fuming from Casarda¡¯s audacious flirting, she opened her mouth to retort. But Morven beat her to it.

    ¡°Did someone call my name?¡± he raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking around until it stayed on Clythia¡¯s.

    The vampire¡¯s clothes were tattered. There were slashes on his long coat and pants, his hair was disheveled, and something had nicked his neck. He had no blood to shed, but if he were anything but what he was, a thin red line would have appeared.

    Good.

    At least there was some struggle; he didn¡¯t evade the fight completely. However, that didn¡¯t explain why they were fighting for their dear lives underwater because of his stupid suggestions when he was perched on his ship.

    ¡°So this is how you wanted to get rid of us?¡± Clythia¡¯s hands landed on her hips. ¡°By volunteering us to be a shark¡¯s dinner if the Charybdis didn¡¯t get us first?¡±

    ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for me distracting the Charybdis, you wouldn¡¯t have had the opening to attack him from down there,¡± Morven indicated the ocean with his chin.

    ¡°And it would have been too late for me to tell you how to defeat the Charybdis,¡± Kay swaggered forward. ¡°We thank you for saving all our lives.¡±

    Kay was the most composed of all of them. Or the one that being soaked in water well suited. He ran his fingers through his shoulder-length hair, revealing his jaw¡ªonce chubby, now sharp as a two-edged sword. His folded sleeves were glinting off protruding veins beneath his honeyed skin, shimmering with droplets.

    Morven was handsome, yes. So were Glythia and Kay in his hefty form. But the Kay before her was devastating. She had never noticed his features very well before. But now, his nose looked sharper, his brows looked thicker, his eyes looked brighter, his chest broader, his shoulders¡ª

    Afia approached Morven, dragging Clythia out of her ogling. The puppy, tucked safely in the servant¡¯s arm, was quiet, eyes closed, shivering uncontrollably, as she placed it carefully in Morven¡¯s arms.

    The vampire gave her a wide grin, and Afia returned the gesture with a warm smile and a nod.

    ¡°Well, look who it is,¡± Glythia said, peering out of a cabin. ¡°The savior of the day.¡± His words were caked with disapproving mockery.

    Clythia frowned. ¡°You are sad you are alive?¡±

    Glythia shook his head. ¡°I am alive because I fought for it. I was distracting the Charybdis as a wolf up here,¡± he drawled his ''I''s for emphasis. ¡°Why? Because you all could work a way to defeat the Charybdis from below.¡± He was shaking, and it was not because of the chill but rather a seething rage; his nostrils flared. ¡°You know, I was about to dive down, but I wouldn¡¯t be any good there. I was giving the werewolves, the humans, and you a chance at survival while Morven and I were doing the distraction as hell broke loose here. For you!¡± He yelled the last two words, making some of them jump.

    The werewolves were now flanking the Prime, gazes drilling her with hatred. Well, within two days she seemed to have earned the hatred of two races. But she wasn''t quite sure what she did this time round.

    "Oh stop whining. Shit was going down there too, you have no idea what it took from me." her arms splayed wide to indicate her companions. "From them to escape with our lives!"

    ¡°Yes, only your lives,¡± Glythia gained a step towards her, pointing a convulsing, thick index finger. ¡°The lives that only matter to you. We are fighting a water monster that hasn¡¯t existed in two hundred thousand years, for fuck¡¯s sake, but you sorcerers found a way to still think about race? To not show an inclination to save the werewolves that were fighting beside you down there? When you could have protected them with all that power at your disposal?¡± He crossed his fingers, heaving a sigh. ¡°You can summon fire, shoot ice, dip vines in poison, call on a tornado, rain down a thunderbolt, and yet you let my werewolves die when you could have saved them. ¡±

    ¡°We saved one of the dogs.¡± Clythia¡¯s head jerked towards the puppy.

    One second, Glythia was steaming with fury; the next, he was letting it out on her. Calloused fingers viced around her neck.

    She heard the swoosh of swords and the cackling of flames as dots swam at the edge of her vision. But Clythia raised a hand to hinder her guards from surging forth; they remained in place. Nor did the rest hurl their summoned fires. She was going to handle this herself.

    ¡°Your subjects aren¡¯t my responsibility, wolf,¡± she gritted out, piercing his blue eyes with newborn loathing. ¡°It is not my fault if I¡¯m overpowered for your taste. My responsibility solely belongs to my people. This trip was not meant to bring us together and break the tradition that has kept Zyvern safe. I am not here to form friendships or whatnot.¡± His grip loosened as hurt flashed through his blue eyes. ¡°And you will fucking pay for the hand you just raised.¡±

    Clythia sprinted forth, but strong arms coiled around her stomach. It was Kay, restraining her with surprising strength as her hands flailed, trying to escape his grip.

    Morven was doing the same on the other end, pinning the werewolf to the cabin door, as growls reverberated from his throat.

 The revelation

    ¡°The sun is coming up,¡± Morven peered at the horizon, a canvas of purple and orange. ¡°Kay, take over.¡±

    The vampire began sauntering to his cabin, rubbing his eyes, as Kay waltzed up the steps and took a grip on the wheel, yawning and mumbling. Even half-asleep, the human king was striking. He caught her watching. She didn¡¯t move her gaze away but gave him the impression of assessing him coldly instead of gawking at him.

    ¡°Wait, if Kay can sail the ship all along, why did you wait to arrive until night?¡± Afia asked, glancing around her as she brushed on her parchment.

    The audacity of this servant¡ªnot caring if Morven was one of the deadliest and oldest beings that roamed Zyvern. The vampire wasn¡¯t startled by her bold inquiry either; instead, he gave her a warm smile¡ªwell, what his marbled features could afford. Not even Casarda had the nerve to speak with the rulers of Zyvern. The companions they brought with them tended to avoid any conversation with the rulers but their own.

    ¡°Just being petty,¡± he said. Afia perked her eyebrows at him. ¡°I am random like that sometimes. Plus, I have to prove a point.¡± He made a subtle jerk of his head towards Clythia.

    ¡°A point of reminding us you are a vampire?¡± Clythia scoffed. ¡°You look too dead for anyone to think otherwise.¡±

    The point had everything to do with how the leaders were the dramatic sort around each other, swelling with steel pride and an unyielding ego. For instance, at the last Tithe, Zahar was clad in a garment woven with pearls, and the fabric bore the insignia of Elfive: four rings tangling to form a cross. They were hued in different colors, making the elf queen resemble a bowl of candy.

    The vampire gave Clythia a long look. ¡°I am starting to see why Glythia was feral around you,¡± he cocked his head as a breeze ruffled his coat and her braided hair. ¡°You really like to get under people¡¯s skin.¡±

    It¡¯s cute how you consider yourself as people, she said in her head. However, she wasn¡¯t in for another fight; instead, she gave Morven a bow of mockery. ¡°I am talented like that.¡±

    It had taken Morven¡¯s and Kay¡¯s earnest involvement for her and Glythia not to bite each other¡¯s heads off. Kay had escorted her to a cabin, where her mind was too fogged to struggle against his firm arm¡ªthe Charbydis and the deaths of her companions, the over-expectation of the werewolf all mixing up into a torrent of vehemence.

    Despite all the upheaval of emotions, her limp joints, drained of magic, won as the web of sleep swept her off her feet. She hadn¡¯t seen the Prime after she woke. Since it was early, the deck was empty save for the three.

    The vampire clasped his hand behind his back. ¡°You need to be careful, witch,¡± he said, but in no terms of a threat; rather, a peculiar concern was read on his features.

    ¡°Why is that?¡± Clythia cocked her head at him, letting the breeze ruffle her braids, wafting the familiar saline smell.

    ¡°You are the slave of the Shadow,¡± Morven made a stiff shrug. ¡°I know what the Shadow was like firsthand.¡±

    ¡°I am no one¡¯s slave,¡± she said with a clipped tone. ¡°When will you all understand the difference between a trade and slavery?¡± She shook her head, resting her arms on the railing and staring at the quiet mass of blue. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve already had a grueling conversation about leadership, sacrifice, and whatnot with Glythia, alright? I don¡¯t need another one. And I don¡¯t need to explain myself to any of you. I run my kingdom the way I see fit.¡±

    Morven stepped beside her, with no footsteps echoed on the planks. He should wear a bell or something; how can anyone not be spooked out? ¡°I am in no business to tell you how to run your kingdom,¡± he said. ¡°In fact, I would have done the same thing if I were in your shoes.¡±

    Clythia¡¯s gaze landed on him. ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you? I heard Cravax is in deep shit.¡±

    ¡°Because I am not in your shoes,¡± his coal eyes intensified on hers. ¡°You are oblivious to its consequences. I have lived in the Shadow¡¯s era, the worst of times...¡± he trailed off, as the clouds moved to reveal an orange ball of fire creeping up the horizon. With a blink of an eye, he ducked under a cabin¡¯s shade.

    It was the vampire who seemed startled by the intrusion of the ray, nonetheless, it made Clythia jump.

    ¡°Why am I up early, when you are perfectly fine in bright daylight?¡± Kay yelled from the wheel. ¡°Maybe I should go back to sleep.¡± The human began walking down the steps.

    ¡°Alright, I am going to sleep,¡± Morven said, following the long shadows cast by the sunrise. He gave Clythia a wink before disappearing into a cabin.

    Clythia stretched, causing a liquid of exhaustion to magnify in her joints. Maybe she should go back to sleep herself. She could feel the thrumming of her magic, yet it was weak, akin to the time when she was rushing to access the Tome.

    Perhaps she was a slave after all, selling herself and her kingdom to a strange magic she didn¡¯t have the barest of clues about, albeit she thought she had in the first place. Thinking she was the winner, that she had the advantage while she was drenching DavinSaw in inescapable muck.

    She trudged back into her cabin, telling her guard stationed there to wake her when they reached Nadir.

    Funny, she hadn¡¯t noticed the silver drapes hanging on the small window, dancing up and down with the peaceful breeze last night. She sprawled on the bed, small in its size, with a fluffy brown blanket soothing her to sleep.

    A creak and a thud of a door closing snapped her eyes open. She had closed the door when she entered, hadn¡¯t she?

    But when her eyes met those of the intruder, she didn¡¯t bother to care for the answer because it mattered not.

    The figure removed his hood, revealing thick and slightly arched eyebrows gleaming with a pebble of diamonds each, sharp jaws, broad shoulders, muscles bulging in all the right places.

    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

    And silver eyes.

    Her heart was thundering in her ears as her sight lingered on a familiar presence of metal twisted around her neck.

    ¡°Oh, not this again,¡± Clythia mumbled, pinning her gaze away from him, well aware of his movement as he leaned against the wall.

    Her fingers traced the cool metal embracing her neck. She thought of unclasping it by whatever means. However, the thought of the agony it caused the last time she attempted to disobey him, stopped her fingers in their tracks.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t miss me?¡± His reverberated tone sent a shiver down her spine. Her building resistance became a debris, curling her feet with it.

    ¡°I hardly miss someone who threatened to kill my son,¡± she gritted out as the sweet, blissful headiness leisurely clawed at her mind.

    To make things worse, he began to stroll towards her, and the scents of leather and dew seared through her nose; she shuddered. Tiyus chuckled, making the last crumbs of common sense sweep away with the wind.

    ¡°Look at me,¡± he said.

    Every fiber of her neck ached to crane towards him, but she bit her tongue, a coppery taste filling her mouth.

    ¡°I said, look at me.¡± His voice was laced with promises of what was to come if she disobeyed

    Promises of torture.

    He didn¡¯t need to further elaborate as she heeded his order and met his thunderstorm eyes, her gut churning with disgust and desire all the same.

    ¡°Why do you resist me?¡± his voice plopped to softness, as he ran his nails on her cheeks, igniting a fire on her skin. Her teeth dug deep into her tongue, yearning for a pain, any pain to cloud the headiness that was overwhelming her.

    ¡°What are you?¡± she managed to say, unable to hide the whimper in her voice.

    ¡°I do the questioning; you do the answering,¡± his fingers trailed on her lips, her breath caught in her throat.

    She scooted backwards until she was blocked by the wooden headboard. He mimicked her movement, closing the distance between them, his thigh brushing hers. ¡°I am tired, Tiyus, I can¡¯t handle you right now. I can¡¯t handle you ever. I don¡¯t want to handle you. I don¡¯t want you in my life!¡±

    The door burst open, and a figure loomed in with a flurry of air. It was Morven.

    And Tiyus was gone, vanished into thin air, as if he had never existed, as though she hadn¡¯t felt the fire on her cheeks. With him, the chokehold of metal around her neck disappeared, leaving a trail of a faint aroma of dew and leather, like always.

    ¡°What was that for?¡± Morven complained. ¡°Are you in trouble or something?¡± His eyes swept through the tiny cabin.

    Clythia was extremely relieved that someone had barged in. It didn¡¯t matter if it was the ruler that made goosebumps run wild on her skin. Even though Morven was the reflection of death¡¯s countenance, she cherished his presence as the fog of desire lifted from her mind and once again her body and mind wholly belonged to her.

    ¡°I am fine,¡± she snapped, trying to hide the relief showering her.

    ¡°If that¡¯s the case, then don¡¯t disturb those of us who are trying to rest,¡± he grunted and turned to leave.

    ¡°Please wait.¡± Her tongue blurted out the words before she could think better of it. Perhaps her sensible side of her mind hadn¡¯t fully taken control. As soon as those words left, regret was gnawing at her.

    The terror of Tiyus reappearing got the better of her ego, it seemed.

    Morven turned, assessing her with a look she couldn¡¯t decipher, and tucked his chalky hands in his pocket. ¡°What is going on?¡± he asked quietly.

    ¡°I apologize; this is really inappropriate,¡± she managed to give him a false grin. ¡°You really need to rest. I was just having a nightmare¡ª¡± Damn it, why would she say that? ¡°I mean¡ªugh¡ªnever mind. I am not a child who needs coddling, sorry to disturb you¡ªany of you,¡± she heaved a sigh.

    Fuck you, Tiyus! You fucking whore!

    Morven¡¯s jet-black brows rose. ¡°Something big is wrong, and I am not leaving until you tell me.¡±

    ¡°There is nothing wr-¡±

    ¡°You apologized for ruining my sleep,¡± he cut her off. ¡°That¡¯s very unlike you, Witch Queen. I know you hate me. I see how you look at me with disgust, and yet you just begged me to stay.¡± She didn¡¯t argue back as she watched him blankly. ¡°And you and I both know a stupid nightmare isn¡¯t capable of making you do that.¡±

    Damn it, why couldn¡¯t she get a hold of herself instead of whimpering like a child? She was expecting to tip the scales on this endeavor, to learn the vulnerability of the rulers as she did whatever Tiyus wanted from her. But here she was, the second day on the trek, and she cried like an infant in need of its mother, of all races to a vampire.

    Her worst nightmare¡ªbefore she crossed paths with Tiyus and the Charbydis.

    ¡°Why do you care?¡± she glowered at him. ¡°You were about to leave, were you not? Off you go.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care,¡± the vampire admitted coldly. ¡°But an excruciatingly long existence on Zyvern and other planets has taught me how to connect dots. I was about to leave because maybe I was interrupting your precious moment with a man.¡±

    ¡°You¡ªyou heard a man¡¯s voice?¡± Clythia had wondered, more often than not, if Tiyus could be the cruel play of the Shadow¡¯s magic, like a hallucination conjured or a force causing malediction on her son.

    ¡°I was not supposed to, why? I can¡¯t help it, I have the heightened senses of a vampire, but no, that is not it,¡± he scanned her face. ¡°You thought you were the only one who could see him. This... Tiyus.¡±

    ¡°Leave, Morven,¡± her gaze darted to the window veiled with drapes and back to him. ¡°Or I will open the window. I need only lift a finger.¡±

    ¡°If it is the thing I think it is, I am not leaving. I need answers because eventually, it will affect not just me but Zyvern as a whole.¡± Morven grabbed a chair and sank into it, leaning forward, elbows on knees.

    ¡°A certain race visiting people, in the privacy of their bed, bending their will, sealing their loyalty to the Shadow even further...¡± he trailed off. Clythia wanted to argue, to deflect, to tell the vampire to stop probing, yet some part of her wanted to get to the bottom of things. To know who this Tiyus was, what he was, the demon that threatened her one and only son. Hence, she held her tongue. ¡°The witches and wizards, the faeries, and the elves were the most susceptible to the Shadow as they were the main practitioners of magic. They were in touch with the Shadow more often than not, so its sons and daughters touched them too.¡± Clythia stiffened; the way he said ¡°touched¡± was of a voluptuous nature.

    A lump caught in her throat, and she swallowed. His coal eyes darted to the bob of her neck. At that moment, Clythia wished for nothing more than to be the dinner of the Charbydis¡¯ belly underwater.

    ¡°Not only the Charbydis but, as I suspected, the Evils are coming back. Possibly, the beasts of Surial too,¡± he said more to himself than to her, then he focused on her. ¡°You are being visited by one of them, aren¡¯t you?¡± his inquiry came quietly.

    Clythia opened her mouth, then closed it, opened it again, but nothing escaped.

    ¡°This is really bad,¡± he clasped his chin, rubbing his mouth. ¡°This is so fucking bad. What have you done?¡±

    Finally, her tongue loosened. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡±

    ¡°Oh, enough with the folderol,¡± he grated, eyes burning with impatience. ¡°How can you not know this? Ilyana was well aware. How can you not¡ª¡±

    ¡°Well, Ilyana seemed to have left out an important detail for whatever reason,¡± she seethed. ¡°Tell me what is making you fidget like a cricket, or get the fuck out of here before I kick you out myself.¡±

    Morven stilled akin to a doe listening to its hunter, never ceasing to unnerve her even as dread coiled around her gut. ¡°Have you slept with him yet?¡±

    She hesitated, uncertain of the answer. When it came to technicality, she hadn¡¯t slept with him, though he had played with her.

    ¡°Have you?¡± he asked again, echoing the dread in her.

    ¡°No,¡± she replied.

    ¡°Good, don¡¯t ever sleep with him. No matter how much he gets in your head, he hasn¡¯t had the final win over you yet. So don¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°What if he hurts my son?¡± she whispered, but the question was directed toward herself rather than the vampire king.

    His expression softened. ¡°He can¡¯t. There are a few stages of submission, and each and every step requires your consent. If you fall into his temptations...¡± The vampire king shook his head. ¡°May the gods save us all.¡±

 The deal

    ¡°Stop being dramatic, Morven. What would happen if I did¡ªI¡¯m not saying I will consummate with him¡ªbut tell me what would happen if I did?¡± Given the look on the vampire¡¯s face, she added with a sigh, ¡°Look, I¡¯m not actually considering it, I swear on Ilyana¡¯s grave.¡± She meant it, as much as her rationale mind was assured, or was capable of now that she wasn¡¯t in the presence of Tiyus.

    Morven snorted as though Clythia was asking what color the milk was without being blind. ¡°Connect the dots,¡± he ran his fingers on his chin. ¡°You are the most powerful witch, an overpowered being as you have stated, and sealing your freedom to an Evil, I don¡¯t think that will go well for us all. You are a few steps down¡ªregarding power¡ªto be the Sovereign, and if this Tiyus got full control of you, who knows what his devious motives are. Maybe he would want to conquer all of us and make us slaves to breed poisonous thorns like him.¡±

    ¡°He can do that?¡± Clythia asked softly.

    ¡°As an Evil, yes, he can. That was their purpose: to breed their line and corrupt our blood. Where do you think the extreme notion of ¡®don¡¯t mix races¡¯ came from?¡± Morven gave her a look that made her guess he was both baffled and annoyed she was oblivious of the Shadow¡¯s era.

    As much as she despised how his eyes were a bold spotlight on her, Clythia had no way of convincing him she wasn¡¯t as ignorant as Morven¡¯s stare was painting her to be.

    It was laughable that she had been gloating just a few months ago before those farmers, trying to show them she was their savior¡ªtheir oblivious savior, the savior who was on the brink of trading Zyvern to beasts who could tarnish all races. Clythia wanted to shrink within herself.

    ¡°But the Seven are not the Evils. It doesn¡¯t make sense why that was the only reason to take such a measure,¡± Clythia said. ¡°Although I agree with it, because not mixing races, whatever the motive was at first, is the right measure. It is what has kept Zyvern safe for so long.¡±

    ¡°Of course, you would think that,¡± Morven said distastefully, his gaze assessing her. ¡°Anyway, the reason was everyone feared every other race was tainted by the blood of the Evils, and interspecies marriages or any opening to that were banned. By doing that, at least the Seven can protect their bloodline. And if their bloodline is already tainted, then that¡¯s their problem to deal with and not anyone else¡¯s.¡±

    ¡°Our,¡± Clythia stated, with an assertive voice, a little pleased she had found something to accuse Morven of, to deflect his accusative glare.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Morven crossed his legs, a tad taken aback by her tone.

    ¡°You talk as if you are not one of the Seven,¡± she explained with contempt. ¡°You are the Seven.¡±

    The Seven: the collective names of the races that inhabited Zyvern; vampires, sorcerers, humans, elves, faeries, werewolves, and gods. No one knows what the race of the Sovereign was, as the omniscient being was apparently akin to an undecipherable black cube.

    The vampire rolled his eyes, with his stiff body it was an action oscillating between comical and horrifying. "This is why I really prefer other planets over Zyvern."

    Traitor.

    "Why?" Clythia probed, hopeful she would veer his attention off her further.

    ¡°Zyvern is boring,¡± Morven said, annoyed. ¡°Out there in the skies, different races live together, and with that unity, they harbor an advanced civilization. Bringing the strengths each race has and building something not a single one of them alone can achieve.¡±

    The vampire leapt to his feet with a light''s sped, new excitement ignited on his face. ¡°Two hundred thousand years and nothing has changed here. Two hundred thousand years, and we rely on our mystic abilities rather than trying to understand the natural world and hone it to perfection. Why? Because we are extremely comfortable with a peace that had festered into a disease of boredom.¡±

    ¡°And you prefer trouble? Like trouble that makes peace scarce, just to excite you?¡± Clythia asked, shrewdness dripping from her tone. But when Morven opened his mouth, she resumed quickly, ¡°Like the time during the Shadow¡¯s era, when you could hunt humans like a fox did to a deer, when you were fortunate enough not to be in the grip of the Shadow, where you were the predator alongside the Evils and the beasts of Surial.¡± She perked an eyebrow, satisfied by where this conversation was heading.

    Morven went quiet for what felt like a long minute. ¡°I would prefer any trouble any day, prefer to hunt humans like barbaric beasts if the Shadow was off the table, so you are right¡ªalmost right. I love excitement.¡±

    Clythia pushed off her feet and advanced towards him with urgency. ¡°Promise me,¡± she pleaded.

    The vampire king frowned. ¡°Promise you what?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t tell a single soul about me and Tiyus,¡± she rested a finger on his chest, exposed between his unbuttoned brown shirt, revealing marble-white skin pouring iciness to her finger.

    ¡°You have my word,¡± Morven dipped his head as his coal eyes grilled hers. ¡°But on one condition: you give me the ability to walk freely in sunlight.¡±

    Clythia¡¯s lip quirked up. ¡°You know what that entails. I don¡¯t believe you are stupid enough to make a deal with a witch.¡±

    The vampire king frowned, visibly struggling with himself about whether he should strike a deal, then he said, ¡°Fine. In justice, keeping your secret would have been enough, but-¡±

    ¡°The price of a deal is by a precious coin, one side a blessing and the other turmoil,¡± Clythia chimed in, finishing his sentence. ¡°And you requesting this after all this time, well, that speaks volumes,¡± she tilted her head, ¡°Desperate volumes. It seems your advanced civilizations didn¡¯t manage to solve your setback. You need a sprinkle of mysticism,¡± she cooed at him, pouting her lips in a mock gesture of disappointment.

    There must be some reason why he would want this ability now. Also, part of her thought that even without Tiyus, he would have brought it up somehow. Desperation was drooling off of him, despite his immaculate effort to maintain impassiveness.

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    However, his impassiveness was of a different sort than his usual carcass-like immobility¡ªan impassiveness that resembled the living when one is cornered in an unlikely situation but can¡¯t walk away, even though the price would be higher than anticipated.

    ¡°Why do you want to walk with the sun biting off your head? I assure you, it¡¯s not as enticing as many paint it to be,¡± Clythia said, amused. However, it was true that she preferred winter over any season that harbored the ball of fire frequently.

    ¡°None of your business,¡± Morven glared at her with a clipped tone. ¡°Do we have a deal or not?¡±

    ¡°We do,¡± Clythia singsonged, and tapped into her Inner Sense, which had barely boosted up. One of these days, she was certain one of her companions would succumb to madness, if she didn¡¯t. As hoped, if the hierarchy of power kept her safe. ¡°I take your ability for unorthodox speed as payment for your freedom in sunlight,¡± Clythia hummed.

    Horror splattered on Morven¡¯s face. Before he could protest¡ªtoo late to change his mind¡ªa sapphire gust gleamed around his figure. Clythia tapped her orange ring, willing a flask to pop out. The gust of light and air began coursing towards the hole of the flask hovering at her side.

    The vampire was flung onto his back, tipping the chair off as his elbow hit its leg. The flask drank the light until the last drop. Morven was panting, too exhausted to be furious as he picked himself up from the floor. When done, the flask shrunk into the bead of her ring.

    Clythia stepped back, masking her expression with blankness, and sat back on her bed, legs crossed. For Morven, it seemed she was displaying cruelty, but in truth, wielding magic again after it was recharged so little was wobbling her knees.

    Thus, she needed to pretend, so she did.

    She gave him a grin as she extended toward the frail thrum of her Inner Sense again, ¡°And I curse your tongue to lock on itself if you even think of revealing anything about me and Tiyus to anyone, or even speak about it out loud to yourself.¡±

    The thing was, for a request, the witch or wizard defined the number of curses to flank the prize with. The requester could only pray to be lucky enough to be sent off with one curse, a minor one, but if they were unfortunate, they would return with a bunch, making them regret their inquiry.

    This was practiced very often during the Shadow¡¯s era on a large scale, but during the Sovereign¡¯s era, it was a ritual seldom practiced. Races forged borders and lived amongst their own kin, and the demand for such deals was confined between stronger and weaker sorcerers of DavinSaw.

    The vampire king staggered back until his long limbs couldn¡¯t support him yet again, plopping onto the floorboard. The Rope of Promise tied around his tongue. Horror was splattered on his features, as he struggled to conceive what was vicing around his tongue and paralyzing his body. However, before Clythia¡¯s vision, a golden thread was twisting around the red flesh until it dissolved.

    Morven pulled himself up from the floor after the binding alloyed with his essence. ¡°You really didn¡¯t have to do that. I would have kept my word,¡± he grunted. "Isn''t it enough that you have already taken my speed? What would you possibly gain from taking my speed?"

    ¡°I thought I was being generous,¡± Clythia said, feigning shock.

    ¡°Generous?¡± Morven ran his fingers through his head, ruffling his jet-black hair.

    ¡°You said you liked trouble, excitement. And since you don¡¯t like peace, a peace ensured in bloodshed. A peace you find really boring, I was giving you a little treat of difficulty when you galvanize into the skies,¡± she swept her arm in a wide arc; the window bolted open, and sunlight streamed in.

    Out of habit, Morven shied away, but he was too late, thanks to his newfound sluggish speed, as the ray poured onto his marbled face and neck. If he was striking in darkness and shadow, he was gorgeous in sunlight. He should have done this sooner.

    ¡°Happy?¡± she smiled at him.

    He smiled back, tucking his hands in his pockets, mischief flickering in his eyes. ¡°Your list of falling on the wrong side of Zyvern rulers is piling up. One day, you will be the trapped bird, and no one will come to save you.¡±

    Clythia was taken aback. ¡°Do I look like I need saving?¡±

    ¡°Yes, you do,¡± he shrugged, sauntering to her, her chin raising as he peered down at her. ¡°As much as you think your magic is your salvation, it will be your undoing.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re welcome,¡± Clythia¡¯s gaze flicked onto his freedom, the rays caking his pale skin, ornamenting it with a godlike glory. ¡°Now, I would really appreciate it if you leave this room.¡±

    Morven¡¯s gaze swept over her one more time before he left the cabin, respectful enough to close the door behind him.

    Yet again, Clythia was fortunate enough to be claimed by a dreamless sleep.

    <hr>

    After what felt like a wink of an eye, Clythia was dragged out of her sleep, the ship, and out onto the land of Faerie. The sand gave way to palm trees, as they all waited to be escorted to Modyr¡¯s palace.

    Sorrow knotted her stomach whenever her eyes rushed over her dwindled companions, though they were the largest in number. Yet, she also felt proud that they died with honor, not out of childlike curiosity or lack of power, but while facing a beast unseen for centuries with steel boldness.

    Clythia had changed into a white cotton dress with patterns woven on the hem, thin threads of gold alongside fabric dyed in sapphire blue and green.

    Morven was clad in something regal too. Regal by the definition of Cravax¡¯s tradition, the presence of silver spikes on his cloak and also sharp edges for a fabric around the neck. In short, he looked like a hedgehog.

    Surprise flickered amongst everyone as they noticed Morven unbothered by the afternoon sunlight that was inches away from sinking onto the horizon. The humans and werewolves stared at Clythia and her companions warily, certain it was their doing. However, the witches and wizards were also clueless, narrowing some of their suspicions to Clythia, while some thought the surprise of the sorcerers was fake.

    ¡°My queen, I can¡¯t question your authority, but¡ª¡± Casarda began. She was wearing a sheer green garment, and her golden hair was swept into a messy bun.

    ¡°What on Zyvern were you thinking when you gave the vampire the freedom to roam freely in sunlight?¡± Vina snapped, unabashed by how she addressed the queen. Her auburn dress covered all but her slim hands and head, accentuating her parent-like scolding. ¡°Now the leech will be free to feed on all of us.¡±

    ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake, don¡¯t be a drama queen, Vina,¡± Clythia rolled her eyes. ¡°Our blood is acidic to vampires; the only ones that should fear him are the humans. Besides, I have taken something of value in return.¡±

    ¡°I hope so,¡± Vina said.

    ¡°What?¡± Casarda asked at the same time, her tone dipped in curiosity.

    ¡°His speed.¡±

    Vina perked her eyebrows as Casarda gasped. ¡°A good trade,¡± the Lady of Spies nodded, impressed.

    ¡°It¡¯s really unnerving seeing him in sunlight,¡± Vina¡¯s eyes roamed over Morven, but there was something else in tandem with her disgust; there was a speck of awe. But as her eyes left the vampire and darted toward Clythia, she was her uptight self again, making Clythia wonder if she had imagined it.

    ¡°It¡¯s not unnerving,¡± Casarda said in a seductive tone. ¡°My, my, he looks like an angel.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s an angel?¡± Clythia asked, watching Morven having a conversation with Glythia and some werewolves.

    ¡°Morven with wings,¡± Casarda responded, lost, enthralled by the vampire in a new light.

    ¡°And how do you know that?¡± Vina asked.

    The probing snapped Casarda out of her trance, and she faced the Lady of Hypercas. ¡°They were mythical beings from the Old World,¡± her gaze flicked to Clythia. ¡°I know this because I am doing my job as a spy.¡±

    ¡°How does knowing a mythical creature from the Old World help DavinSaw?¡± Vina gave her a pointed look.

    "It doesn''t." Casarda clenched her teeth, "But it doesn''t hurt to know."

    It was Clythia who rolled her eyes; in doing so, her eyes met with Afia, who was listening closely, and she gave her a look that conveyed what Clythia was feeling about the constant bickering between the Lady of Melop and the Lady of Hypercas. She tossed Afia a knowing grin.

    Three fairies approached them from the grove, lean and tall as all fairies were, wearing identical tunics made from what looked like blue fish scales, using their spears as a third leg.

    Their gaze studied the travelers'' faces, and the middle one spoke, brown hair, slightly slanted blue eyes, handsome as the two beside him. ¡°Welcome to Nadir. Our king is expecting you. Please follow us.¡±

 The legs

    They followed the three faeries into the woods for hours. Squirrels were zigzagging on barks, deer poking in and out and dashing away at the sight of them, birds chirping and flapping their wings. As they ambled on, a distant roar of a lion ruffled the feathers of the humans, making them huddle more closely to the other races.

    Night crept in with its full glory, thickened by the field of trees. The white dots in the sky were seen seldom as a chill draft bent and swayed the branches. Clythia had given her companions an order not to wield magic; they would rather stumble in the dark than waste an ounce of Garin. But thankfully, they were all salvaged from darkness by the lamps lit by the humans and the werewolves¡¯ ignited torches.

    ¡°Are we going to go all the way to the palace on foot?¡± Kay complained. ¡°The least you could do was bring us horses.¡±

    A grunt of agreement sizzled through the travelers.

    The human king was wearing a circlet on his head, and above his usual leather, he had draped a white fur cloak.

    The faeries looked at one another, then the one on the right, who was shorter and leaner than the two, spoke. ¡°Why do you need horses when you have legs?¡±

    Wait, What?

    ¡°What¡¯s your name, boy?¡± Kay asked, glowering at him.

    ¡°Rave, King Kay.¡± Rave gave him a grin that didn¡¯t reach his eyes, identical to the other two faeries. They seemed to find their exhaustion amusing and nonsensical.

    ¡°Well, Rave, why don¡¯t you carry us one by one to the palace until no one is left?¡± Kay lifted his lamp, the yellow light poured on his face, disclosing a furious expression and a pink nose chilled by the breeze. ¡°Would you be tired then?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Rave replied. ¡°Faeries don¡¯t get tired from walking.¡±

    ¡°But we do,¡± Clythia pointed out.

    Rave¡¯s emerald eyes fixed on her. ¡°I am truly sorry for your lack of basic ability. We weren¡¯t aware.¡±

    Son of a bitch.

    Rave¡¯s eyes darted to his fellow faeries then back to them, gaze bouncing from Kay, Clythia, Morven, and her. ¡°Horses roam free with zebras in Nadir,¡± he swung his arm widely. ¡°You are free to chase them down, tame, and gallop them if you want. But we don¡¯t provide that service, although we can without breaking a sweat.¡±

    Grumbles reverberated through the travelers, mumbling their dissatisfaction and spitting out curses as they trudged forward.

    It had been a while since Clythia had taken a decent long walk. If the destination was far, then Eventuation was the option. However, to Eventuate, she had to know Modyr¡¯s palace, and it could also be blocked from such intrusion like her own seat. But above all, she wasn¡¯t tempted to wield magic one more time. Not even as her bones were screaming for rest.

    ¡°Glythia,¡± she reeled her head to face the Prime. ¡°Why don¡¯t you tell Modyr we are here, that we have arrived, and also that he is doing a terrible job at receiving guests.¡±

    Glythia cocked his chin at her. ¡°How am I going to do that?¡±

    ¡°By astral projecting or whatnot,¡± she waved a hand at him. ¡°This is the best time to intrude on someone¡¯s privacy.¡±

    Glythia frowned at her for a few moments. ¡°Fine.¡±

    ¡°Wait, he can do that?¡± Morven asked, brows kicking up.

    ¡°Yes, and he has a knack for picking unseemly times,¡± Clythia gave the vampire a look mirroring his shock, remembering how it would have turned out if Glythia hadn¡¯t interrupted when she was in the middle of scolding her son.

    ¡°Why was it unseemly?¡± Kay said with a teasing tone. ¡°Were you rather intimately occupied?¡±

    Casarda giggled, but Clythia¡¯s stare froze her in place.

    ¡°I can¡¯t astral project while we are in motion,¡± Glythia said, tucking his legs beneath him and closing his eyes. ¡°So rest until then.¡±

    The werewolf didn¡¯t have to finish his sentence; by the time he said ¡®then,¡¯ a few people had already plunked down, leaning on the barks of trees or sprawling like pigs in the dirt.

    Clythia was in no way ready to ruin her pristine white dress, hence she pulled out a sheet from her ring and sat on it. Casarda, Vina, and Afia did the same, along with those who weren¡¯t too eager to take comfort in the dirt.

    ¡°You know it¡¯s weird that faerie legs don¡¯t get tired,¡± Afia whispered to her.

    ¡°It is,¡± Clythia responded. She had some theories on why that was but she was intrigued by what Afia would think. ¡°But why?¡±

    ¡°From what I read about them, the only thing they can¡¯t do, except for elemental magic, is the inability to lie. More like can¡¯t do but¡ª¡± Afia shrugged.

    ¡°And they can tell if you are lying too,¡± Clythia remarked. ¡°But that was something they developed over time. Two hundred thousand years is quite a time for a species to evolve.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Afia scrunched her face thoughtfully. ¡°Maybe their legs have evolved to walk long distances without huffing and puffing like us too.¡±

    "Or maybe they made a deal with a sorcerer to grant them this ability and it has passed from generation to generation." Clythia pointed.

    As the two women tossed theories back and forth, Clythia noted the disdain painted on the faces of Vina and Casarda. Nonetheless, they didn¡¯t dare to voice their opinion on the causality Afia was displaying. Even Clythia¡¯s guards and servants were stealing glances at them, burning Afia with a gaze brimming with judgment. But the servant paid them no attention.

    ¡°There is so much of the world we don¡¯t know,¡± Afia said wistfully. ¡°And now that the Shadow is here, the world has become not only a place of wonder but also a place of horror.¡±

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    ¡°Very much so.¡± It was Morven who answered. Clythia hadn¡¯t noticed he was nearby, and now he was sitting at the unoccupied side of Afia.

    Afia averted her eyes from the vampire, and even in darkness, Clythia could swear that a flush was climbing up her neck and settling on her cheeks.

    ¡°Where is your dog?¡± Clythia asked Morven, lifting her chin and narrowing an eye at him.

    ¡°In my ship,¡± Morven answered in a casual tone, though he didn¡¯t meet her stare, rather finding a bird chirping in its nest interesting.

    ¡°You two are getting dangerously close,¡± Clythia flicked a finger at the two. ¡°Afia, is Mimi in your ring?¡±

    Morven¡¯s lip kicked up. ¡°You know my pet¡¯s name?¡±

    ¡°Unfortunately,¡± Clythia gave him a dry grin, then returned her stare to the squirming Afia, who wasn¡¯t denying or confirming her suspicions.

    ¡°Oh, please don¡¯t give Afia a hard time because of this,¡± Morven said in frustration, Clythia¡¯s stare zapped to him. ¡°She was just trying to help poor Mimi. I can¡¯t possibly leave my puppy in the ship.¡±

    ¡°Then carry it yourself,¡± she gawked at him. ¡°My servant isn¡¯t your servant.¡±

    The vampire was taken aback; he glanced at Afia apologetically and back to her. ¡°That is not what I was doing. I thought it would be better to carry Mimi in a more efficient space, and Afia assured me the puppy would be fine in the ring because there is a lot of space in there.¡±

    ¡°I know there is,¡± Clythia snapped and cut Afia a look. ¡°Is this true?¡±

    ¡°Yes, my queen,¡± Afia blurted. ¡°But I only did this to help Mimi, not Morven.¡±

    ¡°King Morven,¡± Vina chimed in with an accusative tone. ¡°You are dangerously comfortable with each other indeed.¡±

    Afia bit her lip. The vampire darted his eyes to the rather negligible action, and some kind of emotion flickered on his pale features before it was gone in a blink.

    Wait, when did this all happen?

    Clythia pointed at the auburn metal hugging Afia¡¯s middle finger. ¡°I know you hate our custom, and you like causing or finding yourself in trouble. But go find it somewhere else, Morven,¡± her glance shifted to Afia, who was looking everywhere but her slicing gaze. ¡°I am not cruel to animals, nor do I harbor fondness; I will let you keep his dog.¡±

    Afia¡¯s face lit up, though there was a sprinkle of wariness displayed on her face. ¡°You will allow me that?¡±

    ¡°I am not going to repeat myself,¡± Clythia said in a calm tone.

    ¡°But my queen,¡± Vina¡¯s voice came.

    ¡°Shut it,¡± Clythia cut in, hurling the Lady of Hypercas a sharp stare.

    ¡°But if you decide to turn your back on DavinSaw,¡± Clythia turned to face Afia, meeting her honey eyes. ¡°If you pursue the feelings you are developing for the vampire-¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t-¡± Afia started, but Clythia shushed her, raising her palm.

    ¡°-I like you a lot, but I won¡¯t hesitate to cut your head off. If you think I¡¯m bluffing, ask the Lady of Spies what I did to her mother.¡± Clythia grinned; with every inch of her lips stretching, terror was climbing up Afia¡¯s features, freezing her in place. Then she nodded vigorously.

    Clythia eyed Morven, who was shaking his head but didn¡¯t dare question her in front of her subjects.

    ¡°Witch Queen,¡± Glythia leapt to his feet, cutting through the tension.

    She rose alongside her companions. ¡°Modyr has lowered the protective ward around his palace. You can Eventuate us.¡±

    ¡°We have been fighting until nothing remained in us,¡± she said with a curt tone. ¡°I am not going to risk my companions succumbing to madness by wielding more than we can handle.¡±

    ¡°Nothing will happen if the most powerful of you lot Eventuate us,¡± King Kay said, gaze flicking from her to Casarda and Vina.

    Clythia shot the Lady of Spies a spiteful look.

    ¡°I swear on Ilyana¡¯s grave, I have no hand in this knowledge,¡± Casarda lifted both hands.

    Rave snorted.

    ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± Casarda snapped, but Rave began whistling as if he hadn¡¯t heard a thing.

    ¡°You are lying,¡± Clythia said to the Lady of Spies. That was the only plausible explanation for the faerie¡¯s subtle reaction. He wouldn¡¯t either confirm it was the truth or a lie because his loyalty lies only with his king but it was enough cue for her to be suspicious.

    ¡°I am not lying, my queen,¡± Casarda said, staring at her like a deer caught in a trap. ¡°I haven¡¯t told this to King Kay; I swear it on Ilyana¡¯s grave.¡±

    ¡°Stop being arrogant, will you?¡± The human king cut Clythia an annoyed stare. ¡°I know this because I also have knowledge of how the Shadow¡¯s magic works.¡±

    Morven was right; she was getting on the far side of the leaders, and if they were all going to trek to the most dangerous continent in Zyvern soon, she shouldn¡¯t add more reasons for them not to cooperate with her when they face the unknown. Hence, despite it being difficult not to hurl a snide back at him, she calmed herself, peeling her eyes away from the human king.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know Modyr¡¯s palace to Eventuate,¡± Clythia said to the Prime.

    ¡°Come here,¡± Glythia waved his hand in a hither motion; she eyed him warily. ¡°I will let you see it in your mind. I hope you can take care of the rest,¡± he added in assurance.

    She approached him, and he rested his palms on her temples. The familiar brimstone scent climbed up her nostrils, and her eyes snapped closed on their own accord.

    Then she was soaring like a bird through the forest until it gave way to a large meadow and a city with strange spires and outlandish towers. They passed in a whirl, the city lights whizzing by like shooting stars. A straightforward golden road from the city to the castle was laid. The castle was stark with bold colors, flowers snaking around the towers, and thorns gleaming on the battlements with the vines of different-hued blooms.

    Before she could take the time to note the ominous shapes of the architectures, the scent of sulphur waded her senses and then she was wheeling back out the city, the meadow, the forest, her surrounding a smudge of light, black, green and brown until she was rammed back in her flesh.

    Her eyes popped open, and she inhaled as if it was her last moment on Zyvern. ¡°It doesn¡¯t get better the second time,¡± she blurted out, feeling nauseous.

    A dozen pairs of eyes were peering at her. ¡°We can Eventuate,¡± she heard more than one sigh of relief. ¡°But, payments first.¡±

    She laid out her palm, her stare meeting the Prime who was frowning at her; he hesitated a moment. ¡°Of course,¡± he mumbled, fingers searching through his pouch, and he set pearls on her palm. ¡°For me and my companions.¡±

    The human king set four pearls; the vampire, a pearl.

    ¡°Two pearls,¡± Clythia frowned at Morven, ¡°You and your dog.¡±

    ¡°My dog is in the ring,¡± he pointed at Afia¡¯s ring, disbelief splashed on his face, but Clythia couldn¡¯t care less¡ªshe wiggled her fingers in an impatient demand. Grumbling, he set one more pearl.

    Clythia handed the pearls to Casarda, who encased them in her ring. They formed a chain; anyone who was unfortunate enough to be at the side of another race was acting a whole lot of awkward about where to place their hands, eventually settling on holding a piece of garment as though it was smeared in waste.

    ¡°You can¡¯t go with us,¡± Kay said to Rave, who was waltzing into the ring they were forming. ¡°You have legs, remember.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re ordered by the king to bring you to him,¡± Rave glared down at the human.

    ¡°Well, you are not,¡± Clythia¡¯s tone deviated to mockery; Rave¡¯s focus shifted to her. ¡°I am the one obeying the king¡¯s orders.¡±

    Rave hesitated; albeit being furious, he stepped back, joining the faeries who were slicing down Clythia and Kay with a hateful stare.

    ¡°Everyone, hold on tight,¡± Clythia warned. ¡°I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re left behind because you can¡¯t get a grip of the person beside you.¡±

    They Diseventuated at the gate of the palace, startling some faeries on the sidewalk as they popped out of thin air. Some froze in their tracks, gawking at the intruders, while others scurried away like rats.

    The enormous iron gate was lit with orbs perched on the arc, beams of pink, yellow, and green pouring down on them. Where the trails of the orbs finished, an array of red roses began, encircling the gate. Such a bizarre combination¡ªa foreboding gate and a touch of vanity. It made it seem almost whimsical, a gate of an eccentric artist rather than a king of a continent.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you Eventuate us inside the castle?¡± Morven asked. ¡°Do we have to wait another day for the door to open too?¡±

    ¡°I am not going to take any chances. Do you have any idea what would happen to you if you Diseventuated where there is a ward?¡± Clythia turned to Morven. ¡°You would feel each and every moment of your bones crushing, your flesh squashing until death claimed you.¡±

    The vampire blanched.

    ¡°You could have trusted me; I¡¯ve already told you the ward was down,¡± Glythia said.

    But before she could come up with a response, a creak emitted from the gate, and the gigantic gate slowly swung open.

 The abandoned

    They walked into the castle grounds. Apparently there was no one stationed at the gate that opened it for them. The castle would have passed for ordinary except that it was draped with roses and lilies, orchids and nightshade as though they were an ornate thread on a gown.

    On either side of them, a blanket of sunflower was decked with a pattern of dahlia forming the words ''No rush''. The fusion of the rich, spicy, and floral aroma was heady, making Clythia wrinkle her nose.

    Kay snorted and mumbled something like, ¡°What a poppycock notion.¡±

    ¡°Are we in the right place?¡± Morven turned to the werewolf, ¡°This feels like a trap.¡±

    For a palace, it was eerily quiet. It didn¡¯t look as though they were in the king¡¯s castle, rather the lair of a beast.

    The human girl sneezed, her blonde hair fluttering to her face as she did so. When she swatted it off her face, her nose was red and her eyes were watery.

    She sneezed again. "I''m allergic to pollen.", she stuttered out to her king.

    ¡°Have you brought your medicine?¡± Kay murmured to her, resting his palms on her shoulders and looking at her with worry.

    She shook her head, unable to form words as sneeze after sneeze bombarded her.

    ¡°Here.¡± Clythia pulled out a kerchief from her ring and waved it at Kay.

    For a moment, Kay gawked at her as though he was dreaming of Clythia¡¯s generosity, until the next sneeze put him out of his trance. ¡°Is it cursed?¡± he asked her, squinting one eye.

    Clythia tossed him a look of mystery. ¡°Is it?¡±

    Kay¡¯s jaw ticked. Reluctant, he snatched the kerchief from her hand, tossing a glance at Clythia that promised vengeance if it was tainted. He handed it to the human who was now shaking vigorously with a torrent of sneezes, turning into a ball of scarlet, eyes weeping.

    ¡°Thank you,¡± Kay said after he assessed the human girl and was half-certain the kerchief bore no curse or hex.

    It wasn¡¯t out of kindness but out of convenience that Clythia did this. Though she couldn¡¯t fill the cracks between her and the other rulers, she could smooth the rough edges a tad until they parted ways after getting answers in Stormia. She wasn¡¯t planning on being too kind, but rather, when they thought of their enemies, she wouldn¡¯t be at the very top of their list.

    Clythia wasn¡¯t a fool to think that Kay had forgotten how she murdered one of his companions in front of him, despite it being entirely the human¡¯s fault. She was also certain he would keep his promise of vengeance. Humans might be weak, but they are not the merciful sort; even when they were cursed with a fleeting lifespan, they tended to hold a grudge. That was what her mother used to say.

    They reached an oak gate, one of her guards stretched her hand to open it but before her palms reached the silver knob, it creaked open.

    This time, it was Modyr, looking more glorious than ever, out of his usual black attire. He was porcelain-skinned with high cheekbones and a stark jawline. A few strands of dark hair floated on his forehead above slightly slanted eyes, his lips were red like a ruby, and his ears were sharply pointed; broad shoulders tapered down to a slender frame.

    Perhaps Clythia was imagining it, but the roses that lingered on the walls seemed to glow in his presence. Finally, it seemed the blooms had found their king.

    He wore a long mossy green dress with a golden sash wrapped around his waist. Down his neck, dark lines disappeared through the fabric. On top of his head, a circlet of diamond sat, catching the faint glow emitting from the room.

    ¡°Is it me, or is every ruler we have seen so far the epitome of beauty?¡± a werewolf whispered to another.

    Clythia never counted herself as beautiful, or never bothered to care. She only played with her appearance when she felt like wandering in the market. A smile tugged on her lips, which Modyr took as a welcome and reciprocated with a ghost of a grin.

    ¡°Welcome.¡± Modyr widened the door, and they stepped in one by one.

    ¡°You really know how to accept guests,¡± Kay gritted out, gaining a surprised look from the farcie king. ¡°Rulers from four continents made their way to your land, and you don¡¯t even accept them properly. What do you take us for, peasants?¡±

    Modyr shrugged, closing the gate as the last person ambled in. ¡°I don¡¯t remember inviting you,¡± he said. His gaze shifted to Glythia. ¡°You rather insisted. You treated yourselves as peasants by not bringing your prized animals to carry you,¡± he said, the last part etched with bafflement and judgment.

    The walls were creamy, and orbs of orange were chiseled into the corners of the walls, showering the room with light. The inside resembled a manor rather than a castle, with its low roof and arrangements.

    ¡°Now, is there any place to rest our feet?¡± Glythia asked him.

    Some giggled at the intentional jab.

    Modyr raised a hand to a staircase. The railing was bronze, entwined with daffodils. As they began climbing the steps, the human girl¡¯s sneezing was triggered.

    The first landing was a large area of a dining hall, high-backed chairs, a long table, and a scarlet rug.

    ¡°Where are your guards and servants?¡± Clythia craned her neck to look at the faerie who was stepping up behind.

    His nostrils flared, not in anger, but as if he were warring with himself about whether to disclose the answer. For a moment, Clythia thought he was going to say nothing, but then he answered, ¡°Mutiny.¡±

    Chairs scraped as the rulers settled first and those second in rank took the remaining seats. Modyr sat at the head of the table, Clythia took the seat immediately to his left; Kay sat on his right. Glythia sat beside her, and Morven took the seat beside the Prime.

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    ¡°Why?¡± Her tone was more concerned than she had intended.

    Hurt flashed in his eyes before it was gone in a wink. ¡°The Shadow,¡± he said. ¡°It poisoned our magic. It took more than we anticipated ¡ª I anticipated. The faeries didn¡¯t take that lightly. And now I have a continent that despises my reign, and my servants left me, except for the three you left in the forest,¡± he glanced accusatorily at the four rulers.

    ¡°Does that mean you aren¡¯t king anymore?¡± Morven leaned forward, clasping pale fingers together.

    Modyr looked at the vampire king, but his gaze held no intensity; rather, he seemed lost, recalling a distant memory. ¡°I am the king of Nadir and always will be until I bear a son and he comes of age.¡±

    ¡°A son?¡± Disbelief rippled in Clythia.

    ¡°That¡¯s the custom among faeries,¡± he said; given her look, he added, ¡°I didn¡¯t forge the law, but my long-dead ancestors and the binding magic of my throne say so.¡±

    Modyr had never taken a wife, never had sons or daughters in his long existence. He wasn¡¯t as old as Morven or Hypaxia, but he had lived a fair amount of centuries.

    Perhaps he took men for lovers or was uninterested, but whatever the case, even with the binding magic of his throne, his line was in danger.

    ¡°That¡¯s very backward,¡± Kay muttered, exchanging glances with the humans.

    ¡°No one asked your opinion, human,¡± the faerie king spat. ¡°And do I need to remind you, you are only a pilgrim?¡± For the record, Kay didn¡¯t back down but met the faerie¡¯s steel stare with iron.

    The room succumbed to silence for a few seconds until Glythia broke the awkward air. ¡°This may be a good time for you to go to Stormia with us. There, we will find the answer for all this.¡±

    Modyr¡¯s gaze flicked to Clythia. ¡°What do you think?¡±

    Clythia was taken aback. Glythia had said in the letter Modyr would be joining them if she was able to convince him.

    Weird.

    Or was the faerie king trying to pull a game that would benefit him, a game concealed by flattery.

    ¡°Why are you asking me?¡± Clythia frowned.

    ¡°Because, last time you were right. If it weren¡¯t for them,¡± his hand indicated Kay and Glythia, ¡°we would have gone to Stormia, would have found the answer, and none of this would have happened.¡±

    ¡°Why are you letting me decide what you should do?¡± Clythia asked him, peering through his coal eyes. ¡°Leaving your kingdom especially when your subjects are rebelling is a terrible idea, and you have to choose which one is more terrible, that or Stormia. And I don''t have to have a say on it, it is your problem.¡±

    The faerie king wasn¡¯t offended by her last remark. ¡°How did your subjects remain loyal to you?¡± His gaze softened, hurt and something else dancing in his features. ¡°DavinSaw expends magic as though it were a vault with infinite treasure.¡±

    ¡°They gave me a hard time, believe me,¡± Clythia said, remembering how her people mocked and despised her actions in the market.

    ¡°Just to remind you two,¡± Kay spoke, ¡°I too have made a covenant with the Shadow.¡±

    ¡°I know.¡± Modyr¡¯s lips formed a thin line. ¡°At the very worst, you would lose your crops, the air turns hostile, and with the covenant, everything will be back to how it was. You don¡¯t have to worry about wielding magic three times a day,¡± his voice was rising, ¡°or fearing it would drive you mad, or encountering strange creatures and being yoked to them.¡±

    ¡°Are you yoked with strange creatures?¡± Clythia blurted out before she could put a bridle on her mouth.

    ¡°Not I,¡± the faerie replied. ¡°But some did.¡±

    He didn¡¯t elaborate further, and another wave of grief passed his features. Clythia wanted to pry further but she didn¡¯t want to raise questions on why she was too interested in the yoking subject.

    ¡°If we had kept constant communication with each other, this wouldn¡¯t have happened,¡± Morven was looking at Clythia when he spoke, as though this was her fault all along.

    ¡°Why are you looking at me? I didn¡¯t forge the law.¡± Quoting Modyr, she earned a gut-fluttering grin from him.

    ¡°Then it should change,¡± Morven pressed on. ¡°I know about the Shadow more than any of you. How Zyvern was bathed in blood because of it.¡±

    ¡°Blood¡ªisn¡¯t that your version of paradise, vampire?¡± Clythia chimed in, with a bite in her tone. ¡°Where was your vote when I said we needed to go to Stormia at that emergency meeting?¡± She pointed a finger at him. ¡°For someone who has lived longer than any of us here, you don¡¯t smell trouble when it knocks on your door,¡± fury was rising like a tide in her. ¡°Why did you come alone?¡±

    ¡°Because I don¡¯t want to risk my subjects in a place as dangerous as Stormia,¡± Morven frowned. ¡°Not even the ones that would be a great help. Because they will be a danger to you,¡± his gaze flew to the humans.

    ¡°I find that hard to believe.¡± A chuckle rolled from her throat. ¡°You did it for the excitement, for the thrill it brings you in the face of danger. Like your travels through the skies alone, you believed this to be one of your endeavors. This is not a game, vampire,¡± she leaned to the side, so she could have a better view given the looming figure of Glythia. ¡°Before you blame any of the rulers in here or elsewhere, ask yourself if you have done enough for Zyvern.¡±

    The silence that followed her seething statement surpassed the one caused by the faerie king. Morven¡¯s nostrils were flaring; she could see his mind reeling as he considered how to respond, or if he should respond at all, but he remained silent.

    ¡°What matters now is what we should do next?¡± Glythia began. ¡°I¡¯m sure we all have things to blame one another for, but for once we have come together in the face of a crisis, we shouldn¡¯t spend our precious time at each other¡¯s throats.¡± He turned to Morven. ¡°So, what do we know about Stormia?¡±

    It took him a while to peel away his gaze from Clythia. ¡°My father was the one who struck the bargain with the Sovereign, revealing that if no one snooped about Stormia, nothing dangerous would befall us,¡± he looked around. ¡°And that was a fair bargain for them, because they got¡ªwe got¡ªa peace out of it.¡±

    ¡°Has anyone ever attempted to go to Stormia?¡± Modyr asked, twirling his ring absent-mindedly.

    ¡°The curious sorts,¡± Morven scrunched his face as if he was rummaging through a very distant memory. ¡°And they never came back. No one dared after that.¡±

    ¡°Where did this Sovereign come from in the first place?¡± Clythia asked. ¡°Understanding them might help us get the gist of whatever trap is waiting for us in Stormia.¡±

    ¡°Understanding her,¡± Glythia corrected her.

    She rolled her eyes. ¡°Not this again,¡± she muttered.

    ¡°Whether you believe it or not, my ancestors used to communicate with her in the astral realm,¡± the Prime continued. It wasn¡¯t only Clythia; as always, doubt was transparent on the rulers¡¯ faces, save for Kay, whose expression was unreadable.

    ¡°What was the nature of the communication?¡± Modyr asked, still playing with his emerald ring.

    ¡°I don¡¯t think it entails anything of importance. But,¡± the Prime gasped, and excitement lit his face, ¡°my mother used to tell me how the Sovereign was close with my great-grandmother. And she also told me that the Sovereign, despite being an omniscient being, seldom exercised that power. The Sovereign believed that if she accessed knowledge all the time, her endless life would be filled with boredom.¡±

    ¡°That would be boring. It is hard to blame... her,¡± Morven said, toning the last word with a sprinkle of skepticism.

    ¡°Some people have power they can¡¯t stomach,¡± Kay said, and Clythia nodded in agreement.

    ¡°What if that was the case of the blight occurring?¡± Modyr suggested. ¡°The Sovereign, in fear of boredom, didn¡¯t see it coming, intentionally.¡±

    Clythia shook her head. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s not get ahead of ourselves,¡± she said, staring into the blue eyes of the werewolf king. ¡°That is a nice tale, but do we really know it¡¯s the right tale?¡±

    He moved an inch towards her, reminding her of his mountainous figure in the astral plane. ¡°Do you have any better theory?¡±

    No, she didn¡¯t. From the arcane community, it was Ilyana who struck the bargain with the Sovereign and she didn¡¯t convey anything of importance regarding the Sovereign, only what the vampire king had said.

    ¡°All I am saying is, we are venturing to Stormia and we can¡¯t do it with wrong assumptions,¡± given the look on Glythia¡¯s face, she added. ¡°It could be the right one, but we don¡¯t know that.¡±

    ¡°Unless we find a better explanation, that¡¯s the best we got,¡± Morven conceded.

    Kay cleared his throat, as though to remind all of them that he was also part of the conversation. ¡°Have any of you encountered strange things with the Shadow? Like the strange creatures you mentioned,¡± he said to Modyr. ¡°Because I have, and I sensed animosity among the Shadow and the Sovereign. Perhaps we could get a better perspective of the Sovereign from the Shadow¡¯s lenses too. Maybe make the Shadow spill secrets of the Sovereign.¡±

 The embarrassment

    ¡°How are we going to make the Shadow do that?¡± Clythia drawled out the words.

    Kay met her gaze. ¡°You made a covenant with the Shadow,¡± he leaned forward, and some kind of understanding passed between them. ¡°That¡¯s where you will find your answer.¡±

    ¡°I am not going back to DavinSaw,¡± she huffed, ¡°not yet.¡± She said the last part softly, remembering Tiyus¡¯ coercion.

    ¡°You don¡¯t have to.¡± The human king¡¯s gaze shifted to Modyr. ¡°The Shadow is in every corner of Zyvern.¡± Some shuffled in their seats, terror and curiosity splashed on their features as the truth of the Shadow and the Sovereign unveiled before them. ¡°Where did you make your sacrifice?¡±

    ¡°Somewhere in the castle,¡± the faerie king leaned back, fiddling with his ring.

    That took the air out of Clythia¡¯s lungs. A disruption rippled through the room. Some gawked at the walls as if the Shadow was going to loll out and drag them in. The werewolves were muttering something under their breaths that sounded like prayers.

    ¡°All this time?¡± Morven began, disbelief and rage swamping his features. ¡°It was here?¡± The last question seemed to be directed toward himself rather than the faerie.

    ¡°Do you know of it?¡± Modyr asked softly.

    ¡°That bitch lied to me, then,¡± the vampire muttered, unaware that everyone had stilled at his out-of-the-blue revelation. It took him a few seconds to realize all eyes were pressed on him. ¡°It¡¯s a long story. And no, it wasn¡¯t during the Sovereign¡¯s era; I haven¡¯t broken any forged rules,¡± he spat.

    ¡°We can also summon the strange creatures you spoke of,¡± the human king started, ¡°if they meant no harm, or if we can handle them.¡±

    If Clythia was fate, what the human king suggested sounded like the turning point of bad things morphing into the worst.

    ¡°What are these strange creatures?¡± Glythia asked, wariness in his tone.

    ¡°The Evils,¡± the vampire and the faerie said in unison.

    Clythia¡¯s heart danced on its tiptoes before sinking down to her stomach.

    ¡°And the Beasts of Surial,¡± Clythia stuttered out, trying to sound as casual as possible.

    ¡°Those beasts are confined only in Surial,¡± Kay said. ¡°That¡¯s what history says.¡± He looked at Morven for confirmation; the vampire nodded.

    Here Clythia thought she was well-versed about the two profound eras that hammered out Zyvern to its current form. Yet, she knew so little. Even the human king¡¯s knowledge put hers to shame.

    She had scoured every piece of literature there was to know about the stark differences between the two eras¡ªor what was available in DavinSaw. If she hadn¡¯t read it herself, scholars had read it for her; Wigmond had taught them to her.

    Her mother grilling her on the Lore of the Eras was one of her earliest memories. Nonetheless, she knew so little. She boasted about knowing better than her subjects because she was a royal, and yet now she felt very stupid, and the desire to shrink away grew in her.

    A sudden brush on her knuckle spewed her out of the self-shaming thought. Modyr was shuffling his arms. It seemed an unintentional action, yet when she met his eyes, a reassuring gaze pinned her in surprise before it was gone in a blink.

    ¡°Summoning the creatures is a very dangerous thing,¡± Modyr turned his attention to the human king. ¡°There is nothing they will do without their own twisted motivation. They are Children of the Shadow; you can¡¯t expect them to do anything out of the kindness of their hearts. We are already in enough of a pit because of the Shadow as it is.¡±

    Clythia wanted to probe further about their origins of the Children of the Shadow, since it meant more knowledge about Tiyus. However she bit her tongue, the desire of not revealing her foolishness further more winning over her curious mind.

    ¡°I agree,¡± she said, sounding as nonchalant as possible. ¡°I have no interest in being involved with the vile creatures.¡±

    A sharp shooting pain speared her waist. She yelped, then bit her lip to bar the unfinished scream, suddenly aware that all eyes were trained on her.

    ¡°Are you all right?¡± Glythia scanned her with his sky-blue eyes, which didn¡¯t seem to dim even in the faint light of the etched orb.

    A servant and guard of hers approached her; she waved them off.

    ¡°I am fine,¡± she said with a trembling tone.

    She was anything but fine.

    The pain was now morphing into a molten lava of pleasure that was snaking down her spine. Something wet was trekking down her temple and her back. Sweat was enveloping her under the pristine white dress.

    Fuck, not now!

    ¡°You are shivering,¡± Glythia claimed.

    Her left hand was trembling out of control; she withdrew it from the table and tucked it between her thighs.

    Clythia wasn¡¯t going to let them see her disintegrate into pieces. The last thing she saw was the intrigued stare of King Kay before she let darkness swallow her whole, envisioning the roses at one corner of the garden she saw in the grounds.

    ¡°Really, I called your lot vile and you chose to be petty?¡± The pain doubled, and the pleasure licked her core with more vigor. She moaned from the pain or the pleasure¡ªperhaps both¡ªleaving her disgusted with herself for being too weak. ¡°I apologize. Please don¡¯t embarrass me in front of everyone.¡±

    The pleasure dulled as though someone had trapped her in an ice cube; the pain on her waist ebbed away, magnifying the stings conjured by the thorns digging into her palms and arm, sullying her white dress in red, a hue matching the petals of the roses.

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    She hissed; her head was swimming. Her knees wobbled in her attempt to stand up, as though she were in a delirium caused by old wine.

    Before her blurry vision, a pair of muscled legs clad in boots and dark fabric appeared. Clythia didn¡¯t need to lift her chin to know who it was. The scent of dew and leather had already announced the identity.

    ¡°I only require utter obedience from you, my queen,¡± Tiyus crooned, the last two words like an ironic jab.

    He fell silent for a moment as Clythia stumbled to her feet, yet failing again. Her gaze remained lowered; she didn¡¯t trust herself to look into his eyes, fearing she wouldn¡¯t be able to maintain her composure.

    ¡°Once you are assigned a chamber, I will be waiting there. You can ask me anything about the Sovereign,¡± he said. Of course, he knew about the conversation; how he knew, she wasn¡¯t willing to find out, and at this point, it mattered not. ¡°More importantly, you will know your mission in Stormia.¡±

    ¡°I only want to go home.¡± Her throat was dry, her voice hoarse like sandpaper. ¡°I don¡¯t care about the Sovereign.¡±

    ¡°I am flattered by how attached you are to me, embracing the Shadow unlike the human or the faerie,¡± he said with a low chuckle. ¡°The orange doesn¡¯t fall far from the stem.¡±

    Did he just imply that he knew her ancestors? Someone who entertained the Shadow''s embrace?

    Ilyana.

    Despite DavinSaw being mystic-heavy, it wasn¡¯t a religious nation; only one person was revered almost as a deity, and that was Ilyana¡ªthe witch who battled the slavers, saved her continent, and struck a deal with the Sovereign. She was the definition of bravery, leadership, and strength.

    Yet, Ilyana was in the clutches of the Shadow willingly...no, Clythia¡¯s thoughts were rushing to conclusions. This wasn¡¯t true¡ªTiyus was lying.

    All the inquiries were on the tip of her tongue, but opening her mouth would be an act she would come to regret, given that insults and curses would be pouring out too. Hence, she diverted her fury to her inner cheek, allowing her teeth to dig into the soft flesh.

    ¡°You are not going to ask about what I meant by that?¡± Tiyus tisked. Some part of her was pleased she hadn¡¯t fallen for his bait.

    ¡°You are learning to behave, my queen. Impressive,¡± his voice lowered one pitch. ¡°No matter how slow, the steps you are taking toward obedience are admirable. You will be rewarded soon.¡±

    Now she wished she had said something to wipe the smug look off the face she was deliberately avoiding.

    If Tiyus had said this on the first night she met him, she would have been his mat on the floor, bending to his every whim and kneeling until her knees were branded. Yet then and there, despite her animalistic instinct purring to his voice, her gut flipped, sending bile darting up her throat.

    He crouched down, his face swimming into her vision. She ducked her chin even lower. ¡°Now that you are my slave, your will no longer belongs to you.¡± His finger tipped her chin up. Her eyes rolled further down, focusing on the tip of her nose, avoiding the calloused arms just a tad south of her gaze.

    Her tongue slid between the gears of her teeth, replacing her inner cheek; blood and saliva swam in her mouth. It was taking all her power not to unleash her fury on the Evil.

    Yet as much as she hated Tiyus, she hated herself twice as much. This was her fault. As a queen, she should have known better than to welcome a stranger into her bed. This was the real world, not a fantasy tale spun by an erotic author from Melop. Now, her lust had gotten the better of her and doomed not only herself but almost doomed her son as well. If she wasn¡¯t careful, it was likely to doom DavinSaw too¡ªeven the whole planet.

    The thought of her son was the anchor she was clinging to with all her abilities, preventing her from unleashing all the magic thrumming within her on the vile beast before her, from Diseventuating to her palace to see how Clen was doing, or from succumbing to the desire that threatened to engulf her.

    ¡°Go back to the meeting,¡± Tiyus ordered.

    With a flick of her finger, the wounds and blood faded from her skin. Darkness swallowed her whole, and she popped out on the very seat she disappeared from.

    Startled faces welcomed her; some jumped in their seats. The werewolves muttered something under their breaths. The humans exchanged glances, sharing a shared hatred for her among themselves. Even the vampire tossed a stiff flinch at the sight of her. Modyr raised a brow, concern flickering in his eyes. Glythia made the scene more dramatic by sloping his monumental figure to the side and pushing on Morven.

    ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she snapped at Casarda, who had left her chair and was scuttling toward her. ¡°Sit your ass down,¡± the Lady of Spies retraced her steps back, eyes still on her¡ªwhether the worry gleaming in them was genuine or not, she couldn¡¯t tell.

    However, Clythia was anything but fine. Panic had her in a chokehold. The fact that a cruel monster¡ªit was a good thing Tiyus couldn¡¯t read her thoughts¡ªhad so much power over her was rattling every fiber of her being.

    It was as if the Evil was everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Wherever she was, he was there too. Her mind was the only sanctuary he couldn¡¯t step into, and she was glad for that as she used that one freedom to rain down insults on that son of a whore.

    Perhaps what she wanted was not to go back home but to Stormia, to find the Sovereign and beg them to cleave her from this curse. She couldn¡¯t live like this; this would only lead to losing herself and becoming a toy for the Evil until no will of her own remained.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t touched your plate,¡± Modyr murmured to her, yanking her out of her thoughts.

    As her mind was reeling, she was half-aware of what was going on around her. After more discussions on plans to execute in Stormia, a meal was served, mainly a variety of fruits and bean soups. The aroma was inviting, however Clythia had lost appetite.

    ¡°I can¡¯t see any meat.¡± Clythia said, taking a bite of a fruit punch, it tasted amazing. ¡°This is a dessert, not a meal.¡±

    ¡°That is barbaric,¡± Modyr shuddered.

    ¡°Yet delicious,¡± Glythia said with a mouthful.

    ¡°I don¡¯t expect a dog to think otherwise,¡± the faerie said.

    The Prime clanked the fork on his plate. ¡°You two would make a formidable couple,¡± his gaze bounced from her to the faerie.

    ¡°What did I do?¡± Clythia raised her hand in a gesture of innocence.

    ¡°What didn¡¯t you do?¡± Glythia grunted.

    His accusation wasn¡¯t only about the similar comment she dished out to the werewolf king. Clythia had the feeling his tone carried blame for her indifference to his werewolf¡¯s funeral, for murdering the human girl, and, more importantly, for binding herself to the Shadow.

    Clythia had doled out her patience to its last drop, thanks to Tiyus, and she didn¡¯t regret crossing one more line between her and the rulers as she let an invisible force slam Glythia¡¯s face onto the pile of fruit punch on his plate.

    The werewolves dashed toward their king in unison. Strong hands pulled on his shoulders to peel him from the plate. His hands pushed on the table, managing to drag it along with his face until those sitting on the other side were chased out of their seats and ramming it against the wall.

    ¡°This,¡± Clythia hissed in his ear, ¡°I didn¡¯t do this.¡±

    Then she let him go; his face was dripping with fruit juice, his eyes were bloodshot from the vinegar and lemon, tears mixed with his sticky face, and slabs of salad stuck to his forehead, slowly sliding down his nose and plopping onto the plate¡ªhalf its contents were scattered on the table.

    Modyr clapped his hands and laughed wholeheartedly. Not only him, but the sight of the lethal werewolf in such a diminished manner was whimsical enough that even though almost everyone despised Clythia, they didn¡¯t withhold the laughter bursting out of their mouths.

    The werewolves didn¡¯t find it funny, though; they were glowering at her with ice-cold hatred. One of them raised a fist to barrel it toward her face; the reverberating laughter ceased abruptly.

    When it was an inch away from her cheek, his fist froze, and its direction veered toward his own face, connecting with his jaw with such force that he flipped back onto the mat. The laughter resumed with more energy.

    Glythia wiped his face and leapt to his feet, sneering at her, baring his teeth, revealing his elongating canines. A growl rolled off his throat that belonged somewhere between a man and a beast.

    ¡°If you touch the Witch Queen in my territory,¡± Modyr¡¯s voice came softly, ¡°I will destroy you, so please sit down and enjoy the generous hospitality I¡¯m extending, Glythia Amandaw.¡±

 The resistance

    It had been hours since everyone retired to their chambers. The faerie king had given them permission to choose whatever room they desired, and they did¡ªat least everyone but the werewolves.

    Her companions had picked out the best room for her first. Then, they chose nicer bedchambers for themselves and didn¡¯t hesitate to use force when the werewolves were interested in their choices. Some even had the nerve to hurl the werewolves out after they had occupied them first.

    It seemed the sorcerers had lost the reverence they had for the werewolves after the embarrassing stunt she pulled on their king. This was why they say, ¡°Lead by example,¡± as the action of the leader would ripple down the hierarchy. It was unwise given the long trek that awaited them all.

    Yet, like many things nowadays, it was her fault.

    She started it first.

    Clythia gulped the contents of her red wine glass in one go. How many glasses had she had? Three? Four? Six? She had lost count because as soon as it was empty, it refilled itself, and the only indication was that she was leaving the tipsy territory and settling on the drunk ground.

    The hall was in a tranquil silence, showered by vibrant orbs. Rays of pink and green were showering her, such a stark difference from the gloomy cloud vicing around her heart.

    Sooner or later, she was going to enter her bedchamber. How long was she going to avoid the beast that awaited her?

    The ceramic engraving of animals encircling the door was a beauty to behold; it was inviting, even soothing. However, if she stepped inside, she would be nothing more than an puppet maneuvering to the Evil¡¯s whim.

    Hence, she was leaning on the balcony and looking down at the breathtaking city whose name she forgot to ask. In normal circumstances, she would have, but normal had become a luxury that was spiking in price, one she couldn¡¯t afford.

    The outlandish spires and towers were gleaming with lights bright enough to pollute the night sky. The flowers coiling around buildings had more function than aesthetics it seemed; they were the torches of the city, bathing it in light so intense that even faeries dallying in deserted alleys were visible.

    The only comparison she could find for the buildings was with cookies. They came in different sizes and shapes, as though the faeries had the architectural freedom to sprout any kind of building that came to imagination.

    Who would think such an enthralling and whimsical place belonged to the Shadow?

    ¡°No sleep?¡± A voice came. Clythia whirled to see Vina in a rose nightgown occupying the space beside her.

    ¡°I don¡¯t want to sleep,¡± Clythia admitted.

    ¡°Neither do I,¡± Vina said. ¡°This place creeps me out. It¡¯s too colorful,¡± she shuddered in disgust. ¡°My favorite color was red, but now that I have seen a lot of it, I don¡¯t like it anymore.¡±

    Clythia gave Vina a long look. This was weird. The Lady of Hypercas talking with her in such a loose manner... she was imagining things, perhaps there was such a thing as too much wine.

    The rivalry between Clythia and Vina began even before she became queen when they both attended Wigmond. Nothing had disappointed Clythia more than when Vina graduated in first rank and she was in third, the second occupied by her late husband, Din, the Asshole.

    ¡°What is your favorite color?¡± Vina asked, as though the stunt she was pulling was completely normal, her stern face overlooking the sprawled city.

    Clythia wanted to bite back, to retort, to snap at the Lady of Hypercas about what game she was playing, to order her back to where she came from and leave her be.

    However, that felt like a never-ending chore she wasn''t willing to work on. Thus, despite her feral instincts that were being smothered by the wine, she simply said, ¡°Grey, sadly I still like it too.¡±

    Vina shifted her gaze to her, her expression unreadable. After a moment of silence, she said, ¡°Why is it sad?¡±

    Clythia only shrugged in response, gulping the contents of the glass.

    ¡°I was right, then,¡± Vina whispered, curiosity and dread in her tone.

    Clythia whipped her head around, leaving her lightheaded but not wobbly enough to lose her ground. ¡°Right about what?¡±

    The Lady of Hypercas didn¡¯t know about Tiyus, right? She was a smart woman, unfortunately, but not smart enough to connect grey with the Evil¡¯s eyes.

    And yet, Vina was still assessing her, as though she was waiting for Clythia to expose herself.

    ¡°Perhaps, I should put your head on a spike for your defiance,¡± Clythia sneered. "Answer my question!"

    Vina took a long sigh. ¡°There, finally. It took you long enough.¡±

    ¡°Long enough?¡±

    ¡°Yes, your manners were civil,¡± Vina snorted. ¡°I almost didn¡¯t recognize you with your calm response and demure.¡± She said the last two words with emphasis. ¡°Which can only mean one thing.¡± She paused, eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, my queen?¡±

    The world was flipping on itself¡ªVina had called her ¡®my queen.¡¯

    Clythia gestured with her hands to encompass her surroundings. ¡°Have you seen where we are right now? Do you even need to ask what the matter is, when we are stranded in a foreign kingdom, stooping low and begging for sanctuary?¡±

    Fury was steaming off of her. ¡°Are you too blind to see that I have left my kingdom for a journey we might not return from and that ¡®might¡¯ is stretching our luck.¡±

    She heaved a sigh. ¡°I wish I could get back to being feral on you lot,¡± her voice hitched, and she looked away. ¡°I wish I could return to those times when we all used to bicker over stupid and petty things.¡±

    ¡°I wish that too,¡± Vina¡¯s voice came softly. ¡°Do you remember that one year in Wigmond when you burned down a classroom because I scored one more mark on Advanced J.H.N?¡±

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Clythia chuckled. ¡°And do you remember that time when our scores were a tie and you put a hex on me so that you could win the tiebreaker question?¡±

    Vina nodded, tossing Clythia a very rare smile. "Good old days."

    "Good old days." Clythia repeated.

    They were staring at the city for a very long, silent hour, the silence breached occasionally by her rather busy mouth swaying with the wine.

    For the very first time, Clythia wasn¡¯t threatened by the Lady of Hypercas, and Vina¡¯s mask of judgment had worn off too. She was rather occupied by the whimsical city before her, lost in thought, finding it far more interesting than nitpicking Clythia.

    Vina retired first to her chamber. Not long after, Clythia did the same, her heart pounding as her fingers wrapped around the doorknob and opened it.

    There was a low-footed bed with a curling leg perched on one corner, and on the white bedsheet, as though it was his territory, Tiyus was waiting.

    ¡°You are very honest when you are drunk,¡± he remarked in a low voice.

    Here we go, that heady feeling again.

    Tiyus sat upright, leaning on the creamy wall. The room was semi-dark. No light was in sight, but somehow Clythia was able to make out Tiyus¡¯ form just fine.

    ¡°Don¡¯t you ever get drunk like that,¡± he said. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to be spilling my plans to your comrades.¡±

    Clythia chuckled, sliding down to sit on the mat, back to the door. ¡°If I knew that angered you, I would have done it more often,¡± her chuckle resumed.

    ¡°Now, Master,¡± she gave him a wobbly smile, the headiness Tiyus was inflicting and the wine working in tandem, lifting off the dread of the situation almost by half. ¡°Oh what is thine wish, thy servant is here to fulfill it.¡±

    She giggled like a child, covering her mouth.

    ¡°You are not going to ask me anything about the Sovereign?¡± he asked.

    ¡°Should I?¡± The words slurred out. ¡°What¡¯s the point? I¡¯m not here like the others on a heroes¡¯ venture. I¡¯m here to fulfill your command, and if I didn¡¯t¡ªwell, you would hurt my son.¡± She raised a finger. ¡°My mistake, you would kill my son. So dish it out, your plan, your mission, and let¡¯s get this¡ª¡± she pointed at both of them ¡°¡ªover with.¡±

    ¡°Oh my queen,¡± Tiyus¡¯ lip quirked on one side. ¡°You and me,¡± he mimicked her gesture, ¡°are endgame.¡±

    ¡°Then how can we not be endgame?¡± her words felt like sand forming on her tongue. There should be a way. ¡°How can I get rid of you?¡±

    ¡°By killing the host I possess.¡±

    That response seemed to sober her up a bit. Like always, this seemed like one of his games. There was no way he was telling her his weakness.

    ¡°Is that one of your mysterious riddles to solve?¡± she asked. ¡°You and your mother are fond of riddles.¡±

    The Shadow and her Children.

    ¡°No, I¡¯m afraid there isn¡¯t this time,¡± he leaned forward, pinning her with his stormcloud eyes, goosebumps washed over her and her core began throbbing. ¡°Speaking of riddles, have you solved the seer¡¯s riddle?¡±

    Clythia tisked. ¡°Don¡¯t go breaking rules on me now, Tiyus. You said, first you answer my questions, then you¡¯ll tell me the mission.¡±

    ¡°I answered,¡± he raised one of those perfectly arched eyebrows. ¡°And I thought you weren¡¯t interested in that proposition?¡±

    Clythia shrugged. ¡°I changed my mind. Like you suggested, I will ask first and you will tell me why I''m in candy city, Master.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps I was wrong,¡± he tilted his chin, exposing his sculpted jaw to the light that was invisible to Clythia¡¯s eyes. ¡°I like it when you are drunk. I like it when you call me Master.¡±

    His low voice reverberated through her bones, sending her back arching on its own accord, lips parting for a moan to escape.

    Would it be wrong to bite on the forbidden fruit, just this once... just this once? To taste the honeyed skin on his neck, to slide her tongue on his chest, and go lower, and lower and¡ª

    No!

    Clythia shook her head, as though she could visibly swat off the thoughts that were cascading up her mind and wrapping her senses. It was difficult to fight off her drunk self.

    She couldn¡¯t do it by sheer will, so she resorted to lower means.

    ¡°Please, Tiyus,¡± her lips trembled; she shut her eyes. ¡°Please. Don¡¯t.¡±

    The tickling, the pleasure that was building up, eased, still lurking in the corner like a predator circling its prey.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± his voice came. ¡°I got excited for a moment there. You can open your eyes. And ask me what you want. I will allow two more questions only.¡±

    She opened them but didn¡¯t dare to look him in the face. ¡°Why did you tell me about¡ª¡±

    ¡°How to get rid of me?¡± he finished. ¡°Because you can¡¯t get rid of me. Because you are too weak and arrogant. The host I possess is very powerful. I don¡¯t think you can beat them even if you plot for two folds of your lifetime. A countless millennia might not be enough either.¡±

    ¡°Them?¡± she said, shock rippling through her. ¡°You possess the Sovereign?¡±

    A laugh boomed in the room. Clythia dared to look up and saw Tiyus shaking with laughter, his head tipped back. ¡°I don¡¯t know why you mystify the Sovereign, as though she is untouchable, a mystical being that exists far, far away.¡±

    Tiyus met her gaze. Before wrong feelings could start to seep in, she averted her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t possess the Sovereign, sadly. That¡¯s why I want you to destroy the Sovereign.", he said. "I don¡¯t want any of the rulers to interfere and bring the Sovereign back to power.¡±

    ¡°The Sovereign isn¡¯t in power anymore,¡± Clythia said, her throat dry, and the wine wasn¡¯t the only thing responsible for the dehydration, but the revelation that was brought to light. ¡°What happened to her?¡±

    ¡°That would be a third question. You know the rules, my queen,¡± he smirked.

    ¡°I thought I was weak. I don¡¯t think I can destroy the Sovereign,¡± Clythia said, after carefully adjusting her question to a statement.

    Tiyus seemed to know because his grin widened, revealing the most beautiful teeth in the universe.

    ¡°You will if you solve the riddle,¡± Tiyus said.

    ¡°In land forsaken, dreams awake,¡± Clythia began to sing-song.

    ¡°With the wisest one, a pact was made.¡± She was impressed her mind wasn¡¯t too foggy to remember.

    ¡°It swooned the queen to abandon her bed.¡± Clythia paused. ¡°It¡¯s talking about the Sovereign. It wasn''t talking about me like I thought.¡±

    ¡°Leaving her land for the flair to take.¡± Her gaze pinned on his face, though the action was melting her being, she didn¡¯t cower in the Evil¡¯s bliss. ¡°The Shadow.¡±

    Tiyus had said the seer was one of his minions and the seer had been sent for Clythia by the Shadow or him, and warned her about falling into the wrong hands.

    ¡°Can I ask one more question, please?¡± she asked, in an unconvincing tone of politeness.

    ¡°You can ask another two more, if you let me touch you,¡± he said. ¡°And when you talk to me, address me as your master, my queen.¡±

    Was the question worth his touch? Yes! her animalistic side, in the chokehold of alcohol, bellowed. No! her saner side retorted back.

    No one made her feel like the god before her, who was the personification of desire.

    He was Desire himself.

    However, the fire that was licking his iris hungered to touch her too, as she yearned to let him do so.

    ¡°Don¡¯t fight it,¡± he whispered.

    The wisp of air that left his mouth latched onto her, and she couldn¡¯t control the tremble her body was obliterating into.

    ¡°You are not playing fair,¡± she said through clenched teeth, her pointy nails biting into her palms, the sting and the wetness telling her she was bloodying them. ¡°The more you pull your tricks on me, the more I will fight.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re a brat, my queen,¡± his tone lowered even deeper. ¡°You enjoy standing straight like the queen you are, until I bend you over.¡±

    ¡°No!¡± she yelled.

    ¡°Yes,¡± he said softly.

    ¡°No means no,¡± she said, slithering like a snake on the mat, her body betraying her.

    ¡°I have millions of questions, but Tiyus, none of them are worth binding myself to you more than I have,¡± she gritted out, her voice quivering and her throat aching to moan. ¡°You leading me to a release I have never experienced before with a finger and magic I can''t understand was the first step I took to seal my miserable existence to you.¡±

    She shuddered out a breath, her eyes trained on the dome-like roof engraved with two fairies kissing. Not helping! She slammed her eyes shut.

    ¡°But that isn¡¯t the final seal, because I still have the will to say no. Because that will be taken away from me when I let your cock in me!¡±

    Clythia was gambling on the last part. When Morven asked her if she had slept with Tiyus, she was uncertain of her response. Because technically they hadn¡¯t shared a bed yet, hadn¡¯t become intimate...fully.

    And now she was in a moment where she could confirm her response to the vampire as the truth or not.

    ¡°Morven is more dead than he already was,¡± Tiyus gritted out.

    Clythia¡¯s gamble had paid off; she was right. She could cling to her frail will for as long as she could.

    But woe for the vampire king.

 The funeral

    ¡°Have you seen Morven?¡± Clythia was striding down the hall and poking her head into each room, asking anyone she encountered along the way. Of course, the werewolves and humans were grumpy, unwilling even to meet her gaze without cursing or glowering, but she couldn¡¯t care less. She had to find Morven.

    Now.

    It seemed she wasn¡¯t the only person roaming the hall in the morning, as dawn gave way to the warm ball of fire that was melting the chill of the night. Afia was storming towards her too.

    Clythia wasn¡¯t sure if she should be annoyed that Afia would be the one to tell her something bad happening to Morven, given how they were not afraid of each other, at the very least. And that kind of boldness leads to all types of stupidity.

    ¡°What happened to Morven?¡± Clythia halted, and so did Afia, her flaming red hair coming to rest. Her cheeks were flushed, and around her eyes, there were dark circles.

    Afia was taken aback by the her question, and she tossed her a look that suggested it wasn¡¯t her business to keep an eye on the vampire¡¯s well-being. ¡°Um, I don¡¯t know. But we have a situation,¡± her voice went hollow. ¡°We have lost a guard.¡±

    Clythia was counting down until their stretched lack would come to an end. This was the third day since their encounter with the Charbydis, and the Shadow, with its rule broken, hadn¡¯t given them a lengthy moment of reprieve.

    It wasn¡¯t the first, and if they kept on stumbling across unprecedented situations, it wouldn¡¯t be the last either.

    Clythia¡¯s gut wrenched with the prospect of death awaiting them one way or another. ¡°Who?¡±

    ¡°Bandi.¡±

    Bandi was one of Clythia¡¯s inner circle guards whom General Arkansov had assigned after Tiyus¡¯ intrusion. She didn¡¯t know the guard well besides the glowing review she had heard from the General about her. Bandi had served in the army with unwavering and utter loyalty. Even though she was average when it came to power, she made up for it with swiftness. And according to the General, that was a good enough reason to be her immediate guard.

    But a lack of acquaintance mattered not; in the end, she was one of the martyrs who gave their life battling the Charbydis.

    Clythia let out a breath. ¡°Take me to her body.¡±

    Afia gave her a curt nod and led her into a room where all the sorcerers were huddling around a low-footed bed, shielding the body lying on it. The room had a similar outline to hers, with creamy walls and a dome-shaped roof, but it was bland, with no decorations or paintings. They parted ways for her with a small bow.

    Clythia, for a moment, wished they hadn¡¯t. The sight made her blanch and stagger one step back.

    All that was left of Bandi was pale skin latched onto a skeleton¡ªhard to discern where the skin ended and the bone started¡ªand her hair, once auburn, was charred and scarce on the chalky scalp.

    Clythia''s eyes found Casarda''s. "This is what happens when it''s overused?"

    Casarda nodded, eyes glistening with tears. The Lady of Melop was wearing black; it was as sheer as all her outfits, but it was still funeral cloth. The guards were wearing high-collared black robes in honor of their colleague. The rest only wore sad faces, with no change in their usual attire.

    There were charms placed around the bed so that Bandi would pass peacefully to the afterlife. It was more of a superstitious act than of truth, at least for Clythia, and many scholars would agree with her. However, some clans and families, like the nutcase Clutsweeds, believed it was as authentic as any magic they practiced.

    ¡°I will perform the funeral,¡± Clythia said. ¡°Close the door.¡±

    A thud from behind told her that no other race would be able to gawk at them anymore. ¡°Hand me her urn.¡±

    A tall, handsome guard, with a pointed face and messy brown hair, handed her a pistachio urn with dark ink that inscribed the word ¡®bliss¡¯ on all the space it had.

    The only bliss a sorcerer could get after death was through the Bath of Fire. As no necromancy could bring back the dead from the ashes, and no one could raise a soul for their altruistic or wicked intent, a soul must belong to itself even in death; their flesh should be consumed in flames.

    Clythia opened the urn and lifted it above her head.

    ¡°Bandi, I unbind you from the Holy Land. I claim you free from the knots of Zyvern, free from the ownership of the chosen, free not to be woken by any.¡±

    This chant was as old as the first witches who migrated from the old world. It was believed they brought it from there. It was ironic that Clythia had no idea what the Holy Land was or who the chosen were. Somehow, the meanings had been lost along the line of generations; only the words remained, being rehearsed for several millennia.

    No matter what it meant, it always worked, and that was all that mattered. Akin to Clythia¡¯s summoning ability, its magic was ancient, independent of the Shadow¡¯s or the Sovereign¡¯s powers. It was also given to every witch and wizard to protect their deceased from evil sorcerers.

    A white thread sprouted out of Bandi¡¯s mouth and glided into the urn¡¯s opening. More white threads followed as though a fabric was being torn and long lines of fibers were pulled out of it.

    As those threads disappeared into the urn, a flame appeared on Bandi¡¯s head, leaving white ash in its wake as it licked down the corpse. The ashes drifted up and mixed in traffic with the threads, settling in the urn. The flame enveloped the corpse until nothing was left of the guard and all her remaining essence was captured in the urn.

    Once the deed was done, Clythia closed the urn and placed it upon the hand of the guard who had given it to her.

    Perhaps, it was a good thing she wasn¡¯t well acquainted with Bandi because it would have been more devastating to lose someone close.

    This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

    ¡°Look, I can¡¯t stress this enough,¡± Clythia raised her voice, and all murmuring died down. ¡°If it isn¡¯t absolutely necessary, don¡¯t use magic. Don¡¯t test fate,¡± she added with more vigor and then left the room.

    Morven was leaning on the rail of the hall. He was wearing a white shirt, unbuttoned at the top, and brown breeches, his legs crossed loosely. Sunlight was bouncing off his slick hair, and though Clythia didn¡¯t know what an angel looked like, in that bright ray, he looked like one.

    Perhaps she should ask Afia to paint one, with Casarda guiding her.

    ¡°You were looking for me,¡± he said in a serene tone.

    Only if he knew the danger awaiting him.

    He frowned. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡±

    Clythia almost rolled her eyes. ¡°We need to talk privately,¡± her gaze scanned her surroundings, noting ogling human pairs and werewolves on the other side that were deep in conversation. However, Clythia wasn¡¯t fool enough to trust their hypersensitive ears.

    They walked in silence, earning interest from her companions and others alike. Clythia stopped in the same garden she embarrassingly retreated to during dinner, thanks to that Evil cunt.

    She didn¡¯t know any deserted spot in the palace, thus, even though it brought back a memory of weakness, she said with a faked tone of contentment, ¡°This will do.¡±

    ¡°I am not going to make another deal with you,¡± Morven said with a hint of a sneer.

    ¡°Keep wishing that remains your worst fear,¡± Clythia said genuinely, which the vampire noted, and confusion clouded his features.

    ¡°What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°You are in danger,¡± she said. ¡°You are even more in danger because I¡¯m telling you you are in danger. But I¡¯m only telling you to return the favor for your warning that has saved me from losing my sanity and sense of self altogether.¡±

    Then his face retreated to its smooth state as understanding sank in about what she was talking about, and who she was talking about.

    ¡°Tiyus,¡± he said the name with clenched teeth.

    ¡°Shh!¡± Clythia put her finger on his cold ruby lips. ¡°Lower your voice.¡±

    Morven¡¯s brows perked up. ¡°Damn, he did a number on you,¡± he said beneath her finger before she retreated her hand. ¡°But I need more than that to be scared of him like you are.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m not scared,¡± Clythia seethed, however, all her resolve had turned to molten fear, agitated that Tiyus might strike her or the vampire for the way his name was called.

    Fuck, what had happened to that fearless queen?

    ¡°I can¡¯t tell you the details, but because you warned me, he is coming after you. I don¡¯t know how, I don¡¯t know when, but he said, ¡®Morven is deader than he already was,¡¯¡± she shrugged. ¡°I hope you have ways to defend yourself since you know the Shadow from firsthand experience.¡±

    Morven shook his head. ¡°I was a child then, barely knew much. I only know the Shadow won¡¯t let go once it has you in its grip,¡± his chin quivered, his eyes glistening with the horrors he wasn¡¯t daring to speak out loud. ¡°But I¡¯m afraid I don¡¯t know more than what I¡¯ve already shared with you,¡± he paused. ¡°I think. And even if there is more, it wouldn¡¯t be wise for me to tell you more, since that dick is after me.¡±

    Clythia was too late to put a rein on her mini shiver of terror. Morven''s jaw dropped, concern flicking on his features. He opened his mouth to say something, probably to comment on her reaction but he was lost for words so he sealed his mouth shut.

    Thus Clythia continued, pretending nothing happened. "You''re right, it won''t be fair. " she said, "This is my shit, I will deal with it."

    Her words didn''t mirror what she was feeling on the inside. A pang of hurt lurched in her gut before she put it aside in a mental box.

    But the hurt was peering through the lid.

    Yes, Morven had every right to protect himself since he was already in trouble. She would have done the same without batting an eye.

    However, being the queen and the one at fault for inviting the Shadow to DavinSaw weighed heavily. Inviting Tiyus to bed just to satiate her lust, yet walking into a trap of destroying the Sovereign, the only salvation Zyvern had, weighed heavily. If it came to it, battling the leaders as though she was the villain weighed heavily¡ªbecause she was the villain, whether she liked it or not. Finding a way to get rid of Tiyus, to nullify his endgame claim on her, weighed heavily. The seer¡¯s warning of falling into the another wrong hands, while she was already in the wrong hands, weighed heavily. Searching for the powerful person that Tiyus latched onto...

    All these were akin to a boulder tied to her heart, sinking her down into an endless abyss of despair. And it would have been nice to share all this with just a single soul. To look for a solution, to rectify even half of her mistakes if fate was merciful.

    Clythia had kept many secrets in her life: countless royal line secrets, the secret of murdering her husband which was brought to light only recently, and many more small and big.

    Nevertheless, none was as daunting as all these. Only one thought kept her from reeling into madness.

    Her beloved son, Clen.

    If stabbing everyone in the back kept him safe, then albeit her skin crawled to do so, she would do it for his safety.

    ¡°I am truly sorry¡ª¡± Morven began, whatever he saw on her face throwing her into a pitiful situation.

    Before she could sneer at him, building up her walls and washing away the vulnerability on her face, Modyr intruded.

    ¡°Ah, you are here,¡± the faerie said, clasping his hands behind his back. He was naked from the waist up, revealing a terrain of muscles, and below, he wore beige fabric wrapped around the middle that was longer than a loin cloth.

    It was almost funny that he forgot to wear clothes but not the circlet on his head.

    ¡°If you knew the amount of formality alien rulers require out there, you would be shocked,¡± Morven said. ¡°No one would let you out looking like that,¡± he gestured to the faerie king¡¯s lack of courtly attire.

    ¡°You don¡¯t like what you see?¡± Modyr¡¯s lip twitched on one side, but he was asking Clythia rather than the vampire who had commented.

    Instead of answering him, her attention shifted to Morven. ¡°Well, when all your needs are met, you will settle for what you have, and if you settle for what you have, everyone will be secure,¡± Clythia shrugged. ¡°Those aliens don¡¯t have that like we do.¡±

    ¡°And now we don¡¯t either,¡± Morven noted in a lower voice.

    The faerie bellowed a long sigh, purposefully drawing their attention to him. ¡°Cut it with your gloom and doom talk, Morven. We know we are in deep shit,¡± he cast the vampire a long look. ¡°Breakfast is served. Eat and get the hell out of my peaceful palace, and march forward to the continent from which you will never return,¡± he smirked.

    ¡°Already?¡± Morven complained. ¡°You really don¡¯t know how to treat your guests.¡±

    ¡°You are not coming with us,¡± Clythia said in an indifferent tone.

    ¡°I am,¡± Modyr said, positioning himself so that the sun¡¯s rays would bounce off his biceps from the perfect angle. ¡°But I¡¯m glad you¡¯re leaving my palace¡ªnot you,¡± he pointed at Clythia, casting her a grin, ¡°but him and the others,¡± his chin tilted toward the vampire.

    Clythia was glaring at the faerie king and didn¡¯t notice when Morven¡¯s hot breath tickled her ear as he whispered, ¡°Well, Witch Queen, now Tiyus is going to unalive one more king in your name.¡±

    Clythia whipped her head around to gawk at the vampire, but he was already walking past Modyr without giving her another glance.

    She placed her hands on her hips. ¡°Why am I the only person following the ¡®be professional interspecies rules¡¯ in Zyvern?¡±

    Clythia was talking about Modyr¡¯s flirtations, and from the look on his face, he knew what she meant.

    ¡°You?¡± Modyr gave her a low chuckle. ¡°You are as guilty as all of us in that area. Maybe even more so.¡±

    ¡°What?¡± Clythia said in disbelief. ¡°How?¡± she demanded.

    ¡°Hypaxia and you were courting, and you were both the successors to your respective thrones,¡± he made a gesture of comparison with his hands. ¡°Didn¡¯t it take your parents and her guardians to keep you separated?¡±

    Clythia hated that he was right. She opened her mouth, but he continued. ¡°You and Morven,¡± he paused, giving her a searching look. ¡°The way you were hissing at each other in low voices, it looked like you were planning to take over Nadir and arguing about which part you should rule. You were too... chummy.¡±

    ¡°Chummy?¡±

    The faerie king nodded with a ghost of a smirk on his lips. When did he become this cocky? The Modyr she knew was aloof and kept to himself.

    This was someone else.

    ¡°You are very wrong,¡± she then added, annoyed, ¡°And I didn¡¯t know you were keeping tabs on me.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t have to. Now, Witch Queen, let¡¯s march forward to Stormia.¡± He widened his arms, gesturing for her to lead.

 The change

    ¡°I don¡¯t understand,¡± Clythia said, not pressing forward. ¡°What happened with probing the Shadow to understand the motive of the Sovereign plan?¡±

    Clythia wished she wasn¡¯t asking this to end the Sovereign; she wished like Modyr, Morven, and Kay that the information would be a weapon to help out the Sovereign and end the Shadow. However, here she was, being the infiltrating enemy, the black sheep among the travelers.

    ¡°That¡¯s for all of us to figure out elsewhere,¡± the faerie king¡¯s face turned solemn. ¡°Not here, I am not going to open that door,¡± he shuddered.

    ¡°So you are scared?¡±

    His gaze fixed on her, jaw ticking. ¡°I am not scared, but I¡¯m done paying for the Shadow, losing more than I already have.¡±

    ¡°We have all paid terrible prices,¡± Clythia¡¯s voice came slow. ¡°Believe me, I understand.¡±

    He shook his head, unconvinced.

    ¡°Try me.¡±

    ¡°Do you know what I sacrificed?" Modyr paused for a moment, observing her. "My ability to discern lies."

    That was it? No sacrifice of a feuding clan member the Shadow held a grudge against? No spilled blood of an innocent child? No moral dilemma to choose from?

    Now she was mad.

    ¡°Yours or faeries¡¯ in general?¡± Clythia asked, sounding calm, in contrast with the fury boiling in her.

    ¡°Mine only. But what came after was what took the cake.¡± He started moving towards her; even half-naked, his movement was graceful like a king¡¯s, akin to a calculating lover. ¡°I was courting a faerie, and suddenly she became distant around me, right after the Shadow¡¯s sacrifice. I asked what was wrong, if I had faulted her, but she refused to tell me.¡± He stopped a few feet apart from her. ¡°But I can be a bit persuasive sometimes, and she finally confessed she has a visitor at night. An Evil.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s his name?¡± These days, Clythia¡¯s mouth is sprouting its own mind, spewing words before letting her brain do the thinking. ¡°To be careful and warn my subjects if they meet him,¡± she answered his unvoiced suspicion.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. I was angry she betrayed me. I didn¡¯t ask,¡± he said. ¡°We have been courting for twenty years. I was hoping the mating bond would finally snap between us. I couldn¡¯t have been more wrong. Maybe it was for the best.¡± He averted his eyes away from Clythia¡¯s.

    ¡°It¡¯s hard not to fall into temptation for a being that manipulates your libido,¡± Clythia said. ¡°You can¡¯t blame her.¡±

    His gaze returned to her; for a second, she thought he was going to storm off or spit at her justification, but his expression softened. ¡°You are right. But it hurts. I loved her.¡±

    ¡°What about the others that encountered Evils?¡± she asked.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know anyone else.¡±

    ¡°You said ¡®some¡¯ last night,¡± Clythia raised a brow. ¡°Did the Shadow take your shortcoming of telling only the truth too?¡±

    ¡°That was not technically a lie,¡± a ghost of a smile appeared on his face. ¡°Some doesn¡¯t specify how much. It could be one or many. It¡¯s possible it could happen to more than one person; I kept that in mind when I answered.¡±

    ¡°Faeries and your word games,¡± she muttered. ¡°But why did you tell me then?¡±

    His eyes roved over her figure from head to toe, landing on her lips longer before climbing up to her eyes. ¡°To warn you. For old times¡¯ sake, it was us and the elves who suffered the most in the Shadow¡¯s hands, and now history is repeating itself. We need to fight back together.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t Zahar join us? Do you know anything?¡± Clythia asked, her heart thundering¡ªunnerved by the passion dancing in the faerie king¡¯s eyes, fretting that any moment Tiyus would do something embarrassing to her, and target Modyr too.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he shook his head. ¡°What about you, Witch Queen?¡±

    ¡°What about me, what?¡±

    ¡°What did you sacrifice to the Shadow?¡±

    How could she make the interest in his eyes wink out of existence? By narrating the response in the most gruesome way that could make him despise her for cruelty¡ªan exaggerated truth with a sprinkle of a lie.

    ¡°The Shadow required I slaughter a baby, and I did that. The parents didn¡¯t know; I never told them because I stole it when they weren¡¯t around. For a generous bonus, I threw the bones and flesh of the child alongside its blood, extending the covenant for six more months.¡±

    Horror was conquering the Modyr¡¯s features. Good, it was working. ¡°And I didn¡¯t regret doing so. The only thing I regret is that I haven¡¯t added other babies to extend the use of magic. I hate the three times a day rule,¡± she shrugged, feigning annoyance. ¡°I even looked for ways to do that, but there were none that I know of.¡±

    Modyr was rendered speechless, his horror turning to a frown. And she saw this as an opportunity.

    ¡°If you are crying because of a broken heart, and a gift that you used scarcely to not open the door, what kind of man are you? I am willing to face the Shadow after it made me do that, remember I did it being a mother myself. But I have an obligation to my kingdom, to keep it safe in the way I see fit,¡± she gained a step on him, smiling sheepishly. ¡°Are you afraid to face the Shadow behind the door, when I¡¯m not?¡±

    The comparison she laid out was a gendered one, and given the look on Modyr¡¯s face, it wasn¡¯t lost in translation. The limited rights of faerie females, deemed unfit to rule and possibly other things, were probably due to perceived weakness and a lack of guts to make critical decisions.

    Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

    Clythia was hoping he would take the bait of her request. She hoped that he could see the lengths she was going to save her kingdom, no matter the cost, which might challenge his masculinity. She wanted him to be ashamed of his petty reasons, which he might expect would belong to a woman.

    Because this behavior didn¡¯t only belong in the faerie land. Din harbored similar beliefs too; he was annoyed that she usually didn¡¯t fall into his typical female stereotype, crying and laughing over mediocre things. He was pissed that the only uncontrolled trait she had was rage, like a man, as he would put it; the way she calculated when making decisions unnerved him too. Thus, burying those shards in her skin was his way of silencing her, turning her into a docile dove instead of a soaring eagle.

    Modyr''s face was transparent enough, the insinuations she laid out turning and reeling the gear of his mind, Clythia only hoped when he opened his mouth he would be petty enough to stoop low as proving his masculinity.

    ¡°What you did is disgusting, truly,¡± he said grimly. ¡°But I understand. As a ruler, we don¡¯t have the luxury to choose from pretty moral scales. I admire your gut for it. However, my decision is final. I am not going to open that door. I am done with the Shadow. I will find other ways in Stormia.¡±

    Not the response she was expecting, she had to try other means then.

    ¡°What if I opened it, instead?¡±

    ¡°Absolutely not! I am not going to risk your life in my land,¡± the faerie roared. ¡°We will find other ways in Stormia.¡±

    ¡°Why do you care about my life?¡± Clythia snapped back. ¡°I am doing this to return the peace of my kingdom, the prosperity of my kingdom. I have made mistakes by bending a knee to the Shadow, but I have to rectify those mistakes.¡±

    ¡°Me too,¡± he said through clenched teeth, almond eyes fixing her down. ¡°But let¡¯s not jump onto the first opportunity we get; that¡¯s what got us into this mess in the first place. Morven was right; it would take you a while to agree.¡±

    ¡°You all decided this behind my back?¡±

    ¡°Me and Morven stayed late and talked, and I made him see reason, which he will do, I hope, with Glythia too.¡±

    ¡°You haven¡¯t answered my first question,¡± she said quietly.

    His chin twitched before he doused himself in serenity. ¡°Fill your belly; we have a long journey ahead.¡±

    Breakfast was as quiet as it could get, save for the clanking of forks, knives, and spoons, as they nibbled on fruits and vegetables, grains, and legumes on their plates.

    When Modyr joined them at the head seat, thankfully, he was in decent clothing, a red robe with a golden chiton beneath.

    Notably, the werewolves were beside the humans, distancing themselves from the sorcerers. Their king, Glythia, was sitting at the other side of the table from where Clythia sat, not even glancing once in her direction.

    ¡°I¡¯m not going to last an hour after eating this,¡± Morven grumbled, chewing.

    ¡°Then you should have brought your own food,¡± the faerie said.

    In that regard, Clythia and her companions were prepared, food undecayed by the help of magic was stored in their rings. What they ate on Neut Island was barely the scrap of what they had in store.

    ¡°Haven¡¯t you brought your blood sack?¡± Glythia asked, her blue eyes assessing him.

    ¡°I have, but 1 pint of blood can keep me alive for two years. I carried the sack in case I got stranded in an unlikely situation. One or two trips to the skies teach you that,¡± Morven said.

    The humans were looking at the vampire with disgust, who was oblivious to their scrutiny. Their king seemingly focused on his meal, yet Clythia would bet he was listening to every word spoken.

    A smirk rose on Clythia¡¯s lips. ¡°Is it human blood?¡±

    ¡°Clearly, otherwise I¡¯m not going to last. 1 pint of a bull¡¯s blood will only last me three months,¡± Morven replied with a shrug.

    The three humans cheeks turned crimson, while Kay only gave one glance at the vampire and continued with his meal. That was unsurprising; the rulers meet every fifteen years, hence the vampire¡¯s diet is no big news for Kay. And Clythia had a feeling that even if it was, he had the guts to process it, and even knew more facts about it than anyone credited him for.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t guarantee your ship won¡¯t be stolen if you don¡¯t have someone to keep an eye on it,¡± Modyr said.

    ¡°No worries, it is in good hands,¡± the vampire said.

    Clythia sighed, craning her neck to see Afia, who was standing against the walls with other servants.

    Afia¡¯s mouth moved in a justifying gesture, golden eyes akin to a begging puppy, saying, ¡°Mimi.¡±

    Clythia rolled her eyes. Though she knew there was no way Morven would let his puppy be inside a ring without its comfortable doghouse, he had asked Afia to keep Mimi and his ship in her ring, and Afia had complied¡ªfor the sake of the poisonous feelings she was harboring for the animated corpse.

    They were quiet for a while until Glythia mentioned what had happened to the plan of paying the Shadow a visit, surprising Clythia with how long it took him to ask. Then Morven explained the unpredictability of the attempt, which the werewolf was inclined to agree with very quickly.

    ¡°Why am I not surprised?¡± Kay gritted out, glaring at the faerie. ¡°It¡¯s an idea coming from a human, so why not ignore it altogether?¡±

    ¡°For what it¡¯s worth, I was on board with the plan too. I have tried to convince him.¡± She cast Modyr a blank look that conveyed disappointment.

    Modyr didn''t dignify her comment with an answer, and Kay only shook his head and gobbled down his wine.

    After they and their fellow servants were well fed, they followed Modyr to a cobblestone path behind the castle.

    ¡°Are you going to leave the faeries we left behind in the woods?¡± Glythia asked.

    Modyr snorted. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t be leaving if they haven''t arrived.¡±

    Their path gave way to greenery on either side, more free-form and not as aligned as those at the castle. Their feet trudged forward on the muddy trail formed by previous footsteps. The sun¡¯s rays were torching down from the blue sky, occasionally reaching them, as they were shielded by the green tapestry. The smell of humidity and decaying leaves wafted through Clythia¡¯s nose.

    Nature was the only thing speaking around them: the crunching of leaves under their shoes, birds chirping and flapping their wings, squirrels and hedgehogs darting up trees, scratching barks with their tiny pointed nails.

    The three faeries were waiting for them at a cave opening draped with leaves and vines. Clythia could only make out the darkness that awaited inside.

    When they approached them, they bent their knees to Modyr. "You are late.", he said in a regal tone.

    "We used the underground tunnels and some faeries weren''t kind to us." Rave replied, slowly rolling his emerald eyes up to see his king. "we had to fight them off to arrive even this late."

    There were underground tunnels in the forest near the ocean, the same forest they were exhausted to walk through on foot? Interesting. Otherwise, there was no way the fairies arrived in a span of one night if there wasn¡¯t a shortcut. Some part of Clythia suspected they wouldn¡¯t have taken that route if the travelers had stuck with them. They wouldn¡¯t be foolish enough to reveal short paths to foreigners who could potentially be enemies.

    There was a red line traversing Rave¡¯s arm, a bruise on the lips of the tallest faerie, and fabric coiled around the third faerie¡¯s arms. Their scale like armor was dented and chipped some places too. Modyr observed the three guards with an expressionless face.

    He wasn¡¯t the same faerie she talked to in the garden, the same faerie who showed a flicker of interest in his eyes before she doused it out with cruel images of her deeds. He was the king who had the guts to mete out what she had done and even more, how she got that from just looking at him, she had no idea. However, it wasn¡¯t only her; the three faeries in the mud were trembling at the sight of him.

    Literally trembling.

    Modyr flicked his finger and they rose to their feet. He turned his gaze to those who followed him, scanning each one of them before resting it on Clythia as he spoke.

    ¡°You have come this far, but it isn¡¯t too late to turn back,¡± he said, giving a dry smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°When we get out of this cave, Stormia awaits us. And from the legends and stories we have heard, its quite dangerous. It''s true we dislike each other,¡± he averted his eyes from hers and landed on someone behind her before meeting her gaze again, ¡°but we need to work together to survive. From now on, it¡¯s us against Stormia.¡±

    He turned and ducked his head low in the cave, and they followed him one by one.

 The cave

    They left daylight behind as they surged forward. After a while, the distant cave opening disappeared as they took their first right turn. Thus, they were forced to illuminate their torches and lamps as darkness engulfed them. Relying on the free services of the humans and werewolves earned the rest a glare, yet no one protested, as though Modyr¡¯s stirring speech of unity had gotten under their skin.

    Given their close proximity, they were forced to huddle together since the cave¡¯s width only allowed three people to walk side by side, and no one had the nerve to stray further¡ªsurvival mattered more than their dislike for one another, after all.

    Clythia¡¯s gaze latched onto the lanterns carried by the humans. Encased within was an unwavering glow that one wouldn¡¯t expect of fire. Because of the engravings concealing most part of the lantern, Clythia hadn¡¯t noticed the immobility of the light when they were in the forest near the ocean.

    She squinted, trying to make out the blue of the flame, yet the creamy light was stationary, like the glowing orb she had seen in Modyr¡¯s palace, like the orb she and her companions had summoned underwater while fighting the Charybdis.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t realize magic was at your fingertips,¡± she said to Kay.

    ¡°Not everything is achieved by magic, Witch Queen.¡± The human king¡¯s last remark was flanked by a sneer.

    ¡°Enlighten me,¡± Clythia smirked at him, studying the frame of his strong jaw.

    ¡°It¡¯s electricity.¡± It was Morven who answered. ¡°Think of it as an invisible force that can cause objects to move and change them into light, heat, or motion.¡±

    Their path took another left turn, and except for the murmurs going on and the sounds of their footsteps on the muddy ground, the cave was quiet, which in itself was unsettling. The stillness of the atmosphere revealed that no one had walked this path in centuries, and they were either fools or brave not to change their minds and turn back.

    Fuck you, Tiyus.

    ¡°Like a hybrid of elemental and bead magic in some sort of way,¡± Clythia and almost everyone turned to look at Afia, who immediately bit her lip and lowered her golden eyes.

    It wasn¡¯t forbidden to be part of the conversation when the rulers were engaged, but it was frowned upon, an unwritten rule that had been kept so far in their journey until now. That earned Afia gazes ranging from apprehension to curiosity.

    Morven gave her an encouraging smile. Afia looked up, casting a weak grin at him before immediately averting her gaze, noticing that eyes were on her, including Clythia¡¯s.

    ¡°It¡¯s like lightning.¡± Kay¡¯s gaze landed on Clythia. ¡°Using natural means, you harness the force for heat or light, or come up with any creative way that could help you.¡±

    ¡°You have this... electricity too?¡± Clythia asked Morven, the outlandish word rolling off her tongue distastefully .

    The vampire scoffed. ¡°I wish. Vampires are traditionalists. They don¡¯t react well to change.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s wise,¡± Clythia said. ¡°Besides, your lot thrives in darkness and cold; why bother deciphering heat and light?¡±

    Morven shook his head. ¡°You would be their ideal queen. Too bad you¡¯re just a witch.¡±

    ¡°Indeed,¡± Clythia smirked. ¡°Too bad I don¡¯t drink human blood for eternal youth.¡±

    The looks that rippled across the three human faces when she reminded them they were walking with a predator sent a wave of satisfaction through her. Morven and Kay gave her identical stares of loathing, well aware of what she was doing. She stared back at them with pure innocence.

    ¡°Thank the gods you came alone,¡± Clythia said to the vampire, his blue eyes starkly bright against the dancing orange flame his servant was holding. ¡°Alliances are obviously forbidden, so how did you both end up with this knowledge?¡±

    Clythia was wondering the same. Kay was well adept at navigating the alien ship of the vampire king, and Morven knew how the lamps designed by the humans worked. What else was going on between the two? Clythia didn¡¯t like the idea of two rulers bonding behind their backs. Nothing good would come out of it.

    ¡°The laws of nature are constant in the universe,¡± Morven said in a bored tone, slightly irritated by the insinuation. ¡°I¡¯ve learned it elsewhere.¡±

    Elsewhere, as in the skies, the translation wasn¡¯t lost on everyone. The vampire liked to brag about his adventures, mentioning the ¡®skies¡¯ at every opportunity.

    ¡°What about you?¡± Clythia indicated to Kay, whose dark eyes were fixed on her, his expression too deeply buried to be read.

    ¡°From the brains of my kingdom,¡± Kay grinned, as though recalling a memory. He didn¡¯t elaborate further, and no one pressed him to do so either.

    ¡°I don¡¯t like this,¡± Vina whispered in her ear. ¡°If they have such sorcery in their arsenal, what else are they hiding?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s not sorcery,¡± the vampire¡¯s voice came.

    ¡°Cursed ears,¡± Vina shot Morven a glare.

    ¡°I can hear that too,¡± he gave her a grin.

    ¡°Then don¡¯t,¡± Vina seethed. ¡°Show some manners.¡±

    The vampire chuckled and shook his head. Clythia didn¡¯t know she would swell with pride because of Vina¡¯s uptightness, but here she was, shooting her an approving grin, admiring the nerve the woman possessed to scold one of the most powerful beings in Zyvern.

    For what felt like an eternity, they trudged forward, twisting and turning, the slope of the land sometimes inclining up and down. The chill and dampness increased as they found themselves deeper and further. Stalactites dangled from above while stalagmites rose from the ground, causing them to occasionally duck, jump, and step on even ground.

    ¡°I am tired,¡± Kay complained.

    ¡°You really are lazy,¡± the faerie king gave him a look, ¡°for someone who doesn¡¯t rely on magic.¡±

    Modyr was the only one not engaged in conversation or showing any interest, eyes ahead and leading the pack. Until now.

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    The human king chuckled and shook his head. ¡°You are all delusional.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry, Kay. An hour and we will let you rest.¡± No kindness was in Modyr''s words only mockery, his guards tossing snickers at Kay as well.

    After an hour, they perched down. The cave was wider than before, giving them enough space to form their own circles and semicircles. The werewolves and Morven were one group, while Kay, the humans, and Modyr huddled together near the sorcerers. Somehow, Modyr had taken a place at Clythia¡¯s right, preventing the sorcerers from forming an exclusive circle.

    Clythia¡¯s servants served meals from their rings, with tables and plates set, offering steaming sauces and beef with bread. Some murmured and spat curses at them. For the right price, they could have dined with them too, but apparently, their egos got the better of them.

    The humans were each eating corn. The werewolves and Morven were munching on fruits and vegetables they had picked up from the faerie king¡¯s palace.

    ¡°Would you be kind enough to share?¡± Modyr asked, mischief dancing in his eyes.

    ¡°I don¡¯t share food; it¡¯s not customary for a queen,¡± Clythia said in rather unqueenlike mumbling due to the bread and chunk of meat occupying her mouth. ¡°Unless you provide payment.¡±

    ¡°Is that so?¡± he cooed. ¡°But I have already paid upfront, by letting you and your companions dine in my palace.¡±

    Clythia had to give him credit; at least he made it business-like, as it should be, the opposite of what Glythia would say. She was more comfortable trading hand-in-hand than trading in sympathy or kindness or whatnot.

    She stopped chewing, not glancing at Modyr, her peripheral vision well aware of his cocky interest. She motioned for one of her servants to serve him. Seconds later, he was munching on grains and vegetables and sipping a glass of wine.

    Modyr leaned closer, his breath a soft caress against her ear. ¡°Until I exact each plate you and your companions consumed, I would be the mite of your grains and vegetables.¡±

    Of course.

    ¡°More like a pig,¡± Clythia snorted. ¡°Not even trash piles up like the food on your plate.¡±

    The faerie¡¯s laughter boomed above the murmurs, his voice ricocheting off the walls. ¡°You are a delight, you know that?¡±

    For three days and nights, they pressed forward, resting little and walking a lot. Kay, as expected, was complaining about why they insisted on rushing to their doom and why they couldn¡¯t sleep for more than a few hours. Nonetheless, with the unprecedented inevitability, almost everyone yearned to feel the touch of the sun¡¯s rays and inhale fresh air before they were thrown to whatever Stormia was going to dish out.

    A stone¡¯s throw away, a door as tall as the cavern¡¯s ceiling and twice as broad as a palace gate blocked their path. The door was made of bronze, and its rusty pungency stung Clythia¡¯s nose.

    Their movement halted as Modyr gave it a blunt push, since it had no latch, lock, or knob. It was just a slab of bronze in the shape of a door. There were symbols carved on the casing frames, letters of a strange language.

    ¡°Morven, do you recognize this?¡± the faerie king asked, still throwing his weight against the door and grunting in frustration before giving up.

    The vampire leaned closer, his finger trailing on the frame. ¡°This is the language of the old world. Lucky for you, I can read it.¡±

    No one was surprised; Morven was more ancient than the Sovereign¡¯s era after all. It wouldn¡¯t be an exaggeration to say he had seen it all.

    His index finger trailed down the first letter. ¡°Turn back now, heed this final call. Lest you wish to lose it all.¡± He moved to the other side, reading the remaining symbols. ¡°Lest you tread where predators reign and find your powers stripped and slain. If you desire to avoid that course, share your heart¡¯s greatest remorse.¡±

    Before any of them could decipher what the writing meant or decide what they should do, the door slid to the side with a groan. Light poured in, and the breeze grew until it was a full-blown gust of wind slamming into them.

    They only had to put one foot after the other twice, and they would be out in the open, on the seamless chalky sand of Stormia, with the bright sun and a clear blue sky above their heads.

    Glee surged through Clythia. By the looks of it, everyone was flushed with relief. But a sharp push from Glythia stopped one of his werewolves from sprinting out. ¡°Wait, we can¡¯t step out without knowing what the warning means.¡±

    ¡°Can¡¯t we figure that out after we¡¯re out?¡± a brunette female werewolf asked, disappointment dripping from her tone.

    ¡°That would be unwise,¡± Modyr said. ¡°If we step outside, we will lose our powers¡ªmost of us, at least.¡± He glanced at the human king.

    ¡°How do you know that?¡± Clythia furrowed her brows.

    ¡°I am a faerie,¡± Modyr shrugged. ¡°Splitting the hair of words comes naturally to me.¡± His eyes swept over his guards. ¡°Us.¡±

    Clythia wasn¡¯t sure about the ¡°naturally¡± part; it was habitual or cultural at best. Like a vampire¡¯s preference for sleeping in a coffin, though they were capable of snoring to oblivion in bed. Or like werewolves moving in a pack as if they would die if they didn¡¯t¡ªwhich was untrue.

    It made her wonder if Modyr could decipher the words of the seer too. However, that was delicate territory she should be careful to tread on. The faerie king would probe her with more unnecessary questions she wasn¡¯t ready to answer. Yet if she was careful, she could get the meaning behind those words without raising alarm, and thankfully he didn¡¯t possess the power of discerning the truth anymore.

    ¡°What does ¡®the heart¡¯s remorse¡¯ mean?¡± The Prime peered down at the faerie. The werewolf hadn¡¯t intended to be intimidating, but considering his bulky size and intense gaze, it looked like it.

    Glythia had the figure of a bully tyrant, and yet Clythia had humiliated him in front of everyone. He might be one of those people who traded in sympathy, but she wasn¡¯t foolish enough to lower her guard. The werewolf would definitely come for her and her companions who had bullied his.

    ¡°Regret, vulnerability,¡± Modyr shrugged, inclining his chin up at the werewolf king. ¡°Whoever carved this¡ªpossibly the Sovereign¡ªwas an annoying prick philosopher.¡±

    Very annoying. Glythia had revealed that the Sovereign hated her free rein of power, used it sparingly, chose to be humble, and stooped to everyone¡¯s level. The reason why they were in this shithole in the first place. And considering the warning, it seemed the Sovereign was intent on teaching similar lessons to others too.

    Humility. Remorse. Potato. Po-tah-to. They all meant one thing for Clythia.

    Vulnerability.

    ¡°The Sovereign does have a twisted philosophy of life,¡± Kay said, voicing Clythia''s opinion.

    ¡°Twisted?¡± Glythia cocked his head at Kay. ¡°You mean honorable.¡±

    ¡°It depends on your point of view, I suppose,¡± the human king cast the werewolf a bored look.

    ¡°We will have plenty of time for you to squabble over that,¡± Morven flashed them an irritated grin. ¡°Hopefully, if we don¡¯t die first. Let¡¯s get on with our bearing our hearts plan, hmm?¡±

    ¡°Sentimental people shouldn¡¯t exercise power,¡± Modyr huffed, ignoring the vampire¡¯s request. ¡°They make life more difficult than it already is.¡±

    ¡°What if it isn¡¯t the Sovereign?¡± Afia asked, displeased by his comment. ¡°It could be one of your ancestors.¡±

    The faerie king huffed out a chuckle. ¡°Believe me, faeries are anything but cheesy.¡±

    ¡°Time is of the essence,¡± Clythia cut in. ¡°Let¡¯s just get the hell out of here.¡±

    ¡°Anyone willing to step outside and see what happens?¡± Modyr¡¯s eyes roved over them and landed on Kay. The human king¡¯s eyebrow perked, predicting what was going to come out of the faerie¡¯s mouth from the looks of it. ¡°You have no power, why don¡¯t you test the waters?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Kay said in a commanding tone. ¡°Power can come in different shapes and forms. Power doesn¡¯t equal magic. I am not going to risk whatever the Sovereign had in mind.¡±

    ¡°So it is a riddle after all,¡± Morven said with a bemused look at Modyr.

    ¡°It is a warning, alright, that much is clear.¡± The faerie king flailed his arms. ¡°But yes, power could have many interpretations.¡±

    ¡°My greatest remorse in life is,¡± Glythia began, snapping their attention to his quivering frame. Quivering not in the physical sense, but rather from an internal war, as though every moment of his life had led him to this singular moment. ¡°Being a king.¡±

    Gasps and murmurs broke out among the werewolves, eyeing their king, their Prime, with disbelief and shock at his revelation. His gaze was down, and he didn¡¯t look up as he stepped out of the cave.

    He transformed into a wolf, not as gigantic as his astral form but jarring nonetheless. If Clythia stepped onto the sand of Stormia and lost her power, she was certain those big paws of his would dig into her flesh and crush her bones, and when those snouts opened, the canine teeth would crush her to pulp and dust.

    What was she thinking, crossing him?

    She needed to think fast, what was her greatest remorse? That was a tough question for her because Clythia''s emotions boiled down to rage or boredom and the only exception was the candle of happiness lit by Clen every now and then. But remorse...

 The remorse

    Afia approached her, and Clythia¡¯s spinning head stopped, drawn to the moment.

    ¡°May I?¡± Afia was staring at her cautiously, as though she was tiptoeing around a sleeping beast. ¡°May I talk to you privately, my queen?¡±

    Clythia nodded, and they strolled further from earshot.

    ¡°What is it?¡± Clythia crossed her hands over her chest.

    ¡°As you know, I have a gift for drawing,¡± Afia said, ¡°An Intuitive Drawing.¡±

    Clythia¡¯s brows furrowed, and she waved her hand impatiently. ¡°I hope what you are about to say is worth my time.¡± Clythia¡¯s gaze darted to the door; two people had already exited: Morven, Modyr and his three guards.

    That was fast.

    ¡°I will make it worthwhile, my queen.¡± Despite the smoothness of her tone, her lip quivered. ¡°The painting of the girl was an Intuitive Drawing. I was thinking of the palace¡¯s main resident, you, while painting that. Intuitive paintings have the capacity to draw someone¡¯s layered truth to the surface.¡± She took a sharp breath. ¡°Perhaps, if you recall what you felt when you saw that drawing, it might be the bridge of knowledge to your heart¡¯s greatest remorse.¡±

    ¡°But that girl looked like you,¡± Clythia¡¯s voice was low. ¡°Honey eyes, auburn hair. Although yours is a vibrant hue of red.¡±

    ¡°I dye it.¡± Afia¡¯s fingers trailed through her hair. ¡°It¡¯s actually blonde.¡± Clythia¡¯s eyebrows perked up but she remained silent, and Afia continued, ¡°The details of Intuitive Drawings can sometimes be purely aesthetic or hold a meaning; they are subjective. And the message it delivers to you is for you.¡±

    Was this information worth her time? Clythia wasn¡¯t sure. However, she couldn¡¯t blame Afia because the way she presented it was raw, concern sprawled out on her features. Perhaps she had seen the struggle on Clythia¡¯s face. Watching the girl in neat clothes clutching the doll while other children played had swelled a cathartic feeling in her. Was it remorse? If so, remorse for what? Clythia had no answer for either question.

    ¡°What did you feel drawing that?¡±

    ¡°Heaviness. Burden.¡± Silence lapsed for a moment before Afia continued, ¡°Emotions are tricky things to label.¡±

    All the humans were out on the sand, along with a couple of werewolves.

    Clythia joined the remaining crowd, with Afia following.

    ¡°My greatest remorse is-¡± Casarda started, her eyes flickering to Clythia before she drooped them low and looked at Kay, who was swaggering on the sand with the humans tapping each other¡¯s shoulders. ¡°being spineless.¡±

    Vina scowled at the Lady of Melop. ¡°All we see is your spine.¡± She was right in a way: the back of Casarda was donned in a fabric thinner than lace, with most of her pale skin exposed. How this woman didn¡¯t catch a cold was a mystery Clythia always wondered about.

    Casarda stepped out and raised her palm. A flame erupted from it, and she beamed and did a twirl on the sand, sending the grains floating.

    Another scowl from Vina.

    A werewolf cleared his throat. He was bulky and intimidating like any average werewolf. He dipped his chin, and his brown dreadlocks swung down his chest. ¡°My greatest remorse is...¡± he gave the petite female werewolf at his side a sad look; her olive skin was shining with anticipation. ¡°Cheating on you, my cupcake.¡±

    Then his foot was on the sand. His face scrunched, and a groan left his throat. The act went on for a while. The sight was a tad embarrassing; it was like he had constipation, and if he continued, he would soil himself.

    Clythia didn¡¯t know the basics of werewolf transformation, but she was certain his cringey effort was to do just that¡ªand he had failed.

    Not even Morven¡¯s pale skin would outdo the color draining out of the female werewolf¡¯s face, turning to the color of Stormia¡¯s sand. One second she was frozen, and the next, a blade was tearing through the air, puncturing the heart of the male werewolf.

    Blood oozed out of his bare chest, right through his beating heart, a calculated and precise throw. The werewolf¡¯s knees gave out, then his face sank onto the sand. Moments later, a pool of red drenched the white around the corpse.

    ¡°What have you done?¡± Glythia roared, transforming into his human form.

    ¡°What I should have done long ago, your majesty,¡± the female werewolf seethed. ¡°My greatest remorse is not putting the blade in his heart long ago.¡±

    Then, with no care in the world, she stomped out, transforming into a white werewolf mid-air, her paws landing on the sand.

    Kay whistled in awe.

    Her scholars and guards confessed their greatest remorse; to Clythia¡¯s own amazement, some of them hated the path they had chosen. They were lucky Lord Masai or General Arkansov weren¡¯t here to hear this.

    And Vina was the judge and jury, humming in approval when the confessions were ambition-coated. But when they weren¡¯t, she tisked and scowled, and when they were neither, she held her tongue¡ªlike in cases of sentimental reasons that included loved ones.

    Unfortunately, two of the scholars cursed when they found themselves stripped of their magic, and the smirks she saw on the humans¡¯ faces and the beastly growls from the werewolves sent a chill down Clythia¡¯s spine.

    And finally, it all came down to Afia, Vina, and her. Was she going to confess her heart¡¯s greatest remorse? She still didn¡¯t even know what it was.

    She was in deep shit.

    Then an idea sparked in her mind, a very bad idea. She couldn¡¯t believe she was going to resort to this. However, her mind was a blur, and she was on the spot to ruminate over the supposed remorse ignited by the painting.

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    Fuck it. Time was of the essence, and she wasn¡¯t someone who took personal time to assess her mind and feelings because that was for scholars, philosophers and people with no decent occupation.

    ¡°Modyr,¡± she called to the faerie king, the only person who was casting a soft stare at her. ¡°We aren¡¯t on faerie land anymore, right?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± he said.

    I will protect you from whatever unprecedented occurrence you will face there. You only have to obey.

    Tiyus¡¯ words rang in her mind.

    Clythia was certain if she begged Tiyus for help, she would regret it gravely. Possibly the greatest remorse of her life would come after she committed what she was about to commit.

    Her greatest remorse could be Tiyus.

    Could. Be.

    She hated him, she was enraged by him. She regretted the fact that she had succumbed to his temptation. She regretted being here because of him¡ªto destroy the only hope the planet had.

    But if she admitted this, who knows what that cocky pot Evil would do? He would degrade her before the four rulers of Zyvern, their people, and her people.

    And as strange and weird as it sounded, Tiyus wasn¡¯t her greatest remorse according to her gut¡ªit was something else. And even without mentioning a name, if she confessed something like ¡°trusting someone wrong¡± or ¡°her emotions getting the best of her,¡± she could risk losing her magic.

    If the werewolves weren¡¯t going to tear her limb by limb, the humans would, or Kay would. True, some of her companions had magic and would protect her, and she was well trained in weaponry, but one thing she discovered from this trip was that there were many things she didn¡¯t know. And she didn¡¯t want to take that chance when her life was at stake.

    Besides, even if she avoided the wrath of the two races, Stormia was a dish of peril on its own.

    She wasn¡¯t certain what she was about to do would work, yet it had once, when Clen was on his deathbed, she had prayed to the dark god.

    ¡°Tiyus, protect me,¡± she murmured, out of earshot from the hyper ears of Morven, the faeries, and the werewolves.

    A wave of lust permeated through her. As much as she was disgusted, her body welcomed the feeling. Before she lost it all, relief coursed through her, cooling down the throbbing.

    Gasps and murmurs broke out as she stepped onto the chalky ground, and a ball of blue fire sparked from one palm, and a green from the other.

    ¡°How did you do that?¡± Casarda asked.

    Clythia was either one step closer or several steps closer to losing her sense of self, but she masked her expression to stay blank. Cowering was not going to stop the inevitable.

    ¡°I am the queen of DavinSaw,¡± her gaze bore into the shocked Lady of Spies. ¡°I can do anything.¡±

    Her eyes found Morven, who was quiet, unlike the disheveled crowd. He had probably suspected, and disapproval was oozing from his stiff frame.

    ¡°My greatest remorse is,¡± Afia began, her voice drinking in the shocked murmurs until there was silence. ¡°Nothing. I have no regrets so far.¡±

    ¡°Are you sure about that?¡± Vina glared at her.

    Clythia had noticed Afia rubbed Vina the wrong way; her audacity always earned her a snap or retort from Vina. Complaining more than once about the quality of the wine on a daily basis was now common, almost every time they sat down to dine. To her credit, Afia brushed it off, never losing her cool.

    Afia¡¯s nod was curt, her eyes on Clythia as she exited. She opened her mouth. Red, green, and blue powder sprouted from it, settling on the sand around her.

    ¡°The writing said nothing about someone who doesn¡¯t have remorse.¡± Kay smiled at her with admiration. ¡°You are a loophole.¡±

    Afia grinned at him. ¡°I guess I¡¯m lucky.¡±

    The Lady of Hypercas was glaring down at them all. It didn¡¯t matter if some of them were a few inches taller than her; those steel eyes of hers were assessing them as though she had crafted the warning herself.

    ¡°My greatest remorse is,¡± Vina said, ¡°being born in this wretched world.¡±

    Vina swaggered out with controlled grace. She held out her hand, and an ice cube appeared. She hated her existence? And she had flaunted the fact as though she was reciting words from Wigmond¡¯s textbook. Clythia didn¡¯t realize her jaw had dropped until she closed it.

    The door slid shut, barring them from the cavern and sealing their place on Stormia.

    They were on an endless seam of white, harsh on the eyes as it was nearly blinding with the noon sun beating down. They had to squint, shielding their eyes with their palms.

    ¡°There is nothing out here,¡± Glythia said. ¡°We are nowhere near the altar.¡±

    The altar was where they presented their Tithes, where a sword hovering above a stone was perched. They had never taken the long route to Stormia, the seven rulers Eventuated to the exact spot where they presented their Tithe and Diseventuated from there, reappearing on their respective continents.

    ¡°Stormia is a continent, not a scrap of land like Neut,¡± Clythia said. ¡°We have to search for it for a while if we are not dead first.¡±

    Clythia wasn¡¯t going to end up dead, thanks to the Evil, but she wasn¡¯t going to exclude herself from the statement, now would she?

    ¡°We have to look for the Sovereign first,¡± Morven said. ¡°It¡¯s possible we couldn¡¯t find them¡ªher¡ªthere. Since we never have.¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s just keep moving,¡± Modyr sighed.

    ¡°To where?¡± Glythia glanced around.

    Kay stretched out his arm, pointing. ¡°I say north.¡±

    No one moved.

    ¡°Why?¡± Clythia asked at the same time Morven did, ¡°How do you know that¡¯s north?¡±

    ¡°No reason.¡± Kay stared at Clythia, agitated, then his gaze landed on Morven. ¡°I don¡¯t know. We don¡¯t know.¡± His eyes raked over the rulers. ¡°For once, agree with my idea.¡±

    It wouldn¡¯t hurt to do what he said. They were clueless, for what it was worth, and whatever direction they took was a direction taken on forbidden territory. Hence, they began heading ¡°north.¡±

    Relief swamped through Kay¡¯s features¡ªdarn, they really did a number on him if he was excited that they had backed him once on such a trivial request.

    Their shadows were stretched out from their feet, miniature versions of dark silhouettes flanking their bodies. Heat was lancing through Clythia; she wiped her dripping face with a kerchief. Panting and whimpering were their constant companions as they ambled forward to whatever place their feet took them. Or who knew, they might die wandering in the endless desert.

    ¡°This is how it feels to be tired from walking?¡± Modyr asked, panting, as he fell into step at her side.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t confessed,¡± Clythia said.

    ¡°It¡¯s not like I have many things to lose,¡± the faerie king shrugged, sweat beading down his forehead and onto his crimson cheeks, ¡°but I¡¯m already regretting that.¡±

    A strong gust licked them, staggering them backward. Clythia¡¯s eyes shut on reflex. It was a welcome sensation, a stark relief from the sun, which was adamant about evaporating them to their bones.

    Her eyes opened.

    A person twice the height of Clythia and jacked with muscles was blocking their path. He had blonde hair sparkling silver against the sun. Where his irises should be, there were flames dancing. He was clad in gold armor on his chest and clutching a silver spear that could gut them all with one sweep.

    However, that wasn¡¯t what took the breath out of Clythia¡¯s lungs. From his back, as though he were an eagle, dark wings sprawled out, shielding them and more land around them. It would have been a nice shade if the being before them weren¡¯t reeking of death.

    ¡°You are trespassing.¡± A thunderous growl escaped from his mouth. ¡°You have broken the law. You will be punished.¡±

    ¡°Pardon me,¡± Glythia began, his hand stretched up in surrender. ¡°We are here for the Sovereign. We have to speak with her; our lands are dying, and she¡ª¡± he stuttered.

    ¡°She hasn¡¯t kept the end of her bargain,¡± Clythia said, those flaming eyes zeroing in on her. ¡°We need to know why and fix the problem with our planet.¡±

    The being was quiet for what felt like an eternity, so much so that they were shifting uncomfortably in their places. His eyes roved over them, lingering on someone behind her for a while before he set his eyes upon her.

    ¡°I believe you are searching for the Sovereign in the wrong place.¡± It never got better the second time; his voice was the sharp edges of the sword of dread lancing through her essence.

    ¡°She isn¡¯t in Stormia?¡± Morven asked.

    ¡°She is. But the Sovereign has instructed us to allow no one to see her.¡± His face split into a grin, revealing white teeth, a match for the sand beneath their feet. ¡°You are trespassers, and you will be punished.¡±

    Then all hell broke loose.

 The scattering

    The being soared into the sky, the torrent of wind plummeting, leaving a trail that sent plumes of chalk hovering. His figure diminished as he went further and further, yet the thought of the impending doom that would unleash when he zoomed down would have streamed cold sweat down Clythia¡¯s back, had it not been for the incubating desert.

    For a while, no one moved; no one seemed to breathe. They were frozen in place, but when that tiny dot plummeted down, they were lurched back to their senses, darting wherever their feet led them.

    ¡°Diseventuate as far as you can see,¡± Clythia ordered.

    A wrist squeezed around her arm, and an easing chill seeped through her skin. She whipped her head around to see Morven glaring down at her. ¡°Onboard, captain.¡±

    Clythia glowered at him. If it had been a better time, when they weren¡¯t being hunted by a winged being, she would have asked the vampire for payment upfront, but sadly, her life and those of her companions were on the balance. She closed her eyes. Before she lost herself to darkness, fingers coiled around her wrist. Modyr and his guards had linked with her.

    ¡°Really?¡± A sorcerer could carry one or thousands without straining their magic. But it should be to each their own; she wasn''t a charity means of transportation.

    Modyr raised his eyebrows. As if reading her thoughts, he said, ¡°You owe me more than a meal.¡±

    Before Clythia could retort, the hair on her back prickled, and she stared up; the being was gaining on them, spear at the ready, wings fluttering with a whooshing sound.

    Her eyes slammed shut. When she opened them, they weren''t on the edge of anything. Yes, they had Eventuated to her destination, but her eyes only registered bleached land. Curses rolled off her tongue, each more profane than the last.

    ¡°That isn¡¯t good,¡± Modyr grimaced, rolling the ring on his finger and facing the spot they had left. Clythia whipped her head around.

    The being slammed onto the sand with a loud boom, tossing those nearby onto their backs. Then he moved, flinging those who came in his way using the spear''s shaft and they flew away like flicked bug. Then he was face to face with Glythia. He rammed his spear in a long thrust, which the Prime dodged with ease. The werewolves who gained their footings were ramming their swords and arrows into the being, but¡ª

    ¡°Did the sword just break?¡± Morven asked in disbelief. ¡°And the arrows are bouncing off¡ªlike its skin is made of steel.¡±

    Yet, his skin looked like flesh¡ªa beautiful tan. The thought of his beauty evaporated as the being swung his head, and the flames that were dancing in his eyes darted forth off his eyes and torched the werewolf who had rammed his sword into the being¡¯s leg. The werewolf was blown into white pieces, floating down and becoming one with the sand.

    ¡°Where are the humans?¡± Modyr peered left and right.

    Her sorcerers were elsewhere, save for five guards that had Diseventuated following her. The werewolves were in a deep pit they wouldn¡¯t be able to come out alive.

    ¡°We should help,¡± Modyr said with urgency in his tone.

    ¡°Speak for yourself,¡± Clythia retorted as she turned to Eventuate even further. The faerie king grabbed her arm, frowning at her.

    ¡°We are in this together,¡± Modyr said with clenched teeth. ¡°We are in Stormia.¡±

    She yanked her arms free from his painful grip. ¡°If I go back, my companions will go back too; they won¡¯t abandon their queen in a fight,¡± she said, tilting her chin up, their noses a whisper away from touching. Her gaze fixed on his pitch-black eyes. ¡°My guards and I can fight with steel, but the scholars and servants know only magic. I can¡¯t risk losing more of my people. And before you say it, we aren''t going to use magic.¡±

    ¡°Steel doesn¡¯t work on it,¡± Morven said, shaking his head and burying his palms in his pockets. ¡°This is one of the absolute necessities; you have to use magic.¡±

    ¡°This is but the first of the lions we will face in Stormia,¡± Clythia clapped back at the vampire. ¡°If I¡¯m going to use¡ª¡±

    ¡°Nothing is going to happen to you,¡± the vampire huffed. ¡°You are just finding excuses to save your self-inflated ass.¡±

    Clythia flinched but recovered quick. ¡°My guards will face dire consequences. It''s not only my life I worry about.¡±

    Modyr turned her chin toward him with a finger, sending Clythia¡¯s heart jittering and easing her frustration for a wink. She was baffled by his intimate gesture and the beauty that awaited her, so much so that she was tongue-tied and unable to call him out on it.

    ¡°You can tell your guards to Diseventuate if their safety worries you and the rest are not here to return back for you.¡± Modyr was right¡ªthere was no sign of them, but what if they had walked right into another, even worse trap? Nausea unrelated to the heat flipped in her stomach. ¡°If we can¡¯t work together, we won¡¯t make it out alive alone. We have to help them.¡±

    They should help the werewolves, or what was left of them. Glythia, the werewolf who had stabbed her lover, and two other werewolves were the only ones alive. It must have been during their arguments that the rest were turned to ash. Glythia¡¯s mouth was moving as he and the being circled one another. Then the three werewolves turned to their wolf form and scattered in the direction of where Modyr, Morven, and she were standing.

    Clythia and the Prime obviously didn¡¯t see eye to eye on many things, but at that moment, her gut lurched at what he would feel losing the most on this journey. For werewolves, one life mattered¡ªhell, they forced others to feel their grief too. This, however, was next-level torture, seeing his companions fighting one second, and turning to dust the next.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Clythia ordered her guards to Diseventuate. There was concern in their eyes, but they obeyed and vanished into thin air.

    The three rulers reappeared at the heart of the battle.

    ¡°This dick is fighting you as if it held a grudge against you for millennia.¡± Modyr raised his palm and vines coiled around the being¡¯s calf, those fiery eyes zeroed in on the faerie, fire rode in a straight line and soot stained where he was standing before he rolled out of the way.

    Glythia¡¯s breath was short, he was drenched in sweat, muscle memory taking over as his axe rammed against the spear, transforming to his wolf form was becoming laborious.

    Clythia tossed a ball of lightning to slam into the being¡¯s face; on any flesh, the sizzling lightning would have barreled through, leaving the sting of burnt skin and scorched bones, but whatever this being¡¯s skin was made of, it was immune to any attack.

    The being veered to face her, flames in his eyes dancing higher up his lids before the oranges shoot down where she was standing moments ago; she had evaded the flames, but the heat of it lanced her skin.

    Until their muscles trembled, and their knees shook, they distracted the being in turns, not giving it chance to target one prey for long. The heat of the dessert was like a boulder pressing down at Clythia, soothing her to bend the knee and give in. The wings would have helped if it wasn''t for the owner constant

    ¡°Do you really have to kill us?¡± Morven panted, the only sign he was as ragged as them all. His smooth exterior hadn¡¯t broken a sweat; it was cold as marble¡ªa perk of a vampire. ¡°Can¡¯t we negotiate or something? We came for answers.¡±

    ¡°If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so already. But the Sovereign wants you alive.¡± A thousand growls reverberated in her as the being¡¯s mouth moved.

    ¡°Then why are we fighting to stay alive?¡± Clythia seethed, acrobating with ease, scorched spots trailing from behind. "She fucked up the agreement."

    ¡°I was attacking the werewolf,¡± the being¡¯s eyes darted to Clythia; she flinched, ¡°He is trouble. No one asked you to come to his aid.¡±

    Why was Glythia trouble? It didn¡¯t make sense. He had claimed his ancestors had a close relationship with the Sovereign. Unless he did something to rile the Sovereign.

    ¡°Is there something we should know?¡± Modyr gritted out in a moment of reprieve thanks to the being¡¯s immediate target: the vampire.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know what he¡¯s talking about,¡± the Prime said in a huffed growl.

    ¡°We can¡¯t keep dancing around forever,¡± Morven grunted, nocking an arrow at the being. ¡°If you want us alive, stop this now.¡±

    ¡°You are trespassers; you have to be punished.¡± The being swung his spear in a long thrust, the tip buried in Glythia¡¯s bulging arm, blood gushed out of the glistening brown skin. The Prime grunted in pain and staggered backwards.

    ¡°You are going to kill him,¡± Morven hissed. His eyes roved from the being''s frame to the Prime. ¡°What do you want from us?¡±

    The being loosed its fighting stance and eyed them casually as though he wasn¡¯t pestering them and destroying the majority of the werewolves for what felt like eternity.

    ¡°Don''t get between me and Glythia and I will let you live. You know I have been toying with you." The being paused as if letting his message to sink in before he continued. "If I wanted to kill you I would have done so already. But the Sovereign has other plans and I obey my master.¡±

    When his flaming eyes raked on them and landed on Clythia the hair on her skin rose, her insides were ready to flick out of the way if embers spurted forth but they never did.

    ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you start with that first? If you want a pet, you should have said so,¡± Clythia said in a false brovado.

    Glythia was too occupied in stopping the bleeding that she couldn¡¯t tell if he winced from her words or from the pain only, but it must have been the former because the startlement splashed on Modyr and Morven indicated she had stepped out of line.

    They could squabble and hate each other all they wanted when they were out of the continent brimming with unsavory surprises. But in here, they were a team and, albeit agreeing to the idea, old habits of self-preservation kicked in.

    ¡°I am not going to die for him,¡± Clythia pointed at the werewolf. Modyr opened his mouth, but she beat him to it. ¡°I know we are a team. But not at the cost of my ass. I think I have done enough by overusing my magic. You are welcome.¡±

    Clythia was being genuine. She would have continued fighting if forfeiting her life wasn¡¯t on the table. Moreover, she could feel her magic leaking away, dangerously close to a droplet of it. If she kept on fighting for fifteen more minutes, she wouldn¡¯t be able to Diseventuate even if she wanted to.

    ¡°What are you going to do with him?¡± Morven asked, ignoring her.

    ¡°Do you wish to know?¡± The being gave him a look that suggested the knowledge was a practical one that offered death.

    Clythia thought Morven had the good sense to back down and leave the werewolf behind, but he seemed unwavered, cocking his smooth chin up and staring at the being with the will of steel.

    ¡°During the Shadow¡¯s era, vampires and werewolves were allies. For the bond of our ancestors¡ª¡± Morven¡¯s chin jerked towards the grunting werewolf. ¡°¡ªI would fight by his side.¡±

    Clythia scoffed. ¡°How heroic.¡±

    ¡°You won¡¯t stand a chance,¡± the being said, his tan fingers fidgeting on the shaft of the spear.

    ¡°You aren¡¯t going to kill him either,¡± Modyr shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s propose a better solution. Take us to the Sovereign and she will dole out our punishments as she sees fit.¡± The being was quiet; he was assessing the proposition, thus the faerie continued. ¡°You have already punished and exhausted us. We have to know why the Sovereign abandoned us; she owes us that much.¡±

    ¡°You should have turned back when you had the chance,¡± the being shrugged, but given his sheer size and the clank of his armor, they balked before realizing the action for what it was.

    ¡°You didn¡¯t give us any chance,¡± Clythia retorted, regretting it immediately as those flames gazed at her.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± the being said and turned, moving forward to the north the human king pointed.

    The faerie king summoned a yarrow to wrap around the Prime¡¯s bleeding arm. ¡°It won¡¯t completely heal it, but it will stop the bleeding for now.¡±

    ¡°Thanks,¡± Glythia nodded at him.

    ¡°How did you do it?¡±

    Clythia was about to jump out of her skin before she saw Morven hissing at her side.

    ¡°I thought I took your speed,¡± she glared at him, the vampire¡¯s face was expressionless.

    True, she had taken his speed, but not his agility or lack of footsteps as though he was a floating feather. Perhaps she should have taken that; why hadn¡¯t she thought of it first in the bargain?

    When the vampire didn¡¯t dignify her remark with a response, she asked, ¡°How did I do what?¡±

    Thankfully, the being¡¯s wings were sprawled wide, giving them shade from the sun that roamed free in her full glory.

    ¡°Attain your magic,¡± his voice was low, probably out of earshot from the faerie and the werewolf; besides, there was a wide berth between them.

    ¡°It¡¯s none of your business,¡± Clythia wiped her wet palms on her dress.

    ¡°Oh, I think it is,¡± Morven said. ¡°I know you are not the religious sort, yet I saw you pray before stepping out of the cave and whatever prayer it was, it worked.¡±

    ¡°Good,¡± Clythia shrugged. Morven was onto something, yet she wasn¡¯t going to give him the satisfaction of knowing that, hence she clad herself with expressionless face.

    ¡°Good?¡± Morven huffed. ¡°No, there is nothing good about that. You chose the coward¡¯s way out. Instead of confessing your remorse or just leaving your magic behind, you sought out a third option that wasn¡¯t on the table.¡± Clythia¡¯s eyes were set ahead. ¡°On anyone¡¯s table, but yours. Tiyus.¡±

    Clythia¡¯s heart did a twirl, lurched down her stomach before getting back to its position. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you are talking about.¡±

    ¡°I might not see trouble when it¡¯s under my nose sometimes,¡± Clythia had said something similar to him once. ¡°But when I do see, I am always right,¡± Morven wheezed her to face him. Their eyes locked. ¡°And you, Witch Queen, are trouble.¡±

    ¡°Then stop me,¡± Clythia said, not with rage but with a plea in her tone. Confusion marred the vampire¡¯s face. ¡°Kill me. Because if you don''t, may the gods have mercy on you all.¡±

 The fairy

    ¡°Psst.¡±

    Clythia whipped her head toward the source of the sound, but her eyes only met bleached sand.

    ¡°Did you hear that?¡± she asked Morven, still scanning left and right.

    ¡°If this is your attempt to distract me, you are not doing a good job,¡± Morven said, sounding a tad impatient.

    Her gaze met his irate pose. ¡°I am not trying to distract you.¡±

    ¡°Psst.¡±

    Modyr stopped in his tracks and turned, and Glythia frowned. The vampire was displeased that the distraction was real. He was truly looking forward to the explanation for her slip. Clythia was certain she would pay hell for this; Tiyus would be around the corner to punish her. However, she hoped the warning would give them a chance. But she was not going to elaborate further and risk her son¡¯s well-being.

    ¡°It¡¯s Glythia hissing, nothing else,¡± the vampire chided.

    That was not true. Glythia¡¯s groan had stopped a while ago. Whatever the faerie had given the werewolf worked; his arm was no longer bleeding, only dried blood tainted the vines coiling where the arrow had initially sunk in.

    ¡°It¡¯s not me,¡± Glythia said.

    They walked silently for a while until the sound crept up again.

    ¡°Psst.¡±

    This time, the being stopped and craned his neck, eyes raking over them and behind. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± His voice reverberated like shattered glass. He must have thought they were the source of the sound.

    No one answered him.

    The being turned back and continued forth. The desert was vast, as though they were wading through an infinite white fabric, with no beginning and end.

    Clythia felt a tap on her ankle, soft as satin silk brushing against one¡¯s skin. Every hair on her back perked up as she slowly looked down.

    A female not taller than her palm was staring up at her with glacial emerald eyes, her face split into a smile as though she was glad she caught Clythia''s attention at last.

    The female had a pointy ear like a faerie, she was wearing leaves sewed together to cover her most intimate parts. It was rather a stark sight to find the deepest shade of green in the bleached land that reeked of starvation and death.

    Perhaps the exhaustion had led her to start hallucinating. Deserts did that to a person.

    The female put a finger to her lip and pointed at the being. Morven and Glythia were ogling down at her with a mix of wary and curious expressions. Clythia wasn¡¯t mad then.

    Then the tiny female indicated to what would be ¡®west¡¯ given they were heading ¡®north,¡¯ and she vanished into thin air.

    The three of them glanced at one another, a silent conversation about following ¡®west¡¯ being the right course of action rippled between them. Could they trust the creature?

    ¡°We can¡¯t,¡± Clythia said with clenched teeth and resumed her pace.

    ¡°Why not?¡± Morven fell in at her side.

    ¡°He,¡± she pointed at the being, ¡°is going to lead us to the Sovereign. That is what we came for. No matter the consequences, we have to follow him.¡±

    The vampire¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What if he¡¯s lying?¡±

    ¡°What if that thing we saw,¡± Clythia lazily indicated to the spot where the tiny female was a few seconds ago, ¡°is also lying?¡±

    Morven and Clythia stared at one another. Glythia seemed to weigh their options too. Modyr had no clue; he was either deeply lost in his thoughts or too exhausted to glance back.

    Perhaps this was when gut feeling came in handy. What did Clythia¡¯s gut say?

    Food.

    ¡°I have an idea.¡± Morven¡¯s eyes sparked.

    Then the vampire pulled Modyr to pace alongside him. The faerie swatted away his hand. ¡°What is wrong with you?¡±

    ¡°Are there faeries the size of this high?¡± The gap between Morven''s long thumb and finger was a bit higher than the tiny female.

    The faerie¡¯s brows knitted. ¡°There were. As in F-A-I-R-Y, not F-A-E-R-I-E, and they are extinct. Why are you asking?¡±

    ¡°We just happened to see one,¡± Clythia shrugged.

    Modyr¡¯s charcoal eyes froze on her, then he barked out a laugh, earning the flaming gaze of the being to zero in on him. He stopped abruptly. ¡°That¡¯s not possible. It¡¯s a mirage or something.¡±

    ¡°Three people can¡¯t see the same mirage at the same time if that was the case,¡± Morven pointed out.

    ¡°We are all exhausted.¡± Modyr shook his head, a chuckle escaping with every word. ¡°What did the fairy say then?¡±

    ¡°To head in that direction,¡± Clythia indicated ¡®west¡¯.

    ¡°Where is the fairy?¡± Modyr still clung to his skepticism.

    ¡°Disappeared before we could know where she went,¡± Morven said.

    The final bit of information seemed to fuel Modyr¡¯s suspicion even more. Clythia was irritated; the heat of the desert and the incessant fighting had dragged her to the bottom of exhaustion, and she wasn¡¯t in the mood to convince him.

    ¡°This is Stormia,¡± Morven began, far less irritated than her. ¡°We didn¡¯t expect to see a manbird¡ª¡± The being craned his neck, the flames licking up his lid dangerously, then Morven stuttered, ¡°no offense, we don¡¯t know what you are.¡±

    ¡°I am an angel,¡± the being responded to Clythia¡¯s surprise. Why hadn¡¯t she connected this strange creature with what Casarda said, ¡®Morven with wings¡¯? She really was losing her wit. But another thought sent a cold chill prickling down her spine. ¡°You were listening to us plot the entire time.¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± The angel didn¡¯t turn.

    Shock flared on the vampire¡¯s face. ¡°You are calm about it.¡±

    ¡°I wanted to see you try and fail.¡± A rumble escaped the angel. ¡°It would be fun hunting and torturing you all over again.¡±

    Masochist!

    ¡°So you know about the fairy?¡± Glythia asked.

    ¡°Little mites, here and there,¡± the angel said.

    And that was the end of their escape plot. Clythia wasn¡¯t planning on it since her mission was to find the Sovereign, and the angel was going to do just that for them.

    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    Life would have been so easy if choices were black and white, but unfortunately, it was always two blacks, and one had to have the eye to choose the lighter hue if one¡¯s eyes were to be trusted. And she couldn¡¯t trust her eyes¡ªfollowing the faerie or the angel, either could end up badly, with the angel it was guaranteed. But she quickly remembered she didn¡¯t have the luxury of this dilemma because she had chosen the darkest hue of black, and even if the others attempted to escape, she wouldn¡¯t, thanks to Tiyus.

    ¡°Distraction¡¯s over.¡± There was no breath trickling in her ear; it was as though her thoughts were loud enough¡ªbut with Morven¡¯s voice. She flinched. ¡°Care to explain your warning?¡±

    ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± she hissed at him. The vampire looked annoyed, the audacity. ¡°No footsteps, no air leaving or entering your stone mouth. Fuck.¡± She really was rattled, and she had no strength to hide it.

    Modyr raised an eyebrow at her. He had noticeably put distance between them after his refusal to open the door where the Shadow hid in his palace. His flirtations eased once he got a glimpse of her darker side. A twinge of hurt lanced through her before she buried it deep.

    The vampire ignored the insult, waiting for her to elaborate on what she had slipped about their demise.

    She ignored him in return. With a brush of her finger on her ring, a strength potion in a tiny flask popped out, and she gulped it down in one go, barely registering the tingling spice and sugar on her tongue. Soon enough, strength returned to her.

    Strength potion was addictive if one relied on it a lot. In the military, all soldiers carried it, but they were instructed not to rely on it on a daily basis. True, they could become the bulkiest and the strongest in the army, but once they stopped, they would be as frail as grass.

    On this journey, Clythia had many opportunities to use the potion, after the fight with the Charybdis, during the long trek with the faeries, or in the cave¡ªevery time her limbs were on the brink of collapsing, but she knew better. And it would be some time far in the future before she would be planning to use it again after now.

    ¡°Answer me.¡± Morven¡¯s voice was audible for all to hear.

    ¡°Fuck off,¡± she snapped back.

    ¡°Easy there,¡± the faerie said. ¡°Save your energy to fight for later. If there is a later of course.¡±

    ¡°Clythia would choose death before she passed the opportunity of a fight,¡± Glythia sneered, his eyes pinned on the angel with a bone-grinding loath.

    Clythia was going to retort but remembered how many of his companions were lost to the angel, turning them into indiscernible ashes before his eyes. That memory would haunt him as long as he lived. She knew the look dancing on his face. The rage and grief were burrowing deep in his heart. Life was already a bitch to him, so she cut him some slack.

    Modyr and Morven were surprised by her lack of response, but they didn¡¯t say anything.

    It felt like their trek bounced from one eternity to another. The sun was gone, and a dark canvas sprawled above them, adorned with flaring, strong stars. With the night, a chill flanked along.

    If it wasn¡¯t for the strength potion coursing in her blood, the super strength of the vampire, or the evolved legs of the faerie, they would have collapsed long ago. Surprisingly, the werewolf was dragging himself along without complaint, though his steps weren¡¯t as clean as theirs.

    Clythia was curious to know why the werewolf didn¡¯t inquire why he was targeted. Perhaps he knew, or he was keeping his mouth shut for his own good.

    But she wasn¡¯t one to shut her mouth, though. ¡°Why did you target Glythia?¡±

    Warning looks darted at her, but she ignored them.

    ¡°The Sovereign isn¡¯t fond of him,¡± the angel said.

    ¡°I thought the opposite was true.¡± Clythia looked at Glythia for confirmation. He was holding something back behind the expressionless facade.

    Clythia felt a poke on her ankle and she whipped her head.

    The fairy.

    Save for the angel, the rest followed her train of sight. The color on Modyr¡¯s face draining was faintly visible beneath the silvery light of the stars.

    Clythia crouched slowly, beckoning the rest to continue moving forward without raising suspicion.

    ¡°We are not going anywhere with you,¡± she mouthed to the fairy.

    Clythia stood up, the fairy went still for a moment, and just when Clythia thought the fairy would vanish like before, she tossed a glitter of blue, and then everything went dark.

    A merry flute note reached Clythia¡¯s ears. As the music grew nearer, her eyesight was restored, and she found herself in a pub where fairies and angels were dining. The seats the angels took were made to encompass their tucked-in wings, and the tiny fairies sitting at their side were perched high so that they could all reach the table before them and dine. They were clashing their mugs and half-spilling the contents, some lolling their heads with the music¡¯s rhythm, chatter and laughter bellowing in the air.

    There was a fireplace crackling on one side. The warmth engulfed Clythia, along with the aroma of the meals and drinks. Surprisingly, what was served on the tables wasn¡¯t different from what she was used to; she made out a roasted turkey, a salad, and some greens. Even their clothes weren¡¯t outlandish. If anything, it felt familiar, like home.

    How on Zyvern could this place be the lion¡¯s den?

    ¡°Where are we?¡± Clythia whipped around to see Modyr rubbing his forehead. It was not only him, but Glythia and Morven had arrived, gaping around.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± the fairy said with a squeaky voice, her emerald eyes pinned on Clythia.

    ¡°No,¡± Clythia said, crossing her arms.

    ¡°Why did you bring us here? We need to see the Sovereign,¡± Morven said.

    ¡°That angel would torture you before he brought you to the Sovereign,¡± the fairy said. ¡°He was already draining you. You would have been an inflated balloon by the time he was done with you.¡±

    Clythia didn¡¯t know what a balloon was, but it didn¡¯t sound good.

    ¡°Why do you care?¡± Glythia asked skeptically. ¡°What do you want from us?¡±

    ¡°One of your friends paid me to bring you here.¡±

    They looked at one another in confusion.

    ¡°Who?¡± Modyr asked.

    ¡°King Kay,¡± the fairy shrugged.

    The human king was already bribing Stormia¡¯s residents for safety? Impressive. That man had good survival instincts.

    Since their wariness eased with that revelation, they followed the fairy, past the bartender, and through a backdoor. To their surprise, no one glanced in their direction. This was unexpected, considering they were of a different race, even though their outfits didn¡¯t stand out much. They passed stacks of barrels and entered another room on the right.

    King Kay was eating grapes with his three human companions and Clythia¡¯s companions. Apparently, they hadn¡¯t scattered in an unknown land, and a sense of relief eased the tension she hadn¡¯t realized was there until that moment.

    They were sitting on a rug, their legs beneath them, at a short table set with a wide range of meals. The aroma of roasted meat, fresh fruit, and citrusy scents made her stomach growl. She earned glances from Morven and Glythia, but she ignored them both.

    Casarda was laughing as King Kay whispered something in her ear, but when she saw Clythia, she went ice cold and scrambled to her feet, as did the rest of her companions.

    ¡°My queen,¡± Casarda said, dipping her head low.

    ¡°How did you make it here?¡± Morven asked before she could.

    ¡°Well, your companions are generous. They offered us a ride, and we kept on Eventuating and Diseventuating until we found M,¡± Kay said, pointing at the fairy. ¡°And with the right amount, here we are, eating and drinking.¡±

    ¡°We are not here to eat and drink,¡± Clythia said through clenched teeth. ¡°We are here to see the Sovereign.¡±

    ¡°Relax,¡± Kay waved his hand dismissively. ¡°If we aren¡¯t smart about it, we will find ourselves dead. We need to be strategic. We are in the lion¡¯s den, remember?¡±

    ¡°He has a point,¡± Modyr said, sitting down and not wasting a second as he helped himself to a large chunk of what looked like scrambled eggs, although it wasn¡¯t, and vegetables. When he realized everyone was gawking at him, he added, ¡°Just because I can walk for miles without getting tired doesn¡¯t mean it wouldn¡¯t leave me hungry.¡±

    ¡°Sit,¡± Kay beckoned to Clythia, and she reluctantly did so. Morven and Glythia followed suit.

    ¡°Where is your pack?¡± Kay asked.

    Glythia went grim. ¡°Gone.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that,¡± Kay nodded at the werewolf with genuine awareness.

    Her guards and servants had been helping themselves before she arrived, but when they started to shuffle to their duties, she halted them and let them continue their enjoyment.

    ¡°Something is very, very wrong,¡± Glythia said in a whisper so quiet she thought she was imagining it. ¡°Do you know what our biggest arsenal as werewolves is? It isn¡¯t our wolf abilities but our instincts. And we never go wrong with those.¡±

    Clythia was inclined to believe him. Dogs guard because they could smell a thief from yards away. Perhaps wolves had those instincts too; after all, they were just the savage version of dogs.

    ¡°So what do those instincts tell you?¡±

    ¡°That this is all a grand joke. We aren¡¯t safe here.¡±

    ¡°We already know that.¡±

    ¡°No, you don¡¯t understand.¡± If looks could slice, then Glythia¡¯s blue eyes were gutting her. ¡°Don¡¯t you find it weird that the angel didn¡¯t bother to fight the fairy even though he knew she planning an escape? Or that the angels and faeries in this pub wear the same kind of clothes we do? Or this food¡ª¡± he stabbed the fork with brute force and brought it to his mouth, chewing on the potato. ¡°¡ªis the same as ours? How is it even possible to share so many similar things after no active communication with Stormia for more than two hundred millennia? I didn¡¯t even know there were inhabitants here all the time we came for the Tithe. Did you?¡±

    Silent had rippled through the room, somewhere around where his whisper was escalating to an outburst, everyone''s eyes were on him.

    ¡°Did you?¡± he asked her again with intensity.

    ¡°Uh, no, not really.¡±

    ¡°Thank you.¡± He slumped back in his chair. ¡°I don¡¯t even think the Sovereign is here.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s preposterous,¡± Morven said. ¡°Where would she be but Stormia. That was part of the agreement of the Tithe.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know. But the way that angel targeted me and my pack was personal and claimed he was doing that because the Sovereign said so. I swear to you all on my father¡¯s grave that I did nothing to aggravate the Sovereign once in my life.¡±

 The introduction

    ¡°Maybe there¡¯s something your parents haven¡¯t told you?¡± Morven stared at Glythia.

    ¡°No!¡± He slammed his wide palms on the table, raising a small tremor that sent a fork and a knife flying. ¡°When my father died, his last words were ¡®may you find grace before the Sovereign like your ancestors did.¡¯¡±

    Clythia didn¡¯t like the conclusion that was forming in her mind, and the words turned into sandpaper in her mouth. ¡°Which means there is another Sovereign here, and the angel was attacking him because he knows more about the Sovereign, and whoever is in their place didn¡¯t want them to be found out.¡±

    ¡°But he doesn¡¯t know what the Sovereign looks like. He¡¯s oblivious like us,¡± Modyr said. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right?¡± He turned to Glythia.

    ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t know what the Sovereign looks like, but¡ª¡± Glythia trailed off, eyes fixating on the rice on his plate.

    ¡°But what?¡± Kay¡¯s voice pulled him out of his thoughts, and Glythia rubbed his forehead.

    ¡°If I contacted my ancestors in the astral world, they could help.¡±

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell us this sooner then?¡± Clythia demanded.

    When they were trying to find ways of understanding the Sovereign so that they could get back at the Shadow? When they were considering contacting the Shadow in Modyr¡¯s palace, why would he remain quiet?

    Annoying dog.

    ¡°It¡¯s not something I¡¯m gifted with, to communicate with the great beyond. It¡¯s a lost ability.¡± He glared at her. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. I am being sincere. But now I want that angel to pay for what he did to my pack, and I will avenge their deaths by finding why his Sovereign targeted me.¡±

    ¡°You are no different from us after all,¡± Clythia shrugged.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t pull your no-matter-what-benevolent card for us until it affected your flock¡ªsorry, I meant pack.¡± She gave him a dry smile.

    His chin bulged, but he didn¡¯t say anything.

    ¡°Your plan of revenge is underwhelming,¡± Kay¡¯s voice cut through the awkward, thick air, as he wiped his mouth with a kerchief. ¡°You are not going to torture the angel?¡±

    Just when Clythia thought the werewolf wouldn¡¯t answer, he said, ¡°He isn¡¯t the culprit. It¡¯s the man that sent him I¡¯m after, and I will make him pay.¡±

    ¡°Or the woman,¡± Afia said, tipping a chalice down her throat.

    ¡°You are quite a mouthful for a servant.¡± Kay stared at Afia and beamed at her, indicating he was rather admiring her with a tad of flirtation in his tone rather than condescension.

    ¡°Perhaps I had too much wine.¡± Her golden eyes lingered on him a slight longer than necessary before she looked away.

    Morven¡¯s face was expressionless¡ªor rather, he was pretending to be, as his eyes darted from the human king to her servant.

    Clythia finished her meal in silence until the Prime swapped seats with Vina so that he could discuss something with the vampire king. From the way the Lady of Hypercas strode over to her, she seemed ready for a drilling conversation which possibly involved a lot of blaming her.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you put Afia in her place?¡± Vina whispered. ¡°You give her too much freedom.¡±

    ¡°I didn¡¯t give her anything, except a chance to paint and record like the scholars,¡± Clythia sighed.

    ¡°Morven is smitten by her. He looks at her like a wounded puppy. He could be a vampire, with his movement rigid and all, but I swear to you, he eyes her weirdly.¡± Vina shook her head.

    ¡°Do you fancy Morven?¡± Clythia raised a brow at the Lady of Hypercas, whose cheeks were turning a slight shade of pink.

    ¡°What? No, I do not. That is against our law, but my queen, you are a fast sleeper and I¡¯m not,¡± Vina said, lowering her voice further, hopefully out of earshot of the vampire and werewolf. ¡°And they were dallying around, thinking no one saw them when we were in the cave. Doing Ilyana knows what and coming back to sleep very late.¡±

    Clythia was taken aback, processing the information. She didn¡¯t observe her servants or guards carefully, one of the reasons why she fell into Tiyus¡¯ trap. It was her weakness; not even her favorite servant could pull a lingering curiosity in her. Besides, worrying about Tiyus and his twisted plan had dulled her to her surroundings further.

    ¡°I have warned her she would be executed if she were fool enough to start a relationship with him,¡± Clythia said calmly.

    ¡°You, my queen, are very ignorant,¡± Vina said.

    ¡°And you, Lady of Hypercas, think that calling me your queen¡ªrare as it may be¡ªwill make me ignore the fact that you just insulted me?¡± Clythia was amused.

    ¡°I am being honest with you. And I don¡¯t trust your spy one bit.¡±

    ¡°Casarda?¡±

    ¡°Look at her.¡±

    Casarda was sitting at Kay¡¯s side, at ease and laughing at one of his flirtatious jests, which Clythia had never had the chance to listen to before. The human king knew how to make a goddess like Hypaxia blush or Casarda giggle like a small girl, although the latter was a whore and would beam at anyone if she was going to get something out of them.

    ¡°She¡¯s a spy. I have told her to do exactly that,¡± Clythia pointed at the Lady of Spies, ¡°to extract valuable information.¡±

    Vina¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Has she done that?¡±

    Casarda hadn¡¯t. True, it had only been a few days since they began their journey to Stormia, though it felt like a lifetime. However, with all her mingling with the werewolves and the humans, batting her eyes even at Modyr¡¯s guards, she hadn¡¯t come up with any important information. Intentional information.

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    Vina finished her suspicions aloud. ¡°Don¡¯t you find it suspicious that Casarda knew about angels and we got hunted by one of them in Stormia? How did she know about them? Which race had that information?¡±

    Clythia remained silent. Vina had a point. How did Casarda know? She claimed they were mythical beings from the Old World and that one of the other races was talking about them. So, one of the other races wasn¡¯t thrown off guard like they were.

    ¡°I tell you, there is something fishy going on.¡± Vina slumped back in her seat, twirling her slender fingers on her cup lazily.

    Eventually, the buzz of conversation died out, and they dispersed to the inn¡¯s rooms. Clythia¡¯s companions took three rooms: the wizards in one room and the witches in the other two. As the queen, she took the bed while the others were sprawled on bunks around her.

    A slight knock sounded on the door. One servant opened it and balked. Clythia perked up. ¡°Who is it?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s King Morven, my queen.¡±

    Clythia let out a sigh and headed to the door. ¡°Really? Can¡¯t you curb your lust for one night? And Afia is not here; she¡¯s in the other room.¡± She didn¡¯t even lower her voice.

    ¡°I am not here for Afia. I am here for you,¡± Morven gritted his teeth.

    ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t fancy a corpse.¡± Clythia attempted to close the door, but a swift motion of his booted leg hindered her action.

    "I don''t fancy a hag either." Morven said, quirking her lips on one side. ¡°You know why I¡¯m here.¡±

    Clythia rolled her eyes and stepped out, closing the door behind her. One of her guards started following from a distance, but she dismissed him. They continued walking in silence until they were out of the inn.

    That sandy desert was nowhere to be seen. They were in a town with low thatched-roof buildings and larger ones, the path arrayed with cobblestones and lit with lampposts.

    ¡°This is so much like our culture and world, it¡¯s disturbing." Clythia said.

    ¡°Care to elaborate on your threat?¡± Morven¡¯s voice was cold, his hands in his pockets.

    ¡°I am not threatening you. I am only warning you.¡±

    ¡°About what?¡±

    ¡°You know what. Don¡¯t make me repeat it and make it worse for both of us. I have already crossed a line by warning you.¡±

    ¡°You have crossed a line.¡± A voice came, flipping her gut and drying her mouth. A coldness wrapping around her throat. Her hands reached for it and found the cool metal that marked her slavery to the Evil. Morven¡¯s eyes bulged as he looked at her neck and behind her back before landing on her in horror. ¡°But you have also asked for my help, so I will let involving the vampire in your attempt to overthrow my plan slide with a small punishment.¡±

    ¡°Kneel,¡± Tiyus commanded.

    Every fiber in her body fought against it, but her will was tethering, and it didn¡¯t take long before her knees slumped to the floor, eyes lowered. Being in chains before a rival king and kneeling... what was more embarrassing than that?

    ¡°Why do you have to make a scene here?¡± Clythia was shaking. Tiyus was still behind her but dangerously close, leather and dew wading through her senses.

    ¡°The more you surrender, the more you are mine, my queen.¡± The Evil¡¯s voice dropped an octave, sending a shiver down her spine. ¡°If you attempt to touch my queen or harm her, I will add more things to make you suffer, Morven.¡±

    ¡°You have no power over me,¡± the vampire said. ¡°Your threat is empty.¡±

    A low chuckle rumbled, and Clythia had to stifle a moan.

    ¡°But I have power over the most powerful witch in Zyvern,¡± Tiyus said. ¡°And I have power that could ruin your heart forever.¡±

    A slight kiss brushed over Clythia¡¯s neck, arcing her back and setting her mouth free to let out a moan. The headiness was wrapping around her senses stronger than before. If Tiyus asked her to strip naked and dance like an idiot, she would.

    ¡°You can take your disgusting queen elsewhere and enjoy her. I don¡¯t fucking care,¡± Morven said, a pang of pain lancing through Clythia. ¡°I am not interested in her.¡±

    ¡°I know,¡± Tiyus said. ¡°I am just showing you the handsome face behind your upcoming disaster and punishing my queen for not obeying properly. If you tattle about this, vampire...¡±

    Tiyus didn¡¯t need to finish his sentence; the threat hung in the air as he disappeared, dragging Clythia back to her senses.

    She scrambled to her feet, her hands found the metal on her neck, and an intense dread lurched in her gut. ¡°No, no. No fucking way.¡± Her hands were scrambling to unclasp the metal, but it didn¡¯t budge. The chains weren¡¯t there; only the metal sat on her like one of her prized chokers.

    ¡°You are the whore of an Evil. Just like I feared, you handed all that power to that shit.¡± The vampire gritted his teeth.

    Clythia wasn¡¯t in a position to defend herself. Hence, she began returning to her room, bringing the collar of her nightgown around her neck. Then, thinking better of it, she pulled a shawl that wasn¡¯t transparent out of her ring and veiled the metal beneath it.

    ¡°You are not fucking going anywhere.¡± Morven blocked her path. With a twitch of her finger, he was darted upward and tossed like a rock somewhere far behind her.

    Morven had every right to be angered by her. It surely looked like she was the Evil¡¯s weapon, and he knew them firsthand. The hatred pooling from his words screamed personal experience, and she was certain he loathed her for it. It didn¡¯t matter that she had warned him to the best of her abilities. The person she opened up to first about this was now her enemy.

    Clythia turned to look at the grunting Morven and said in a lower voice, just audible enough for a vampire, ¡°You are right. I am a powerful whore living for an Evil¡¯s whim. But thanks for making it a lot easier when I destroy you.¡±

    The next day, the animosity between Clythia and Morven was abundantly clear to those who noticed. Kay caught on to their avoidance and the scowls they threw at each other with amused interest.

    ¡°You and Morven¡¯s friendship intrigues me,¡± Kay said to her while she was lost in thought, leaning against a lamppost in the afternoon.

    ¡°We are not friends,¡± Clythia said dismissively.

    ¡°Then you¡¯re froes?¡±

    ¡°A what?¡± Clythia gave him a look, but the human king didn¡¯t seem to mind.

    ¡°You know, like friends and foes¡ªfroes.¡±

    Clythia snorted. ¡°Is that what you humans like to do, mash up words like your own personal meal and cook a disaster?¡±

    His lip quirked at one side. ¡°Life is too short to not be out of line all the time.¡±

    ¡°You live half of our lifespan,¡± Clythia said. ¡°I say you live long enough to not act childish.¡±

    ¡°Half?¡± Kay barked out a laugh, tipping his head back, the sun glinting off his brown hair. ¡°If only death were as generous as your assumptions.¡±

    Clythia opened her mouth, half-forgetting Tiyus¡¯ visit and his punishment around her neck, which was concealed beneath a shawl. ¡°You don¡¯t live two hundred years?¡±

    Something like disappointment flickered across Kay¡¯s face, undoubtedly because of her ignorance, and rightfully so. Clythia never cared about the other races, and of humans, she didn¡¯t care to know more than the fact that they were weak and it was because of the other races¡¯ generosity that they had their own kingdom with a king ¡®equal¡¯ to her and the other five.

    ¡°No,¡± Kay said. ¡°We are lucky if we pass the age of a hundred naturally. Actually, we are not lucky to live more than seventy unless we like the idea of our shit and piss being wiped by our grandchildren.¡±

    ¡°Damn, I¡¯m very old then,¡± Clythia muttered, awed.

    ¡°How old are you?¡± Kay asked.

    ¡°Old enough to be your great-grandmother,¡± Clythia said. ¡°Wait, you said that was the case for you naturally. What does that mean?¡±

    ¡°Why, if we get witches like the Clutsweeds involved, of course, we can lengthen our lifesp¡ª¡±

    Kay didn¡¯t finish as Clythia bellowed, ¡°The Clutsweeds? You have contacts with the Clutsweeds? That¡¯s outlawed. How could you do this? Why am I hearing about it just now?¡±

    ¡°Relax,¡± Kay raised his palm. ¡°I have no hand in it. My ancestors contacted them long ago. They gave us something that could help with our lifespans, and we have tools to replenish it.¡±

    A knot was tying in her gut. ¡°Why are you telling me this?¡±

    ¡°Because you never bothered to ask me before.¡± Kay tilted his chin at her.

    ¡°What¡¯s with you and Afia?¡± Clythia narrowed her eyes. ¡°Are you playing some kind of game? Trying to butter me up by telling me information so I can turn a blind eye when you two decide to fuck each other for all eternity?¡±

    With every word spewing out of her mouth, Kay balked, and his expression went grim. ¡°We are not doing anything.¡±

    That didn¡¯t sound true.

    ¡°You know the law, King of Zalax.¡± Clythia tossed him a dry smile that carried menace she used to cower many during her reign. ¡°Play at your own risk.¡±

 The angel

    Clythia couldn¡¯t take it anymore as the days progressed. They didn¡¯t find anything more interesting about the Sovereign or the locals than what they already knew. Nothing about the culture jutted out enough for them to find themselves mildly intrigued. The buildings, the people, and even the language were no different from the tongue they spoke. As divided as Zyvern was, ironically, the language was one, and it came as a bit of a shock to find the same tongue in the bubbled village of Stormia.

    ¡°We have to get out of here,¡± she bellowed one morning, abruptly killing the casual murmurs. ¡°What are we waiting for?¡± Clythia looked at Kay.

    The human king rubbed his chin. ¡°An opening.¡±

    Tiyus had also been silent for the past two weeks. As they went out in turns to learn new things, he didn¡¯t chime in to give her new instructions, and Clythia didn¡¯t call him either. She was afraid someone would catch her with the Evil, someone who wouldn¡¯t seal their mouth like Morven and expose her plan. The only thing she was facing for now was the hatred pouring out of the vampire king. His extended silence on the matter was a mercy she needed for now, until he chose otherwise.

    Morven wasn¡¯t doing this for her. She was certain it was perhaps the threat of Tiyus keeping his mouth shut, forcing him to turn a blind eye to her betrayal of everyone.

    The sooner she dealt with her mission, the better. Clythia didn¡¯t want to sit one more second in the bubbled village. She tossed the fork and left the room, passing the inn¡¯s common room where a few angels and faeries were chugging their oranges and eating omelets or waffles. Recognizing all their meals was unnerving.

    How could it all be so fucking normal?

    ¡°You can¡¯t go out like that,¡± Kay scurried behind her. ¡°You are drawing attention.¡± He grabbed her arm and whirled her around. Everyone had stopped eating and was gawking at her. Kay had turned into the size of an angel, his flaming eyes fixating on her.

    Clythia was steaming. She looked down at the large palm covering the upper side of her arm. ¡°I don¡¯t fucking care. Let me go.¡± Clythia let loose a flame to rise from her arm. It didn¡¯t sear her clothes, but Kay yelped and let her go.

    Then, before he could recover and stop her, she zapped out of the room and winked out of sight.

    ¡°Tiyus,¡± Clythia said once she was quite far from the inn, passing the gigantic and minuscule creatures who were opening their shops. ¡°You better guide me to the Sovereign and get it over with.¡±

    ¡°I thought you would never ask.¡± His voice washed over her skin, raising hairs and leaving a trail of lust.

    ¡°I couldn¡¯t with all those idiots around me all the time.¡± Clythia was gaining speed. In her peripheral vision, she could see Tiyus¡¯ sculpted figure striding along.

    Clythia had never seen the Evil in broad daylight, and something in her urged her to look. But what if he was so irresistible she would tip over the edge of pleasure just by looking at him? That would be gross.

    Or would it be?

    Yes, it would be!

    Clythia huffed at her limp will.

    ¡°Do you want to look at me?¡± Tiyus purred as she veered into a deserted alley for no reason at all.

    ¡°What? No.¡± Clythia blurted. Tiyus couldn¡¯t read minds, obviously. If he did, she was dead meat for every time she had cursed him. ¡°I¡¯m just going where my feet are leading me, but it would be really helpful if you led me to the Sovereign.¡±

    ¡°Which one?¡±

    Clythia stopped in her tracks. ¡°You knew?¡±

    ¡°Of course I did.¡±

    ¡°And you didn¡¯t mind to mention it when you tortured me with your presence.¡± Clythia hissed, her eyes pinned on a road marker that read, ''The Galleys.''

    ¡°I sent the seer to you, did I not?¡± Tiyus stood behind her and whispered.

    ¡°You could have spoken in plain language. No beating around the bush or stupid riddles. But you like being an asshole.¡±

    ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± His breath tickled her ears, and it took all her might for her knees to remain steady without buckling. ¡°I like to be in yours.¡±

    All breath was stolen from her lungs. ¡°Stop trying to fill every hole in me and just fucking lead the way to where the Sovereign¡ªthe former Sovereign¡ªis. Who is the new Sovereign?¡±

    Clythia whirled to face him, a bit late to realize what she did. If Tiyus was a dark god in her chambers, he was an angel in the light.

    A literal angel.

    Before her, he grew in size, his eyes a grey inferno.

    ¡°What the fuck?¡± Tiyus was wearing his dark leather outfit as usual, growing in size without tearing it. Then grey wings sprouted out of his back. ¡°You are an angel? You are an angel¡ªthat means all those angels, they are Evils? They are Evils. They are Evils! We are fucking surrounded. None of this makes sense, care to explain? The former Sovereign¡ªis it overruled by the Shadow now? Is that why you are here?¡±

    ¡°A servant doesn¡¯t ask questions.¡± Clythia was yanked forward, the chain appearing before her, ending in Tiyus¡¯ grip. ¡°My queen.¡±

    ¡°Please.¡± Her lips started shivering. ¡°Don¡¯t come after my people, my companions, and my son. I am your slave, I will do your bidding. I won¡¯t ask questions. I will destroy the Sovereign¡ªthough I don¡¯t know how. But this¡ª¡± she pointed at the chain. ¡°It should end with me.¡±

    ¡°Good girl,¡± he purred and tugged her forward. Like a mare who understands the signal of a bridle, she put one foot before the other.

    They passed ¡°The Galleys¡± sign. When angels and faeries passed by, they tipped their heads towards Tiyus. They could see him, and more than that, they respected him.

    ¡°Are they all your slaves too?¡± Clythia asked. ¡°Or is that wrong of me to ask?¡± she added immediately, thinking of her people. The respect radiating from the faeries and angels alike was something she was knew as a queen. It disturbed her to the core to realize that Tiyus wasn¡¯t just an ordinary low-footed soldier Evil.

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    ¡°Yes, they are,¡± he ignored the second question. ¡°But none as precious as you,¡± he said like a sweet lover offering her flowers, not a collar for her neck.

    ¡°They have to have a host,¡± Clythia said. ¡°Like you do.¡±

    Tiyus was silent for a moment. ¡°Obviously.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s the faeries, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°Stop asking the obvious,¡± he said in a bored tone.

    ¡°Who is your host?¡± Clythia was playing with fire.

    Tiyus didn¡¯t answer, but he didn¡¯t punish her either. It was very sad that she felt relieved because she eluded his punishment.

    Oh, how the mighty had fallen.

    ¡°If you had called on me as often as you should, you would have gotten all the answers you needed,¡± Tiyus said.

    ¡°After I have lost myself, what¡¯s the point of knowledge?¡±

    ¡°With your knowledge, what are you planning to do? Usurp me?¡± A dark rumble of laughter left his chest.

    Clythia bit her tongue until a coppery taste filled her mouth. It was better than saying something stupid that would make things worse for her.

    ¡°But you will find me,¡± he said softly. ¡°I would be your prize.¡±

    Damn the consequences. Clythia didn¡¯t stop herself as she snorted in disgust.

    ¡°Do you want me to remind you?¡± he purred, each syllable filling her with tingling excitement.

    ¡°No, I do not.¡± It was a shame that those words came out as a whimpering moan. ¡°You have to stop leading me like a dog. What if someone sees me?¡± Someone that was traveling with her. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything this time. Stop punishing me.¡±

    ¡°You like being punished,¡± the Evil grinned at her. ¡°And don¡¯t worry, the end is nigh. You are here, that¡¯s all that matters.¡±

    ¡°What end?¡±

    ¡°My queen, if you ask glaringly obvious questions one more time, you¡¯ll wish the only thing you find on your neck is this collar.¡± He yanked on the chain, making her stumble toward him.

    ¡°You could have visited me in those two weeks, but you didn¡¯t,¡± Clythia stated, a question unspoken, but apparently the evil hated those.

    They stood before a hill where a lanky cottage perched atop. On an armchair, an old female was knitting cotton. The female was an angel, and even with her old features, she was devastatingly beautiful with her silver hair, sharp features, and flaming emerald pupils.

    ¡°My lord.¡± The angel tossed her knitting kit aside like she wasn''t giving her undivided attention mere seconds ago. She glanced at Clythia briefly before fixing her gaze on Tiyus. ¡°To what do I owe this pleasurable visit?¡±

    ¡°Tell her how to find the Sovereign,¡± Tiyus said sternly.

    ¡°You don¡¯t know where the Sovereign is.¡± Clythia had stopped asking questions officially; it was better to go with assumptions around Tiyus. This felt a lot like the time she was walking on eggshells when Din was alive.

    Tiyus ignored her and vanished, leaving her on the front porch of the angel¡¯s house. Compared to the other buildings belonging to angels with their large doors and windows and knobs the size of clubs, the tilting house before her was a cottage.

    The angel¡¯s expression was stern. ¡°Don¡¯t expect me to invite you in. You might have the honor of being Lord Tiyus¡¯s slave, but we all belong to him and his mother, the Holy Shadow.¡±

    Holy and Shadow in the same statement? Clythia chuckled but stilled when those emerald flames danced higher in the old female¡¯s eyes.

    ¡°No one knows where the current Sovereign has held the previous one captive, not even our lord. But their existence is a threat to us all, and you must destroy the previous Sovereign. The current one is an upgrade, if you ask me.¡± Clythia gave her an uninterested glare, but the old lady continued unfazed. ¡°Find the new Sovereign, learn where they kept that bitch, and then destroy her. In the meantime, it would be helpful if you dug around about the Shadow, the angels and their hosts, the workings of a Sovereign, and so on. I¡¯ve already given you too much. Off you go.¡±

    The old lady shooed her with her fingers. Clythia wanted to fight her, to burn her until her bone tunred to charred ash, but remembered the futile battle with an angel in that sandy desert. She had to find their weakness true she was collared by one but it could come in handy one day. Like a defeated foe with no ounce of strength left, she gritted her teeth and began making her way back to the inn. But then remembered something that stopped her in her tracks and turned slowly to face the irked angel.

    ¡°An angel was leading us to the Sovereign when we first arrived. Why can¡¯t you do the same?¡±

    The old lady¡¯s face turned grim. Clythia had sat on the throne for a very long time, and she what that look meant.

    ¡°You don¡¯t support the Sovereign¡ªthe current Sovereign. You think they¡¯re better, but you aren¡¯t on the same side. Neither is Tiyus.¡± Clythia tisked, taking the silence of the angel as an affirmation. ¡°Interesting.¡±

    ¡°I warn you, witch, if you go scurrying around to find the Sovereign with those angels, you will be in deep trouble.¡±

    ¡°Huh.¡± Clythia rubbed her chin. ¡°I thought that was part of my mission, finding the Sovereign no matter the method.¡±

    The angel took one step down the stair, and to her credit, Clythia didn¡¯t balk, though her whole being was screaming to run. ¡°Don¡¯t use that method. Try to find the Sovereign on your own.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    The angel took another step, a dangerous step that promised bloodshed. What was with these angels and hatred of questions, for fuck¡¯s sake?

    ¡°All right, I will be out of your hair and find a way that doesn¡¯t involve Evils that aren¡¯t on your side, although you all look the same to me.¡± Clythia closed her eyes and sighed. ¡°You know what? I will avoid Evils altogether and discover the Sovereign by myself.¡±

    Clythia didn¡¯t look back as she headed to the inn. Things were getting more complicated than she anticipated. She had thought Tiyus was leading her directly to the Sovereign, but, as always, it was to a more shrouded path.

    What did she know so far? The current Sovereign had held the previous one captive, and finding the current Sovereign would be one step toward destroying the previous one. There were at least two groups of angels or Evils: team Tiyus and the current Sovereign¡ªteam Shadow or anti-Shadow. The first angel they encountered belonged to the latter team. Both teams had one thing in common: they were predators, and Clythia and the travelers were the prey.

    Who did Clythia prefer to be eaten by, a lion or a jaguar?

    As she observed the angels around her, the fact that they could turn this village into a full-scale orgy and the faeries would start dry-humping her legs sent a shiver of disgust down her spine, and she scurried faster to the inn, albeit being invisible.

    They thought they were in hiding, but they were hiding in the lion¡¯s den, in its chamber. In its inn. How foolish they were. Clythia couldn¡¯t tell anyone, but she could grill Casarda on how she knew about angels and which race she had heard speak of them in the first place.

    Clythia was passing a narrow road and turned left onto a crooked path that led right behind the inn.

    Morven was leaning against a charred stony wall, looking down at Afia, who was staring up at him with those golden eyes and smiling as he murmured something to her. She tiptoed closer to listen in on their conversation.

    ¡°When are you going to comment on my skills?¡± the vampire purred at Afia, tucking a red strand to the back of her ear.

    Clythia was careful not to get too close, so his sense of smell or hearing wouldn¡¯t register her presence.

    ¡°I¡¯m here with you, aren¡¯t I?¡± Afia cooed. ¡°That is plenty of telling.¡±

    Even from this far, Clythia could notice her pupils dilating. That was an exaggeration, but the way Afia¡¯s mouth was opened as though she was mesmerized whispered one of two facts: Morven¡¯s dick was good, or she was smitten by him¡ªor both.

    Morven ran his finger on her lips. ¡°Are you afraid of your queen? Is that why you can¡¯t confess how I make you feel?¡±

    That vampire was older than most ruins in DavinSaw¡¯s museum, but those words belonged to a cringey adolescent. Afia was smitten by him because she didn¡¯t shudder but lit up at that comment of his. Oh, for fuck¡¯s sake! Clythia crossed her arms, pissed and intrigued to hear the response to that.

    Afia lowered her eyes. ¡°No, it¡¯s not the queen. It¡¯s just we are sneaking around every night, and this would end at some point when we get back to our lands.¡±

    Every night? Every night?!?

    Clythia had known they were fucking when Vina had told her they disappeared every night in the cave, but she didn¡¯t think they would have the gall to do it in the inn too. Or were they sneaking elsewhere?

    ¡°So it is the queen,¡± the vampire said in distaste. ¡°She doesn¡¯t approve, and you are afraid of what she might do to you. But I will protect you.¡±

    Clythia¡¯s blood was boiling. For once, she didn¡¯t feel pity for what Tiyus had in store for the vampire.

 The game

    ¡°My queen, do you wish to see me?¡± Casarda came from the back door of the inn to where Clythia was lazily leaning against the stone wall.

    ¡°How did you know about the angels?¡± Clythia¡¯s tone was cold.

    Casarda¡¯s brows twitched slightly. ¡°I heard the humans talk about it.¡±

    ¡°Why were they talking about it?¡±

    The Lady of Spies paused before replying. ¡°I don¡¯t know why; I wasn¡¯t there from the start of the conversation.¡±

    Clythia maintained her expressionless poise as she observed the Lady of Spies, who wasn¡¯t balking before her but rather was casual as though she had nothing to hide.

    ¡°What have you learned about the other races so far?¡± Clythia asked. It was about time to get answers.

    ¡°Glythia has turned into a drunkard. He rages every night and speaks about Eloin, who is his wife. Morven and Afia are courting.¡± Casarda paused, expecting some kind of reaction from Clythia, but the only thing she got was a blank stare, so she continued. ¡°The humans are rather interesting. They and Morven get along quite well. He is exposed to civilization, and they claim to have some advancements. I don¡¯t understand a word they say most of the time; perhaps the scholars will help. It¡¯s like they speak another language. Modyr and his guards talk about nature and flowers. It¡¯s nauseating.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s what you got?¡± Clythia furrowed her brows at Casarda.

    ¡°Yes, my queen.¡± For someone who was a liar, Casarda was sly, but that wasn¡¯t surprising; she was a spy after all. Perhaps Vina¡¯s suspicions were right.

    ¡°That information is of no use to me because everyone knows it, and you know that. If you don¡¯t give me anything of value by the end of tomorrow, I will find someone who will be better than you,¡± Clythia said. ¡°Summon Vina.¡±

    A minute later, Vina walked out of the inn¡¯s backdoor, sauntering as though it wasn¡¯t the queen who summoned her but rather an irritating husband. The Lady of Hypercas, as usual, gave Casarda a disapproving look before her eyes met Clythia¡¯s.

    ¡°I am here.¡± Vina put her chin up.

    Clythia beckoned Casarda to leave.

    ¡°Cast a silencing spell,¡± Clythia said quietly. Surprisingly, Vina didn¡¯t challenge the order but rather did as she was told. ¡°I don¡¯t trust Casarda. She is hiding something.¡±

    If Vina¡¯s resting face was not smug enough, now it was even more so.

    ¡°You told me so,¡± Clythia rolled her eyes. ¡°Stop rubbing it in my face.¡±

    ¡°How did you come to that conclusion?¡± Vina crossed her arms.

    ¡°Why do you always wear red?¡± Clythia observed the figure-hugging dress Vina wore. She had never seen her in anything but different shades of red.

    Vina perked her brow. ¡°I like it.¡±

    ¡°Rather a raunchy color for someone up in their ass,¡± Clythia smirked.

    Vina snorted. ¡°If you are done with being yourself,¡± she said the last word as an insult, ¡°I want to know how you came to the conclusion that Casarda is untrustworthy, my queen.¡±

    Clythia chuckled, shaking her head. ¡°She didn¡¯t tell me anything of value, and the fact that we are all surrounded by angels and, as she claimed, hearing about it from the humans...¡± she trailed off. ¡°Something is fishy.¡±

    ¡°Do you want me to find out?¡± Vina asked.

    ¡°Yes, do that, but more importantly, you are the second best person after Lord Masai when it comes to digging and researching.¡± Clythia was landing a low blow to Vina¡¯s ego. If there was anything the Lady of Hypercas hated, it was being second to anything. Her cheeks were matching her scarlet dress.

    ¡°Is that all you ask of me?¡± Vina was trying to downplay her rage by pointing out how trivial the task Clythia was giving her.

    ¡°No,¡± Clythia said. ¡°Find the current Sovereign.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t all of you rulers already doing that?¡± Vina asked.

    ¡°Yes, but if we find the Sovereign first, it will benefit our kingdom greatly.¡± When Vina opened her mouth, Clythia added, ¡°Don¡¯t ask me how; just do as I say. Let¡¯s see how all your gloating about being smarter than I or graduating at the top of the class will come of use.¡±

    Vina squared her shoulders, new determination lighting her eyes. ¡°It will be done, my queen.¡±

    <hr>

    Clythia was rather calm when Afia was pouring her wine or painting. She didn¡¯t confront her or act any different than she usually did. She had given her warning once, and if Afia was stupid enough to pursue her infatuation with the corpse, she would find the head responsible for that separated from its body and turned to ash so no one could raise her from the dead.

    Afia gave Morven a faint smile as she positioned herself on the side where Clythia sat, a good spot for not being spotted by her queen while she admired the vampire with her eyes. Morven wasn¡¯t any better either; every time his eyes met Afia¡¯s, he was lost in the golden pool. When he saw Clythia watching him, his expression turned solemn, and he looked away.

    ¡°He looks like shit,¡± Vina said, as Clythia followed her train of sight.

    Glythia was hunched, draining one glass of liquor after another without batting an eye. The blue of his eyes was void of life, akin to a frozen lake. There were dark marks around his eyes.

    ¡°Grief is eating him alive,¡± Clythia said. ¡°If he doesn¡¯t channel it into something else, he will be lost.¡±

    ¡°You really know how to state the obvious,¡± Vina mocked her.

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    The Prime stood and strode toward where they were sitting. Vina was wise to scoot aside quickly, because the way he was approaching promised to toss them against the wall. ¡°I am directing it to something important. And there is a culprit among us. I have to find him or her.¡± He squatted, gaining few heights on the sitting Clythia.

    Clythia had imagined the werewolf would come at her to pick a fight or scream, because if someone in grief wasn¡¯t brooding, they were raging. But she wasn¡¯t prepared for him to speak of his intentions after how she had treated him and how her companions had treated his lost companions. And to add to that, she was the culprit.

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Clythia asked quietly.

    ¡°I don¡¯t trust you all. The more I observe each of you, the more I see you are playing your piece of the game.¡± The werewolf¡¯s gaze was intense on her, a demand of an explanation from her.

    When they spoke of ¡®all,¡¯ the companions were non-existent. It was about the rulers sitting around the small table: Kay, Morven, Modyr, Glythia, and her.

    ¡°What an observation. Untrustworthiness is a given trait for Zyvern rulers,¡± Clythia said. ¡°Or did the grief finally open your eyes?¡±

    Glythia slammed his hand on the table, causing a slight tremor and spilling Rave¡¯s wine on the tablecloth, earning a death glare that the Prime didn¡¯t seem to notice. He saw nothing and no one but her. ¡°Don¡¯t you mock me, witch.¡±

    ¡°Enlighten me then,¡± Clythia cooed, raising her glass. ¡°Why don¡¯t you trust us?¡±

    If he had followed her three days ago when she stormed out, if he had eavesdropped on her argument with Morven, or even if Morven had told him...

    ¡°I don¡¯t give my playbook to the enemy,¡± Glythia scoffed, crossing his arms.

    ¡°Then why are you here?¡± Clythia raised a brow.

    He leapt to his feet. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Then he went out of the room.

    ¡°Is he sane?¡± Vina asked, reclaiming her spot.

    ¡°I doubt it.¡±

    ¡°He is right, albeit his methods,¡± Vina said. ¡°All of you play your own piece on the game board. And some of you don¡¯t even know that you are the piece.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Clythia began drumming her nails, earning an annoyed glare from Rave, which she returned.

    ¡°The faerie king doesn¡¯t peel his eyes off of you. He surely does like you, but that¡¯s not it. There¡¯s something more, something bothering him,¡± Vina said. ¡°You won¡¯t notice because every time you look in his direction, he¡¯s looking somewhere else millisecond early.¡±

    Clythia turned fully toward Vina. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Also, there is the human king,¡± Vina continued, ignoring her shock. ¡°It looks like each and every move of his is calculated, as if he is part of a drama. Then there is Morven, the eccentric whose heart is on his sleeve. He shows no shame as he lays his eyes upon a slave witch, and reminding everyone in this room that we are all backward and out of his league.¡±

    ¡°How is that a game if he is that obvious?¡± Clythia asked.

    ¡°I am not the one who said it¡¯s a game, but if you think about it...¡± Vina trailed off.

    ¡°You continued on the Prime''s metaphor.¡±

    Vina¡¯s mouth opened slightly. ¡°You are right.¡±

    Clythia was dealing with nutcases today. ¡°How many glasses did you have?¡±

    Vina pouted her lips, thinking hard. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t care. It¡¯s better dealing with you when you are drunk.¡± Clythia waved her hand, staring at Morven, who was rather occupied licking an oyster. If that was how he was licking Afia, no wonder she was head over heels. ¡°Finish your theory.¡±

    Vina cleared her throat. ¡°If you think about the vampire, he¡¯s predictably unpredictable, so you don¡¯t know what flavor he brings to the game.¡±

    ¡°What about the Prime?¡±

    Vina lurched forward. ¡°Sorry, my queen,¡± she gulped. ¡°The food isn¡¯t willing to sit in my stomach.¡± Then she dashed out of the room.

    What was wrong with everyone today?

    Clythia was on her way to retire to her bedroom when she bumped into an angel. She was her witch self, and she didn¡¯t need to be because whatever deal the human king had struck with the owner, no one but them could access this side for the time being, except for the cleaning faeries.

    ¡°I am sorry, did I hurt you?¡± The angel straightened her. He was handsome with jet-black hair and golden eyes, a strong jawline, and broad shoulders with a muscled body.

    Typical.

    But he was also an Evil.

    ¡°I am perfectly fine.¡± Clythia pushed on his abs. He didn¡¯t budge. ¡°Get out of my way.¡±

    The angel squatted before her, and she felt like a child being scolded by an adult. ¡°Is that how you thank an angel who saved you?¡±

    Clythia crossed her arms and glared at him. The more she did so, the more confusion marred the angel¡¯s features. ¡°A gorgeous lady like you is a slave?¡± He trailed his fingers over her arm, the hunger in his eyes increasing.

    ¡°Get your hands off my property,¡± a growl came from behind her.

    The angel¡¯s eyes bulged. He leaped to his feet and bowed. ¡°I am sorry, master. I didn¡¯t know she was yours.¡± The scent of dew and leather became stronger.

    Tiyus lunged forward in his angel form, coiling his hand around the angel and lifting him off the ground before shoving him down the floor. ¡°Tell your brethren if anyone touches Queen Clythia, I will send them to the Pit of Light.¡±

    On the last remark, the angel¡¯s cheek reddened before he disappeared into thin air, leaving Tiyus kneeling as he lowered his finger.

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± Tiyus asked her slowly.

    Many witty responses clouded her tongue like: ¡®What does that mean?¡¯, ¡®I¡¯ll never be alright with you around,¡¯ ¡®Your property is fine,¡¯ ¡®As if you care,¡¯ and so on. But what was the point? She was going to do his bidding anyway, and a runny mouth would only earn her another embarrassing punishment. Draping a shawl around her neck or wearing high-collared dresses to hide their was a real collar beneath it.

    ¡°I am fine,¡± she said and began walking past him.

    ¡°Where are you going?¡± Tiyus asked.

    Clythia stopped without glancing at Tiyus. ¡°To sleep.¡± She had no intention of entertaining his presence or acknowledging it, but she wasn¡¯t stupid enough to just walk away. Who knew what could trigger his temper? Thus, she remained. ¡°How did the Evil know I was a slave?¡±

    ¡°His lure didn¡¯t work on you. When hosts are claimed, other Evils can¡¯t have power over them.¡± Tiyus¡¯ footsteps were faint before he stopped behind her. ¡°Go to your sleep,¡± Tiyus whispered in her ear, ¡°Don¡¯t let me stop you.¡±

    Clythia swallowed, a visible reaction of her wrestling will. Some part of her was yearning to invite Tiyus in, to get close to him, to smell and kiss him, and to kneel for him and be under him...

    No.

    Clythia quickened her pace, and once she found herself in the empty bedroom, she slammed the door shut.

    ¡°You really think you can run from me?¡± Tiyus was leaning against the window, as she practically leapt out of her own skin.

    Of course, she didn¡¯t think that. He was her shadow that followed her everywhere she went, though it wasn¡¯t light that made him visible but darkness.

    Clythia didn¡¯t respond as she climbed on the bed. It was too early for any of her companions to retire; they wouldn¡¯t do that before the next two hours or so.Her guards were outside, but they had no clue¡ªas always¡ªthat the queen they were guarding, the most powerful witch in Zyvern, was a haunted slave of the Evil.

    ¡°Can I ask you something without fearing your rage or punishment?¡± Clythia was still avoiding his eyes as she leaned against the mattress, eyes pinned on the door.

    ¡°You may.¡±

    ¡°What is your status among the Evils?¡±

    ¡°I am their lord.¡±

    ¡°Is there anyone above you?¡± Clythia¡¯s heart skittered. True, he had allowed her to ask, but it was one question, and this question could be triggering if there was anyone above his station and if he envied their position.

    ¡°No, not even the Shadow and the Well of the Beast. We are equal in power: three in one, one in three,¡± Tiyus answered.

    Clythia had no idea what that meant, but didn¡¯t want to ask any further. Hence, she shrugged, rolled over, and closed her eyes.

    ¡°Why don¡¯t you look at me?¡± Tiyus asked. He wasn¡¯t letting her sleep, it seemed. ¡°Am I that terrible to look at?¡±

    ¡°If you want me to look at you, you can make me.¡±

    ¡°But I want you to want to look at me.¡±

    ¡°Why would I want that after everything you have put me through? After jeopardizing my son, my kingdom, chipping away at my sense of self every day. I don¡¯t even recognize myself anymore. I am in constant fear because of you.¡± Clythia sighed as a tear rolled down her cheek. ¡°That¡¯s the answer to your first question, master. For the second question, you are terrible to look at because of it. Go on punish me for being blunt on my answer.¡±

    But no reply came after that, Clythia felt lighter, no smell of dew or leather lingered. She slowly opened her eyes and searched the room.

    Tiyus was gone.

 The host

    ¡°My queen, you have to come and see this!¡± someone bellowed in Clythia¡¯s ears. Not someone; it was the Lady of Hypercas.

    ¡°Are you mad, woman?¡± Clythia said, rubbing her eyes, slowly opening them, and glaring at Vina with sleep-addled irritation. Through the small window, Clythia could see it was dawn. Her servants and scholars were sprawled all around her bed, sleeping peacefully.

    ¡°Get up,¡± Vina said, acting as though she was a mother scolding a child. Clythia rolled out of bed and changed her clothes from the ring she wore, selecting a high-collared dress to cover the leash around her neck. Then she followed the rather-blunt-this-early Vina out.

    ¡°You better fucking make this worth it or¡ª¡±

    ¡°I know you will cut off my head,¡± Vina rolled her eyes, making Clythia huff.

    They got past the back door of the inn and sped up in the dark alley. It was good she chose cotton in her rush because Clythia could feel the wind lashing on her face, and some of it sinking through the fabric.

    Vina led her through a series of left and right turns before stopping in front of a pot with a rose in it, pointing at it.

    ¡°I am already looking at it,¡± Clythia said. ¡°Have you not seen a flower in your entire existence?¡±

    ¡°Look carefully,¡± Vina said, ignoring the threat in her tone.

    For a few seconds, nothing happened, then the flower began to distort, fading out before reappearing and distorting again.

    ¡°What am I looking at?¡± Clythia knitted her brows.

    Vina crouched down and stretched her fingers, seeming to wait for something. When the flower started to fracture, she reached for it, but it passed through her palm as though it wasn¡¯t there to begin with. Before Clythia could say anything, Vina reached out again when the flower was opaque and was able to grip the stem.

    Vina stood up and stared at Clythia. ¡°The reason why everything looks so bizarrely familiar is because none of it is real. This flower isn¡¯t real. None of it is real. It¡¯s like looking through a mirror.¡±

    ¡°To fool whom?¡± Clythia began, her mind numb, trying to process what it meant. ¡°It was like this before we arrived.¡±

    ¡°And the Sovereign knows that,¡± Vina said. ¡°If they are anything like the previous one¡ªomniscient¡ªthen they would know.¡±

    ¡°Or if they had their hands on the omniscient Sovereign,¡± Clythia mumbled.

    ¡°What¡ªdo you know something?¡± Vina placed her hands on her waist.

    ¡°That I know,¡± Clythia shook her head. ¡°We are part of some bizarre game, and I don¡¯t think it would be a great sight when reality unravels.¡±

    ¡°My queen,¡± Vina said impatiently. It was still strange she was addressing her formally quite often these days. ¡°You asked me to find the Sovereign. I have the right to know every little detail you have on them, for both our sakes.¡±

    ¡°The previous Sovereign is held captive by the current one,¡± Clythia said. ¡°That¡¯s what I know. Don¡¯t ask me how¡ªthe source of the information is not important.¡± It was very important because it was the Evil that was the lord of all the angels here, and she was his slave. And he was latched onto a powerful host.

    But Vina shouldn¡¯t know that. She would eventually, but Clythia didn¡¯t want to think about what would happen then.

    To her credit, Vina didn¡¯t pester her further. ¡°Perhaps the locals could help us. There is always an outlier. Someone who doesn¡¯t like it here. We could use that creature.¡±

    ¡°No,¡± Clythia said with more vigor than intended before adjusting herself, but it was too late as Vina gave her a confused look. With a practiced nonchalant tone she said, ¡°The locals are extremely dangerous. If you get close to them, you will lose yourself.¡±

    ¡°Lose myself, how?¡± Vina crossed her arms, the breeze fluttering her red hood.

    Should Clythia tell her the reason? Would it be important? Would knowing it raise suspicion? But Vina was always suspicious of everyone all the time. She had to be careful because sooner or later an angel could make a move on one of her companions. It was still strange that no one had encountered an angel and discovered they were Evil.

    ¡°The angels are the Children of the Shadow,¡± Clythia began. ¡°They are also called the Evils in the previous era and were rampant. They enslaved most of Zyvern with the slavers of Surial.¡±

    ¡°If you have struck a bargain with the Shadow, then why are you afraid of its children?¡± Vina assessed her.

    ¡°I am not afraid of them,¡± Clythia said with a rather unconvincing tone.

    ¡°You are shaking,¡± Vina¡¯s eyes zeroed in on her fisted palm, and Clythia hid it.

    ¡°It¡¯s the chill.¡±

    Vina pursed her lips, eyes narrowing slightly. ¡°You have to tell me why I should avoid them.¡±

    Clythia grinned. ¡°They could make you lose that tightly held bun of yours.¡±

    Vina¡¯s mouth opened; she looked truly concerned as her fingers trailed over her kempt hair. Even at this hour, her hair was smoothly tied in a bun at the center of her head. ¡°How do you sleep like that?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t,¡± Vina was stunned.

    ¡°I haven¡¯t seen your hair except like this,¡± Clythia said.

    ¡°As you shouldn¡¯t,¡± Vina said, and Clythia raised her brows. ¡°My queen. Now how will they manage to do that?¡±

    ¡°Take off your invisible ponytail?¡± Clythia mocked, making Vina grumpier than her usual. ¡°Easy. They would morph you to Casarda.¡± Vina¡¯s jaw slacked. Clythia didn¡¯t need to explain further as the gears in Vina¡¯s mind were turning. It was a sight to watch how her face still remained blank, a smooth surface of ice to hide the boiling emotions beneath, but some of it made it to the surface. Clythia didn¡¯t miss the twitch of her lips and the stiffness of her shoulders.

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    ¡°I will be careful then,¡± Vina said. ¡°This is what I came to show you and to share my theories. I will keep on searching for the Sovereign.¡±

    ¡°We have to leave this place immediately,¡± Clythia said. ¡°We aren¡¯t safe here. We are in a beautified trap, and Kay, rather pompous of it, made a fool of all of us.¡±

    As they were returning to the inn, they saw Kay doing pushups at the back door, blocking their path. He was naked from the waist up, every lift and push bulging his sculpted broad back, which was gleaming with sweat despite the chill, his hair ruffling in the breeze.

    Clythia cleared her throat, snagging the human king¡¯s attention. With one leap, he was facing them, his chest heaving, surprise gleaming on his face. ¡°I didn¡¯t think anyone would be up,¡± he said, giving them a dry smile, and stood aside to let them pass. Clythia gestured for Vina to go on, but she remained there.

    Once Clythia knew she was out of earshot, she said, ¡°I need to speak with you.¡±

    ¡°About what?¡± This man was handsome. When did he develop such a sharp jawline?

    ¡°How did you know about the angels?¡± Clythia crossed her arms, partly because of the chill but also to send the notion to Kay that she was interrogating him.

    Kay cocked his eyebrow. ¡°How did you know that I know about angels?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s not important.¡±

    ¡°I know because I know,¡± Kay shrugged.

    ¡°Stop playing games for fuck¡¯s sake. If you know something, it could help us all,¡± Clythia said, sounding desperate.

    Kay gave her a once-over, which sent a chill where his eyes rested, but it could have been the weather for all she knew. ¡°They are myths from the old world.¡±

    Clythia was waiting for him to elaborate further, but he didn¡¯t. He just stared at her blankly. ¡°And for some apparent reason, the myths are here. Why?¡±

    ¡°Because they weren¡¯t a myth,¡± Kay said with a tone that insinuated she was inquiring the obvious.

    Clythia wished for nothing more than to smack his head on the floor where he had been doing pushups moments ago. ¡°Does your tongue only work when flirting with women? Is that how you stayed on the throne for so long?¡±

    The human king¡¯s lip tilted to one side. ¡°My tongue can do many, many things,¡± his voice dropped to an alto. ¡°Do you want to find out?¡±

    ¡°How did a human secure an inn in a strange land? You could strike a deal with the innkeeper, but that doesn¡¯t guarantee the locals behaving. Yet somehow, they looked the other way.¡± Clythia knew it was because of Tiyus, but what part did Kay play? ¡°How did a human happen to be talking about angels while heading to Stormia, the one place they reside?¡± Kay¡¯s expression was blank. ¡°Happenstance? I think not. I dare say you are part of something that you aren¡¯t sharing with us all. And if you don¡¯t tell me right now, I will tell the rest of the travelers.¡±

    Kay sighed before bursting into laughter. ¡°Please do that and see if anyone would believe a human can conspire this greatly.¡±

    Clythia chuckled. ¡°Never have I ever heard you downplay yourself. We do that to you, but you, at every point and turn, try to fight for your equality, as if you matter.¡±

    ¡°So it was deliberate.¡± Kay¡¯s face went grim, hatred flickering on his features as he glared at her. ¡°You were ignoring me, my ancestors¡ªall of you.¡± He pointed at the door. ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because you are human,¡± Clythia said. ¡°You are weak. If it wasn¡¯t for the Sovereign, you wouldn¡¯t be our equal.¡± She said the last word as though it was rotten food in her mouth. ¡°Perhaps now that the Sovereign is gone for good, you will learn your place.¡±

    A gust barreled through her chest as Kay lifted his hand, tossing her until her back collided with the stone wall, sending a sharp pain through her. The cobblestones spiraled towards her face, and in a last-second reflex, she sent a gust of wind that arced her sideways before darkness claimed her.

    When Clythia opened her eyes, she was sprawled on the muddy cobblestones, her joints and back screaming in pain as she struggled to pick herself up. A hand was stretched out, veins bulging against the creamy skin in a mouthwatering way, stirring heat deep within her. The smell of dew was her final confirmation of who was helping her as she grasped the arm as dear life.

    Time didn''t seem to pass that much since she was knocked out because the sky maintained its dark pink hue, and the pain in her back was fresh as she grunted, trying to make sense of why she was sprawled on the stones instead of the silky sheets of the inn in the first place.

    Vina... the glitching plant...

    ¡°Where¡¯s Kay?¡± Clythia asked, craning her neck in agony.

    ¡°Heal yourself,¡± Tiyus said.

    Clythia sent a wave of energy from her Inner Sense, mending skin and bone. Then Tiyus said, ¡°He is somewhere where he couldn¡¯t harm you. Have you discovered the current Sovereign?¡±

    ¡°This place is a sham, isn¡¯t it?¡± Clythia rubbed her forehead, feeling lightheaded despite being healed.

    Tiyus furrowed his brows, his silvery eyes confirming the answer to that question. ¡°What did you see?¡±

    ¡°Something you would expect when you gaze upon a distorted mirror,¡± Clythia answered quietly, her heart racing faster. ¡°How did Kay have such power? He is human.¡±

    Tiyus chuckled, folding his arms across his chest, revealing more bulging veins. He wasn¡¯t trying to seduce her; effortlessly, he was the master of seduction, and she was falling prey to it like always, even while unnerved by what was going on. ¡°Your arrogance is your shortcoming, my queen. You underestimate the most powerful ones.¡±

    ¡°The most powerful ones?¡± Nothing was making sense. She barked out a laugh. ¡°Kay can¡¯t be the most powerful; a witch in the slums can crush him to dust with a thought.¡±

    That was an exaggeration, of course. No witch in the slums or wizard could do such a deed. If that were the case, they would have taken a better place in society. If Tiyus knew this fact, he didn¡¯t show it.

    ¡°Again, arrogance,¡± the Evil said.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me he was the most powerful until now?¡± Clythia asked.

    ¡°I am not going to do your homework for you,¡± Tiyus shrugged.

    ¡°Homework?¡± Clythia was confused. ¡°What does that mean? Does Kay have anything to do with the Sovereign? He does, doesn¡¯t he? He¡¯s the most powerful, you just said...¡±, she trailed off.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± Tiyus interjected.

    ¡°I wonder why that is." Clythia ignored him, being carried away by the thoughts that was spewing out her mouth. "I have a feeling you know where the Sovereign is but something is holding you back. You keep pestering me about finding the Sovereign, because the end is nigh whatever that means. Somehow, Kay is involved in all this.¡± Clythia shook her head, twirling her rings as she paced side to side. ¡°No wonder Kay was at ease once we reached Stormia, no wonder he struck a deal with the innkeeper and no one bothered us. He knew about the angels before any of us. I wouldn''t be brazen to say, Stormia is like a second home to that twat.¡± Tiyus chuckled by the remark but remained silent. Vina¡¯s words seeped into Clythia''s mind: ¡®And also there¡¯s the human king. Each and every move of his is calculated.¡¯ Clythia couldn¡¯t see it because, as Tiyus said, she was arrogant. ¡°And if he is the most powerful-¡±

    Clythia stopped in her tracks, and her eyes trailed up the stoic angel before her. Memories began to click, when her eyes fully took the enthralling silvery eyes: the first time when Kay arrived at the island, she thought it was the light from the ship it never was. It was Tiyus looking at her through the human. Then there was the promise of Tiyus, vowing to protect her if she he did his bidding. Then Kay swooped in and told her the lightning trick to defeat the Charybdis, even when s.

    ¡°You are the most powerful of the Evils, anchored with the most powerful being on Zyvern.¡± The last admission tasted like ash in her mouth.

    Clythia¡¯s heart was beating faster in her chest, drumming in her ears. Beads of sweat were trailing down her back, and her hands were shaking. How could a frail human being, a nobody, achieve such a thing? She should have listened to all the talks of civilization and advancement, of all the ways the human king made something for his kingdom and even surpassed it to the point of an Evil lord admitting him to be the most powerful.

    ¡°What¡¯s next then?¡± Clythia asked, more to herself than to Tiyus, but the master he was, he answered.

    ¡°Bring Morven to the third shop from the inn, the yellow-painted three-story building, the one co-joined with its twin, the red-painted house.¡± Tiyus grinned, and a chill raked down her spine. What on Zyvern was he planning? ¡°At noon.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡± That was a stupid question, and she knew the answer as soon as the word left her mouth. The Evil was going to deliver the revenge he promised the vampire. Clythia tossed Tiyus an apologetic look before his patience ran out on her rabid questions for the day.

    Morven had become her enemy. He wouldn¡¯t accompany her for one stride willingly unless she convinced him to do so or forced him. In all honesty, she wished she wasn¡¯t involved in this, but here she was, ready to be a part of the vampire¡¯s demise.

 The bond

    ¡°I think that would be enough.¡± Clythia didn¡¯t need to turn back to see that it was Vina who was approaching her.

    But Clythia didn¡¯t stop, her fingers having a mind of their own, creating splinters on the lamppost with a dagger, which peeled off by itself and found its way back to her hand. As though nothing had happened, the lamppost was whole again, which was irking her too¡ªa constant reminder of the fa?ade reality of this place. They were trapped in the lion¡¯s den, a den that was aesthetically appealing to the lambs. What would happen if it all fell apart? Would they find themselves in an abyss, or a lake of fire, or beneath unbreakable ice, or worse?

    Heat had engulfed her body, sweat soaking her, an adhesive on her skin, her bushy hair defying gravity but doing its best to shield her from the morning sun. Her white satin dress was leaving little to the imagination, turning the Evils¡¯ heads and the fairies¡¯. None approached, of course. Should she thank her captor, Tiyus, for that too? What a twisted reality.

    ¡°My queen.¡± Vina¡¯s tone was laced with worry.

    Clythia whipped her head to the Lady of Hypercas, out of breath, dagger in hand. ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°You have been throwing that dagger for Ilyana knows how long.¡± Vina crossed her arms, wearing a scarlet dress that hugged her from below her chin to her feet. ¡°You were fine when I left you with Kay. What happened?¡±

    "You didn''t leave me with him. I told you to go inside." Clythia said as her mind reeled.

    Kay.

    Kay, the human king of Zalax.

    Kay, the most powerful one who had tossed her to oblivion.

    Kay, the host of the Evil lord, Tiyus.

    ¡°Nothing.¡± Clythia managed to fake a false smile, or so she thought. ¡°I am just blowing off some steam. What time is it?¡±

    Vina, unconvinced, looked down at her shadow, which was longer on the west side, and stared up, squinting at the sun. ¡°It is the fourth hour of the day.¡±

    Two more hours, then. But it felt like two decades.

    Clythia loosed the dagger in her ring and began pacing back and forth.

    ¡°Look, my queen.¡± Vina addressed her that way twice; this was no good. Here came the roasting. ¡°Your emotions tend to get the better of you; they are all over the place, but this is pandemonium. What is going on?¡±

    Clythia huffed. ¡°Oh, so the know-it-all, the preened Lady of Hypercas, the one who rules the city with calmness and modesty, creating a utopia for its inhabitants, your grace.¡± Clythia mimicked a courtesy. ¡°You have the tongue to criticize a ruler of a continent? You find fault in every move, every garment, every etiquette. It is not my fault that the Sovereign abandoned us and left us with rotting land; it is not my fault that I have to keep my family and my continent safe and do what I thought was right, and it definitely isn¡¯t my fault that we are all in a big shithole than we anticipated. Or is it? I say, you preened Lady, be the judge, hmm?¡±

    ¡°I was just merely stating the facts.¡± Vina¡¯s brows rose, unfazed by Clythia¡¯s ire. ¡°I was worried because you are acting differently than usual.¡±

    ¡°Worried?¡± Clythia shook her head. ¡°You don¡¯t get worried about me. You are just waiting for my downfall, like the Lady of Spies. No one has got my back.¡±

    ¡°You are very wrong on that.¡± Vina pursed her lips, her cheeks matching her dress.

    ¡°Of course, I am. Queen of criticism.¡± Clythia said. ¡°I am always wrong.¡±

    Clythia didn¡¯t give her a chance to respond as she entered the inn and headed to the bathroom, found at the end of her bedchamber. It wasn¡¯t occupied; the tub was filled with clean water. That was weird, but what wasn¡¯t in this place? Clythia had a feeling that if she let the water go down the drain, it would refill from whatever fa?ade well it was connected to. Thus, she just rolled with the flow.

    With the help of perfumed soap from her ring, the water turned to a light pinkish foam. Naked, she stepped into the warmth, easing the tension from her limbs and skin. She immersed herself until the curse around her neck was hidden beneath the foam.

    ¡°Can I have a word?¡± A male voice woke her from her slumber.

    Clythia opened her eyes. There he was, the king of faeries, Modyr, wearing his moss green tunic and breeches, his smooth skin a stark contrast to his dark hair.

    ¡°Are you lost, pervert?¡± Clythia¡¯s voice was weak.

    ¡°I knocked and you didn¡¯t answer.¡± Modyr said, his eyes roaming over the pink blanket and then to her face. ¡°I haven''t intruded on anything private.¡±

    ¡°Thus you think it¡¯s right to waltz in like it¡¯s your castle?¡± Males. Unbelievable. The part of the brain where the logic of consent and privacy was supposed to operate had a loose screw. It didn¡¯t surprise her anymore. She had seen it with Din, Tiyus, and the king who now eyed her with interest, Modyr. Well, if the third monster tried something, the second would deal with him. She had nothing to worry about.

    ¡°I expected more wrath from you.¡± Modyr cocked his head. Clythia didn¡¯t dignify the bait with a response, when he realized that he continued. "What is going on with you lately?"

    Clythia chuckled. ¡°I know more hot and cold magical drinks, but none of them come close to you.¡±

    ¡°You have a tendency to scare people away,¡± Modyr leaned against the frame of the door.

    ¡°And an affinity to pull them back no matter what?¡± Clythia asked in a mocking tone. ¡°I only asked to access the Shadow that made a lair of your home already. Pretending that it isn¡¯t there doesn¡¯t change the reality that it is.¡±

    Modyr clenched his teeth subtly, a throb appearing on his sharp jawline.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    ¡°If that¡¯s why you kept your distance from me, then by all means, settle at the edge of Zyvern like you already did.¡± Clythia closed her eyes, making a splash sound as she reshuffled, careful not to reveal her neck.

    ¡°I can¡¯t.¡± The faerie king¡¯s voice was barely audible, but she was certain she hadn¡¯t imagined those words.

    ¡°Why not?¡±

    ¡°Do you remember when you asked me why I care about your life?¡± Modyr asked softly, the gentleness in his voice prompting her to open her eyes. ¡°It is because we are tied.¡±

    ¡°By what?¡± Clythia¡¯s mind was already numb; she didn¡¯t want to acknowledge what he was talking about and hoped he meant something else than what it indicated.

    ¡°Fate.¡±

    A laugh rolled out of her throat in succession, one after the other, until her eyes watered. ¡°I speak the truth,¡± the faerie king asserted, but that only made her laugh harder.

    Modyr began to walk towards her, reducing her laughter to a smirk. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you.¡±

    ¡°Do you think I would force you to do something that you don¡¯t want to do? I am not sick,¡± Modyr said, halting, then sitting by the edge of the tub. ¡°You will be with me willingly, once you accept the mating bond. You know I¡¯m right because you feel like I do.¡±

    ¡°I feel nothing.¡± Clythia masked her face blank. It was the truth; the faerie king had been flirting with her until she chased him away by saying gruesome things about murdering a child. But that didn¡¯t seem to keep him away from her, as Vina claimed he spent their dining times gawking at her.

    ¡°You are lying.¡± Modyr smirked. He was a fool to think he was winning this conversation, and it took him a few seconds after that to see she was speaking true. First, fury marked his face, then horror. ¡°How is that possible? Did you dull the bond¡¯s power by your vile witchcraft? That¡¯s an abomination. Rejecting fate is the worst of sins. If you were my subject, your punishment would have been brutal.¡±

    ¡°Thank Ilyana that I¡¯m not your subject,¡± Clythia said calmly, unnerved by the steaming king of the faeries.

    ¡°What have I done to you to make you reject me?¡± Modyr¡¯s voice hitched as he rubbed his forehead. ¡°You couldn¡¯t even give me a chance to prove to you I am worthy of your hand.¡±

    ¡°Do you know how ridiculous you sound?¡± Clythia snorted. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know such a bond between us existed until now.¡±

    ¡°You are lying,¡± he said, shaking his head and pointing at her.

    ¡°Why would I?¡± Clythia¡¯s shoulders bobbed above the bubbles. ¡°I have pushed you away deliberately by soiling my reputation. If I truly cared about what you think, I would have lied. But you and I both know I don¡¯t.¡±

    The faerie king went still at that, as still as a statue. Vampires usually took the spotlight for being eerie, but faeries weren¡¯t far behind. She had begun to enjoy the silence that ensued when he interrupted with, ¡°You don¡¯t know what you are saying is truly impossible. There¡¯s something wrong with you.¡± The charm of the gentleman was discarded, it seemed. Now came his true colors. ¡°You possess a curse powerful enough to dampen the bond of fate to nil.¡±

    Clythia had a theory about that. She couldn¡¯t be lured by other Evils because of Tiyus. He was also the reason the faerie king was left dumbfounded before her. But faerie males who had rejected bonds were very unpredictable and feral. It would force them to tap into their animalistic instincts, and they wouldn¡¯t balk at the idea of committing atrocities to make the female theirs.

    Clythia blew out a sigh. Even if she managed to get out of Tiyus¡¯ claws, the faerie king would simply take his place. But she wasn¡¯t a simpleton; she was the most powerful witch in Zyvern, and she could handle him.

    Modyr darted towards her.

    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that if I were you.¡±

    He halted, an inch from her nose, kneeling. ¡°Do what?¡± If Clythia made a slight move, their lips would brush.

    But it was all like watching a fire crackle brightly, transforming logs to cinders but not feeling the heat.

    A knock came at the door. ¡°My queen, it¡¯s Casarda.¡±

    ¡°Come in,¡± Clythia said, to Modyr¡¯s dismay. He gave her a look that suggested they weren¡¯t done yet.

    It wasn¡¯t as if she was trying to be at odds with the rulers, but here she was, colliding with their interests and making an enemy of all of them. Would she be forced to lean on Tiyus¡¯ protection against them all? Would she stop fighting¡ªif she had even begun¡ªfor her freedom to keep the others at bay? What if they united against her?

    But that was unlikely. If the rest knew what she had gotten herself into and what Kay was, they would turn against them, and she would find herself allying with unpleasant company. However, did Kay need her? Not really. She had a feeling he possessed power and knowledge surpassing all the other rulers, including her, combined.

    ¡°My queen?¡± Casarda¡¯s voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She looked at the Lady of Spies, who was feigning false concern. ¡°That¡¯s the fourth time I¡¯ve called your name. Are you all right?¡±

    ¡°What do you want?¡± Clythia asked. She was about to get out of the tub but quickly remembered why she couldn¡¯t raise an inch in Casarda¡¯s presence.

    ¡°It is almost noon, and lunch will be served soon.¡±

    It was about time to lead the vampire king to his demise. Thanks to the faerie king, Clythia hadn¡¯t even had time to concoct how she was going to manage that. She needed to act soon.

    ¡°Why? Is there something special on the menu?¡± Clythia cocked an eyebrow.

    ¡°The usual porridge and beans,¡± Casarda said, disgusted. ¡°We have to get out of this place as soon as possible. I''ll never set my eyes on those atrocities ever again.¡±

    ¡°Do you have any news for me?¡±

    ¡°I heard the locals talk about the clashing sides. There are angels who are against his rule, said to be allies of the Shadow, and his supporters.¡±

    ¡°His?¡± Clythia hissed. ¡°It¡¯s a he? You know who he is?¡±

    This was progress. Clythia didn¡¯t trust her own spymaster, but if she knew something, she would extract it from her, even if she had to split her jaw to do so.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know who he is, my queen,¡± Casarda shook her head, her hands resting on the sheer fabric that wasn¡¯t doing much to cover her thighs. ¡°But he knows we are here.¡±

    ¡°Why is he quiet?¡± Clythia asked, wanting to see what answer the spy might offer from her perspective.

    ¡°We are in the lion¡¯s den. The predator can visit its prey whenever it wishes,¡± Casarda said, as though she were talking about the weather.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t bother you?¡± Clythia narrowed her eyes.

    The Lady of Melop tossed her golden hair back. ¡°We have always been under the Sovereign¡¯s whim. A ¡®he¡¯ or a ¡®she,¡¯ it doesn¡¯t matter. Those on top are always on top, and we are at their mercy. We have come here to seek answers, and we don¡¯t have any choice but to deal with the consequences of intruding on the lion¡¯s territory.¡±

    Casarda was right, at surface level. But the weight behind her words about being at the mercy of those on top¡ªshe wasn¡¯t only speaking of the Sovereigns but also of her, Clythia. The Lady of Spies was accusing her of executing her mother and subtly pointing out her powerlessness as someone below her. But unlike Vina¡¯s abrasive method, the spymaster was subtle about it.

    Clythia knew better than to expect Casarda to reveal more about the Sovereign, and hinting at the gender was also a calculated move. The Lady of Spies was obviously playing her own game. But Clythia had more pressing issues at hand than dealing with her spymaster right now¡ªlike finding the Sovereign, whether previous or current, anything that would pull her out of the shackle she had trapped herself in.

    Clythia dismissed Casarda. Once the Lady of Spies left and closed the door behind her, Clythia cleansed the soap off herself and began changing as her mind wandered to her conversation with Tiyus¡¯ follower.

    That croon had warned her against asking around about the previous Sovereign¡¯s whereabouts; it seemed they didn¡¯t want him to know they were searching for her. Ilyana knew why Tiyus wanted Clythia to destroy her. That would definitely ensure the Shadow¡¯s supremacy, but was it somehow related to the current Sovereign? And why did the current Sovereign keep her captive? He must still want her for something, and destroying her would hinder his needs from being met.

    One thing that also bugged her about Tiyus and Kay was that after Kay attacked her, it was Tiyus who ¡®saved¡¯ her, if that was what she could call it. It seemed there was a conflict of interests between host and possessing entity. Did Kay have any part in the Sovereign''s matter? How did he even get his powers¡ªwas it Tiyus or something else?

    If it weren¡¯t for Tiyus¡¯ coercion and her son¡¯s life hanging in the balance, she would have let this situation untangle itself on its own. Because it was one of those wheels of events that kept turning whether anyone was actively holding the reins or not.

 The betrayal

    Clythia scoured the area, searching for the vampire king. She could feel the thorny webs of danger squeezing her, but a sense of numbness overtook her¡ªthere was no escape. And what was the point of escaping when the thorns kept her son safe?

    Since things were only going to get worse, Clythia didn¡¯t want to waste time trying to convince Morven when magic was at her disposal. True, it would take a toll on her, as tapping into the Inner Sense and pushing its limits demanded a great price. Making someone into a puppet, especially when the puppeteer was the most powerful witch in Zyvern and the puppet was the most ancient vampire in history, was risky. A lot could go wrong.

    Morven was soaking in the noon sun on a hill a few yards from the inn, basking in her gift a bit too much, it seemed. Watching him under the scorching sun made her wonder if he truly missed his vampiric speed. He wore a dark brown cloak, tight trousers, and a white shirt beneath.

    Clythia didn¡¯t have much time. She closed her eyes, dragging her magic to the surface and stretching it like a web until it blanketed over Morven. She was met with a solid, stone-like mental shield. It would take an impossible amount of time to break through, and Tiyus would ensure she paid a heavy price if she delayed even a minute.

    She probed his mind shield from different angles, but there wasn¡¯t a single weak spot. She shouldn¡¯t have been surprised; it would¡¯ve been more shocking if he hadn¡¯t developed a strong shield after all these centuries.

    ¡°What do you want?¡± The vampire¡¯s voice carried through the wind.

    ¡°Follow me,¡± Clythia murmured, her eyes fixed on his back.

    ¡°Because your intrusion didn¡¯t work?¡±

    There was no point in lying. ¡°Yes.¡±

    ¡°What if I don¡¯t?¡±

    ¡°Things will be worse for you.¡± The wind seemed to amplify her words, carrying the message with a low chuckle from the vampire.

    ¡°I won¡¯t go with the Shadow¡¯s harbinger.¡±

    Clythia¡¯s heart sank. If her son was going to pay for Morven¡¯s disobedience, she would make Tiyus seem pleasant in comparison to the torture she would inflict upon him.

    ¡°That¡¯s your choice, but know that you can¡¯t run from him. No matter how far, he¡¯ll find you.¡± She began to walk away before his voice stopped her.

    ¡°Let him.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be at the three-story yellow building.¡± With that, she strode to where Tiyus expected Morven to appear.

    She had passed the inn and was heading down the cobblestone street when she nearly collided with a disheveled, out-of-breath Vina.

    Before Clythia could ask what was wrong, Vina blurted, ¡°I know who the Sovereign is, and you won¡¯t believe it!¡±

    ¡°Who?¡±

    Vina opened her mouth but was interrupted by Casarda¡¯s sudden appearance dressed as scantily as always¡ªtoday in lime. ¡°My queen, I¡¯ve been looking for you everywhere¡ª¡± Her musical tone was cut short as Vina slapped her across the face.

    ¡°You!¡± Vina snarled, gritting her teeth. ¡°You traitor. You¡¯ve been selling us out from the beginning.¡±

    ¡°To whom?¡± Clythia asked, her eyes shifting to the Lady of Spies, who held her cheek, her gaze bouncing between them.

    ¡°The Sovereign.¡±

    ¡°Deal with her,¡± Clythia ordered Vina. ¡°I have to go.¡±

    It was likely just past noon when she arrived at the building, bathed in amber from the sun¡¯s rays. No one was there, nor was there any sign of anything unusual. Why did Tiyus want Morven here? Clythia peered to the left side of the building, at the narrow space between it and a neighboring cottage.

    There, she saw Kay with Afia. He was gazing at her servant, as if nothing else in the universe existed. Afia was equally entranced, so much so that she wouldn¡¯t have noticed Clythia approaching until it was too late. What game was Afia playing? Wasn¡¯t she interested in the vampire? Or was she one of those polyamorous types? But no, if that were the case, she¡¯d likely be open about it. Sneaking around with both kings suggested she didn¡¯t want either of them to be aware of each other.

    Kay leaned in, brushing his lower lip over Afia¡¯s nose, prompting her to release a shuddering moan, her eyes shut tight. When her eyes reopened, they shone with hunger, her scarlet hair accentuating the intensity. It wasn¡¯t affection, nor was it the longing of someone in love.

    It was lust.

    Then, Clythia understood why Tiyus wanted Morven here at this moment. There was something between the vampire and Afia, something she had overlooked. If it weren¡¯t serious, Tiyus wouldn¡¯t have exploited this vulnerability to punish him. Tiyus had promised a fate worse than death, and this was his plan. If the ancient vampire king would be damaged enough to wish for death over this, then either he had a surprising weakness for a vampire, or Tiyus was overestimating his power.

    A gasp caught her attention. Morven was standing slack behind there, hand over his mouth. He slowly backed away and turned to run. This caught the attention of Afia and Kay, who now only saw Clythia.

    ¡°I¡¯ve done what you asked,¡± Clythia said, not to Kay, marring confusion on Afia¡¯s face. In an instant, he transformed into Tiyus, his long cloak replaced with tight leather, his eyes shifting from brown to silver, his the human king¡¯s features sharpening and changing until he fully became the Lord of Shadows.

    Afia¡¯s jaw went slack. ¡°What are you?¡±

    Ignoring her, Tiyus replied to Clythia, ¡°You did well.¡±

    ¡°So what now?¡± Clythia dared to ask.

    Tiyus only gave her a smile and planted a light kiss on her cheek that shot straight to her core before he vanished into thin air.

    ¡°What have I done?¡± Afia shook her head in horror, searching for an answer from Clythia. ¡°Morven saw that, didn¡¯t he? I swear, my queen, I don¡¯t know what got into me. I remember everything, but¡ªbut I don¡¯t know why I did this.¡± She said the last word with disgust, a tear escaping down her cheek. ¡°Morven, he saw this, didn¡¯t he? I heard his footsteps, but I couldn¡¯t tear my eyes away. What have I done? You have to believe me.¡± Then, she stopped her wailing, her expression turning bitter. ¡°You knew. You did this, didn¡¯t you? I didn¡¯t do anything wrong.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

    ¡°Excuse me?¡± Clythia raised her brows. ¡°You haven¡¯t done anything wrong?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I didn¡¯t plan to elope or abandon DavinSaw for the vampire. I was preparing myself to forget Morven.¡± Afia said his name with such softness that Clythia wondered how she had missed the signs, and how such a bond could have formed between the vampire and the witch¡¯s servant in such a short time.

    ¡°You love him,¡± Clythia said quietly.

    Afia¡¯s jaw clenched. ¡°I do. But now it¡¯s over, thanks to you, my queen.¡±

    That kind of response would be intolerable from any of her subjects, let alone a servant, but Clythia wasn¡¯t in a position to punish anyone right now. She wasn¡¯t the queen DavinSaw deserved; she had let them down, and sooner or later, they would know.

    ¡°I had no part in this,¡± Clythia said, surprising Afia, though the servant masked it quickly. ¡°I didn¡¯t know you would be here, or Kay, for that matter.¡±

    ¡°But you said¡ª¡±

    ¡°Leave.¡±

    Afia heeded her words then.

    <hr>

    ¡°That cannot be true!¡± Clythia¡¯s throat tightened. ¡°That is impossible.¡±

    ¡°I swear it in Ilyana¡¯s name,¡± Vina said through clenched teeth, scouring right and left for any eavesdropper. They were further from the inn. After lunch, Vina had practically dragged her away to reveal her discovery. Once they found a place where none of Tiyus¡¯ minions or the rebels were around, Vina kept repeating the most bizarre thing.

    ¡°Kay is the Sovereign,¡± she said again.

    ¡°I¡¯m telling you that is impossible,¡± Clythia was annoyed. Though she didn¡¯t know if it stemmed from Vina and the delusion she kept on parroting or everything that¡¯s happened thus far.

    Vina¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Why? Do you know something?¡±

    ¡°Fine.¡± Clythia ignored Vina¡¯s suspicion. ¡°Tell me, what do you know?¡±

    ¡°After you told me to find out who the Sovereign is, I went from tavern to tavern.¡± She shuddered¡ªno surprise, as Vina isn¡¯t fond of such low-class establishments. ¡°An angel murmured something as he left; he was drunk, as was everyone at the tavern, even the guards,¡± she added with distaste. ¡°One of them even punched him in the face. The angel accused the guard of betrayal for abandoning the true Sovereign and bowing down to a false god, and he cursed him in some other language I didn¡¯t recognize, but I heard the word Shadow. I got close to a group of angels talking about how the Dark Lord is cruel and twisted, how he¡¯s been corrupting angels. There was sorrow in their words, as if this Dark Lord had affected some of their kin.

    ¡°Then I did something stupid that turned out in my favor. I asked, ¡®How can the Shadow immobilize the Sovereign?¡¯ out loud. I thought they would see through my ruse, but they didn¡¯t. Instead, they answered. The host of the Dark Lord was already very powerful, and they had made an alliance to immobilize the Sovereign so the host could become Sovereign in her stead. The Dark Lord would rule over whatever the Shadow desired, and the Sovereign would take over the continents. The host succeeded in capturing the Sovereign¡ªyour face has turned pale. Are you alright?¡±

    ¡°No, I am not. We are done for. All that power in one man? No wonder I blacked out,¡± Clythia¡¯s words flew out of her mouth. ¡°But how can the host succeed alone? Won¡¯t the Dark Lord know?¡±

    Vina shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s a mystery. I didn¡¯t dare ask, fearing I might draw unwanted attention.¡± Clythia understood that. ¡°But, my queen, you know something. You have to tell me!¡± she demanded.

    ¡°Fine,¡± Clythia exhaled. ¡°Kay is the host of the Dark Lord. Kay is the Sovereign.¡± Vina gave her an unsure, speculative look. ¡°He¡¯s already powerful, believe me¡ªI know. I¡¯ve seen it.¡±

    ¡°So the weakest of us all turns out to be the most powerful...¡± Vina trailed off.

    ¡°I thought you knew from the way you accused Casarda?¡± Clythia asked.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t know her part in this. Or if she even has a part. I saw her sneaking off at night with him several times, so I tracked her. I almost went mad for it¡ªcursed Shadow,¡± Vina spat. ¡°But it paid off. She was passing on every little detail you and every traveler shared, even the most mundane ones.¡±

    ¡°What about him? What did he say?¡±

    Vina¡¯s eyes unfocused, looking past Clythia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s the weird part. He never said anything. It was always her who spoke.¡±

    ¡°What have you done with her now?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve bound her magic,¡± Vina said coldly.

    That was the cruelest punishment any subject of DavinSaw could face. It was like losing part of oneself¡ªpart of your mind, your body, something essential. Clythia hadn¡¯t experienced it herself, but she had seen people commit suicide six out of ten times because the emptiness became unbearable. And for treason like this, such punishment was justified, even if it didn¡¯t follow court procedure or involve a Punisher Mage¡ªit was the right move.

    ¡°You did well,¡± Clythia said. ¡°I have to tell you something.¡±

    Vina and she had never seen eye to eye, except for the times when alcohol was involved, but if anyone was supposed to know, it was her. She didn¡¯t approve of Vina¡¯s judgmental, competitive, and uptight personality. She was unlikable, all right, but she was smart and strong¡ªa better spy than the two-faced Casarda. She was more loyal to DavinSaw than anyone, perhaps even more than Clythia herself.

    ¡°Now you do?¡± Vina retorted.

    ¡°Shut it,¡± Clythia huffed. ¡°It¡¯s better if I show you.¡± She unwrapped the shawl around her neck, revealing the choker she wore. The Lady of Hypercas¡¯ eyes widened.

    ¡°What is that?¡± Vina asked, examining her with a frown of concern. ¡°Am I looking into your kink tendencies?¡±

    ¡°I wish that were the case, but no. I¡¯m enslaved by the Dark Lord. He disguised himself as my guard in DavinSaw, and I fell for it.¡± Clythia wanted to continue, but a sob escaped, and she had to clear her throat.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you fight against it as soon as you knew?¡±

    Clythia was expecting a snide remark, but Vina¡¯s question took her by surprise. She then answered, ¡°For Clen. He threatened my son, the future of my kingdom, if I didn¡¯t comply. The reason I asked you to find the Sovereign is because he doesn¡¯t know where she is. I think, from what you¡¯ve told me, a conflict has arisen between the host and Tiyus¡ª¡±

    ¡°Who is Tiyus?¡± Vina crossed her arms.

    ¡°The Dark Lord. It means Kay has kept the previous Sovereign for whatever devious plan he has, and Tiyus wants me to find her and destroy her. That¡¯s the true purpose of this mission.¡±

    ¡°You said it¡¯s to save DavinSaw.¡± Vina shook her head.

    ¡°It is.¡± Clythia let out a sigh under the weight of her stress. ¡°I wanted you to find the Sovereign to know where to start looking for the previous one. So that I can destroy her before Kay knew.¡±

    ¡°You didn¡¯t want me to ask around because of the locals¡¯ allegiance.¡± It wasn¡¯t a question. ¡°I could be asking the wrong angel or fairy. That¡¯s why, isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°True,¡± Clythia replied. ¡°Do whatever you want with the information I gave you. I say this because I trust you.¡±

    ¡°That opinion isn¡¯t mutual,¡± Vina replied, pursing her lips.

    ¡°I understand.¡±

    ¡°But I get why you did it.¡±

    ¡°You do?¡±

    Vina gave a curt nod. ¡°Even though you¡¯re brash, I know when someone has the best interests at heart, and you have that for your continent and your son. However, you have to right your wrongs. If anyone finds out¡ªthe rulers, your subjects¡ªyou¡¯ll have everyone as your enemy. The warlocks, witches, and tribes, the whole continent will all rise against you. Tell me you have a plan to save yourself.¡± She added the last statement coated with desperation.

    ¡°The plan was¡ªis to do what Tiyus says.¡±

    ¡°Tell me this is one of your jokes?¡± Vina¡¯s brows shot up.

    ¡°You have no idea how powerful Tiyus is¡ªand Kay too. Now Kay is the Sovereign, the host of the Dark Lord, and holds hostage the most powerful being in the universe, even beyond¡ªthe previous Sovereign.¡± Clythia clicked her tongue. ¡°I don¡¯t like my chances. I don¡¯t fight a war I can¡¯t win.¡±

    ¡°So what now?¡±

    Clythia let out a defeated chuckle. ¡°I asked the same thing, and all I got was a victorious smile from the Dark Lord. But promise me one thing, Vina.¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°If, by any means, I lose the throne or don¡¯t return to my son, rule in my stead and look after him. Look after DavinSaw. Fight if you have to, declare war if necessary¡ªdo whatever it takes. But I trust only you and the General to keep DavinSaw safe.¡±

    Clythia made a complicated hand gesture¡ªa rune symbolizing mind and memory¡ªwhich shimmered and then settled into an intricate design before diving into Vina¡¯s head. ¡°I allow you to share this memory.¡±