ã€ŠBeyond The Sunsetã€‹


 Chapter I: One night encounter.

    Detective, do you believe in destiny? That everything follows a predetermined flow by a superior force? You know, I don''t believe in destiny or much less in what people consider divinity" - Taking a lit cigarette from the ashtray, a middle-aged man with small round lens glasses, takes a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling while outlining a cynical smile on his face.

    Dressed in an orange uniform that bore his prisoner number on his chest, Father Tomas tapped his fingertips on the table to the rhythm of an old church choir.

    Everyone who ever got to know him saw in him a man of integrity with impeccable conduct. Devoting his life to missionary work, doing charity work in the slums of the big city.

    Those eyes with an emerald green tone that long ago looked compassionately at their fellow man, overnight became the look of a psychopath who had locked his parishioners inside the church; while he sprayed all flammable objects with gasoline, while lighting the fire that little by little consumed the unfortunate souls who had trusted him , one terrible December morning.

    "How many months have we been having this conversation? Five months? Ten? I''ve already lost count detective. Every week you come to this rotten hole and sit across from me trying to get an answer I can''t give you. Beyond what I have already declared before the judge, there is nothing hidden that can feed your curiosity" - Raising his hands to his face trying to clean his eyelids with his fingertips, the old priest threw his head back as he exhaled grumpily to the woman in front of him.

    - "Stop fucking father Tomas! I know perfectly well that you intentionally started the fire, I don''t think you are innocent, but I refuse to think that you acted alone."

    - " I told him that it was all my idea!"

    - "So what the hell is this?" ¨C In a fit of rage, Detective Aurora held the father by the cuffs of the inmate uniform, tearing off the sleeves, revealing a series of tattoos that were engraved on the priest''s skin. Those symbols were marks associated with an ancient cult, dedicated to a god forgotten in the pages of time.

    - "Are you still going to repeat that story that you acted alone, father? Do us both a favor and tell me everything you know about them" ¨C Regaining her composure, Aurora sat back in her chair while smoothing her hair. Proceeding to turn off the recorder that was on the table while holding Father Tomas''s gaze.

    - "No one apart from us will listen to what you say for the next three minutes. Only you and I will know what will be said in this room. I have read your file, you have no trace of misconduct in the time you have been locked up. All the people I''ve interviewed who know him tell me they don''t believe what he''s done is possible. I know that deep down there is still some humanity in you."

    Reaching into her jacket pocket, the detective pulled out a photo that looked somewhat weathered. In it, the detective was hugging a young woman no more than seventeen years old. They both looked smiling at what looked like a birthday party.

    - " I had a twin, we were inseparable. We planned to study medicine to inherit our family''s hospital. One morning when our father''s car didn''t work, we decided to take a taxi to go to the university. She got in first while I was checking my bag, when suddenly the driver took her away before my eyes.

    After we reported her disappearance to the police, only four months later we received a response from the detectives in charge of the case.

    The taxi in which she had been abducted was found on the outskirts of the city, near an abandoned farm. They found my sister''s body tied hand and foot in what seemed like a black magic ritual." With trembling hands, Aurora held the photo of her sister with bloodshot eyes.

    After finishing collecting the evidence from the crime scene, the police limited themselves to placing a search warrant on the driver through a spoken portrait. Managing the investigation with total secrecy, which after two years was left just as one more file that would dust off in the archivists.

    Due to that incident, Aurora dropped out of medical school to enter the police academy, facing opposition from her family. For her, the dream of inheriting the hospital had died with her sister. Leaving only the desire to find the truth behind that murder.

    - "What does this have to do with me detective?"

    - "It''s simple, their tattoos. The symbols that are imprinted on his skin are the same ones that were found painted in blood on the walls of that shed."

    - "I will not speak anything without my lawyer present"

    - "With a demon Tomas! Speak now you fucking bastard! Speak or I swear that I myself will send you to meet your god!"

    "Detective Anderson, enough is enough!" ¨C Opening the door of the room suddenly, the lieutenant in charge of the investigation looked enraged as he separated the detective from the prisoner. Hugging her to try to contain her while the father tomas lay on the ground trying to catch his breath.

    - "Let me go lieutenant! I need to hear what this trash has to say."

    - "No woman, listen to me! I allowed you to stay on the case even though the evidence was connected to your sister''s case. You promised me that your judgment would not be clouded despite your emotions. But look at you, you almost strangled a prisoner and put our investigation at risk" ¨C The look on the face of Lieutenant Trevor Williams looked disappointed; for the Aurora she was not just a subordinate, but a companion whom he appreciated since the days when he studied at the police academy.

    - "You know how important this case is to me"

    - "I know Aurora, I know very well. That''s why it hurts me to have to do this to you."

    - "What do you mean Trevor?"

    - "Detective Aurora Anderson, you are relieved of your position and placed on leave for an indefinite period. She must go to therapy with a psychologist associated with the department, who will evaluate her and determine if she can reintegrate into the case" - The expression of surprise in Aurora''s blue eyes was reflected in the pupils of Lieutenant Trevor, who kept his face calm as he told her He communicated his decision to his subordinate.

    - "Please Trevor, don''t do this to me."

    - "It''s for your own good Aurora." ¨C Feeling that her strength was getting out of hand, the detective''s arms fell to her sides while she lowered her face, heartbroken by the news. At the same time, the lieutenant gave the order to an officer to escort the detective to her office, waiting for her superior.

    Arm in arm with the officer in charge, Aurora walked to the door with a sidelong glance in the direction of Trevor, who was turning on the recorder once more to continue his line of questioning the inmate.

    Sitting in an armchair across from Lieutenant Williams''s desk, Aurora kept her hands clasped together, her fingers clasped, her head bowed. A steaming coffee on the table began to cool while the hands of the wall clock echoed in the silence of the office.

    The office walls were full of frames with photographs, recognitions and a coat rack where an old leather jacket, already worn by time, rested.

    Rising from her seat, Aurora walked over to the garment that was hanging and ran her fingers over the cracks that were drawn in the skin. Remembering that time when he had entered the police academy.

    - "Damn I''m late" ¨C One cold January morning just a few months after she entered the academy, Aurora found herself running down the street trying to get to class. Due to the winter storm the night before, her car had broken down halfway, forcing her to continue on foot.

    When crossing through the front door , the young woman abruptly collided with a man who was standing in the middle of the hall while checking the messages on his cell phone. With a robust build like a fighting bull, dark skin and short hair, the six-foot-six man wore khaki pants and an olive-green leather jacket.

    - "He is okay? She shouldn''t run through the corridors no matter how retarded she is" ¨C Helping him to get up from the ground, Aurora couldn''t take her eyes off that man who seemed imposing as a mountain, compared to his five feet tall.

    Slender, with shoulder-length brown hair, skin as pale as snow, and a delicate complexion, Aurora''s contrast to the rest of the students who attended the academy surprised the young instructor.

    - "They haven''t told you that..."

    - "What? Am I not ready to join the police force? ¨C Coming out of her trance, Aurora thought that Trevor would blame her for her weakness just as his classmates and instructors had done.

    But away from that discrimination, Trevor smiled quietly as he held the young woman''s gaze. While pronouncing a sentence that changed the impression of the girl.

    - "Nope. That in the police a subordinate must properly greet his superior" ¨C With his right hand, Trevor pointed to the badge that he had hanging on the edge of his pants belt.

    Seeing the range, Aurora was startled and proceeded to give a rough salute due to the nervousness that embargoed her at that moment.

    - "I apologize for my lack of respect, Lieutenant" - Standing at attention and with her hand raised to her forehead in greeting, Aurora could barely maintain her composure.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    - "Call me Trevor"

    - "Sorry?"

    - "I say just call me Trevor. At least when no one is present. I don''t know how much you have had to go through, but I want to tell you that you should not get discouraged and that you have a friend in me." ¨C Extending his hand for a handshake, Williams became a mentor and confidante to Aurora.

    After breaking in and passing the detective''s exam, Anderson continued his friendship with Lieutenant Williams to the point that it became a courtship over the years.

    "Yes, I still have it. Even though he''s about to break his elbows, it''s still something I don''t want to lose sight of" ¨C Trevor opened the door quietly behind Aurora''s back, who barely turned back to see the silhouette of the lieutenant behind her.

    - "I scared you?"

    - "You know that nothing can scare me anymore" - Fifteen years had passed since Aurora had made the decision to join the police force. At that time, her relationship with her family had deteriorated to the point that she lost all communication with them, to the point that the last emotional link that allowed her to maintain her sanity was her relationship with Lieutenant Williams.

    "My father was a police officer, his father and his father''s father were called out for the uniform. I was barely fifteen when he died. He liked to wear this jacket when he went out on the streets as an undercover officer; He said it was his good luck charm, but I don''t believe in luck" ¨C Sitting in his chair, Williams took one of the photos that was resting on the desk.

    - " You also entered by force to find the person responsible for the death of your father. I thought you better than anyone would understand my suffering, Trevor."

    - "And I understand you Aurora, but please understand me too. It is one thing for us to be a couple and quite another for it to allow..."

    - "That I become what? What drives me crazy?

    - "Don''t put words in my mouth! I didn''t mean that... I just..." ¨C The glass of the frame in the photograph broke due to the pressure that the lieutenant put on it. The accumulated stress and lack of sleep due to the investigation had taken a toll on her temper.

    - "I''m sorry Trevor, but I don''t know which way to go anymore. I have been going around like a mouse in a maze with this investigation and seeing that imbecile during these months exhausted what little I had left of patience" - Sitting down in the chair, Aurora collapsed, taking her hands to her head while waving a little her hair. Exhaling slightly with anguish and then taking a breath calming the nerves.

    - "I give you my weapon and my badge. It''s okay, I''ll go to therapy."

    - "Okay, that''s the Aurora I know" ¨C Placing his thick hand on the detective''s shoulder, Trevor smiled at her making Aurora remember that first time they met. Responding to that gesture with a smile as she placed her delicate hand on his.

    - "Do you want me to take you home?"

    - "It is not necessary lieutenant. You must process all the paperwork from my outburst" ¨C Aurora removed Trevor''s hand from her shoulder and turned to leave the office. Leaving behind that man, who was still worried about his partner.

    Leaving the police station, Aurora headed to the parking lot to pick up her car. As he was about to pull out of the parking lot and onto the street, a motorcyclist dressed in black leather and a red helmet barreled past the station.

    The detective would have missed that event were it not for a slight detail that made her adrenaline shoot up, causing her to put her foot on the accelerator to start chasing the motorcyclist.

    Perhaps her sight would have failed her due to exhaustion, but the doubt that drove her was stronger as the image printed on the red helmet stuck in her mind.

    One of the symbols that had been found at the scene of his sister''s murder and on the priest''s tattoos was also found on that motorcyclist''s helmet. All information concerning the investigation was treated confidentially. Neither the media nor people outside the case were aware of those symbols, which is why that motorcyclist was suspicious.

    The chase took place through the streets of the suburbs, increasing the speed of his car above the allowed limit. Dodging at times between cars and pedestrians, occurring on more than one occasion some collisions against objects that were fixed on the sidewalk.

    Had it not been for the fact that she had instinctively turned on her vehicle''s siren, the detective would have collided with a vehicle that blocked her path in pursuit and caused a tragedy.

    "Trevor was right, I must be going crazy" - As the minutes passed, the vehicle was entering the rural areas that bordered the city. Little by little, the few rays of the sun that faded on the horizon gave way to the darkness of the starry night.

    The grassland that grew on the side of the road was barely illuminated by the reflection of the vehicle''s headlights. At times showing structures of wooden fences that delimited the properties in the field.

    Aurora felt a certain familiarity with that scene inside, until suddenly the motorcycle took her to a place that she had tried to block from her memory for all those years: the farm where her sister''s body was found.

    Feeling her stomach turn as she gnashed her teeth, the detective knew within herself that that motorcyclist had not taken her to that place by mere coincidence. Despite having left her charge weapon on the lieutenant''s desk, the detective did not flinch at the idea of facing that person if given the opportunity.

    For years he waited to find a clue that would lead him to the whereabouts of those responsible for his sister''s death, so he would not let the matter go even if it cost him his life in the process.

    Suddenly, a light explosion rocked the rear of the patrol car. Causing him to lose control of the steering wheel for an instant, causing the car to overturn and remain with the tires facing up.

    The sound of the siren stopping and the vehicle''s engine starting to misfire rang loudly in the ears of the shocked woman. Who clumsily dragged himself out of the cabin with his forehead covered in blood. When she looked up, the silhouette of the motorcyclist was standing in front of her, while he kicked her in the face that left her unconscious.

    Dragging her inert body over the mud and grass, the sensation of swaying gradually woke up the detective, who finally opened her eyes, still feeling the ravages of dizziness caused by the rollover.

    Even though her vision was still cloudy and everything was spinning, Aurora could recognize the walls of the barn that were lit by the flickering flame of an oil lamp that hung from one of the structure''s posts.

    Like whispers, the biker seemed to be arguing with a stocky-looking person at the foot of the old barn''s driveway. Barely visible by the light of the full moon that filtered through the storm clouds that were slowly beginning to form.

    "I have to get out of here" ¨C Was the detective''s thought as she struggled with the ropes that tied her wrists behind her back. Beginning to roll slowly to one of the ends where the moldy straw accumulated due to the passage of time and humidity.

    At that moment, Aurora felt her head hit something that felt cold and wet to the touch. It gave off a slight fetid odor that little by little penetrated through his nose, causing him to startle upon contemplating it more closely.

    With her eyes wide open and her expression devoid of life, with the last reflection of pain that was drawn on her face, the corpse of a young woman who was no more than nineteen years old was there right next to her.

    With visible perimortem cut marks on her skin, the victim had been bled to death from hypovolemic shock. Just as it had been over a decade ago with her twin sister.

    - "Wow, it seems that you are already awake ! I didn''t expect you to be so persistent, but you''ve gotten me into a lot of trouble tonight" ¨C Taking off his helmet, the person who was riding the motorcycle let down his abundant reddish hair that shone slightly with the glow of the lamp flame.

    With an androgynous appearance, that person seemed neither male nor female to Aurora''s eyes, who tried harder to free herself while her attacker bent down to grab her hair and drag her back to the center of the barn.

    "What do you want from me? Who are you?" ¨C The detective''s questions were met with silence as an answer, while the mysterious motorcyclist raised his arm pointing the palm of his hand in the direction of where there were a bunch of ropes. Making them fly towards him, stopping a few centimeters before hitting him.

    Such an act of sleight of hand had only seen it in movies and famous magicians'' tricks, but incredible as it might seem, everything happened before the detective''s astonished gaze. Who could not defend herself while the ropes held her arms and legs that pulled her from the ends.

    "You are identical to the sacrifice from a few years ago. On that occasion we were about to achieve our goal, but unfortunately there was not enough elemental strength in it to open the vortex between worlds" ¨C Holding a dagger that he delicately touched by the tip to test its edge, the mysterious person dressed in leather Without warning, the black stabbed the dagger into the chest of the unfortunate detective.

    It was in that instant that her blood began to flow, that the ground beneath her body began to feel like a hot grill. Causing him to scream in pain that were drowning out the blood that began to accumulate in his lungs.

    - "It''s her, we can definitely open the portal with her sacrifice!"

    - "Are you completely sure?" ¨C As if a bucket of cold water fell on her dying body, Aurora saw the man who, until recently, had been waiting from the door of the barn.

    His eyes could hardly make out the shapes anymore, but the texture of the worn olive green jacket was unmistakable.

    - "Because? Why did you have to do this to me if I loved you?" ¨C Raising her head with the little strength she had left, Aurora tried to find the face of that man with whom she had spent the last years of her life as emotional support.

    As if it were a last gesture for a death row prisoner, Lieutenant Trevor crouched down and lowered his face until Aurora''s ear was level with his lips. And I pronounce a few words that would freeze the heart of the detective until almost taking him to the grave.

    - "It was because your father murdered mine, to hide that he had cheated on his wife" - Trevor''s mother used to visit his grandmother who was admitted to the Anderson family hospital, being in that place where that infidelity occurred .

    The attending physician was none other than Aurora''s father, who was attracted to Trevor''s mother, using his position as owner of the hospital to curry favor with the woman.

    When Trevor''s father found out, he tried to confront Dr. Anderson in his office. Having a heated argument where Mr. Williams threatened to reveal the doctor''s infidelity.

    But suddenly there was a thud, as if someone fell to the ground. When the nurses came in, they found Mr. Williams clutching his chest as if he had a heart attack. But the true cause of death was an overdose of epinephrine, falsifying the forensic report covering the traces of the murder.

    - "Yes, it is just as you hear it. Your father is a common adulterer and murderer. That was why I waited for fifteen years to plot my revenge. I must say that I was too patient with this, having to study at the academy, earn merits and quickly rise to lieutenant to form an image of a model police officer.

    And it was then that I took a vehicle from the police warehouse, one that was already going to be discarded. I took him to an informant who owned a paint shop and told him to fix it up as a taxi for an undercover operation.

    I asked for a license for a few days in the department and I started driving, to monitor your family. When they were at home, when they went out, where they went. It was painstaking work so they never noticed.

    And it was that day, I still remember. When your dear sister got into the car, her panicked eyes could be seen in the rearview mirror. As soon as she tried to scream, I used the stun gun with her and she fell exhausted in the back seat.

    The rest of the story you already know, a poor innocent girl brutally murdered in a barn like this. Oh wait! Is this!" ¨C With a malicious laugh, Trevor got up and walked away from Aurora''s body. Until reaching where the person who performed the portal invocation ritual was located.

    "You have done well to this day. As I have commanded you, you were faithful as a dog; but now, it''s time for your reward" ¨C Without giving him time to defend himself, a tentacle emerged from the back of that stranger through the lieutenant''s chest. Killing him on the spot and absorbing him as fuel to strengthen the summoner''s magic.

    The energy that until a few moments ago had manifested only as a source of heat under Aurora, was now seen as a serpent of light that surrounded the young woman''s body as the place began to shake from the din.

    - "I''m pathetic" - With that last thought in her mind, the detective lamented while her conscience darkened completely.

    - "Human? Do you wish to make a contract?" ¨C A voicethat sounded like the roar of the ocean addressed Aurora, who with her laststrength responded with a weak yes.

 Chapter II: Reborn as the unwanted daughter.

    Immersed in that sea of darkness, where her senses were imbued with the smell of death. That voice that had penetrated that perennial barrier reached the thin thread of Aurora''s soul, which was already about to break from the continuum of the universe.

    - "Am I really going to die?"

    - "Die? Quite the contrary, fragile creature; however, your time in this world has come to an end. So you have two options: make a pact with me or let your soul dissolve into the consciousness of the universe. Possibly you can reincarnate in your same world, but there are no guarantees that it will be like a human being¡± ¨C Those words terrified the detective, who for a long time had faced the possibility of dying with a complete air of cynicism.

    The mysterious voice was giving her a chance to remain human, giving up her essence to travel to another world. But there was still within her that hint of dissatisfaction at not being able to avenge the death of her beloved sister.

    "How do I know you''re not cheating on me?" ¨C Even with some reckless disbelief, Aurora challenged the unknown entity. Who laughed so loudly that he disturbed that darkness to the point that he felt his soul tearing apart.

    ¡°My name is Astaroth. In your world I am known as a fallen deity of a long forgotten civilization. Some others see me as a demon, but it is up to you if you decide to trust me or face a much worse fate¡± ¨C With a serious tone, Astaroth let us see that the time to decide was running out. To which in a last attempt to ensure that she would not be cheated, Aurora rebuked the deity.

    - "I accept your deal, but I have a condition involved"

    - ¡°Greedy creature as only your gender can be. I extend my hand to you and you still want something more from me? ¨C Once again the darkness was disturbed, this time causing Aurora''s soul to experience a breakdown that almost cost her consciousness.

    -"Alright. Will you be the first creature to which I grant a request beyond my grace? Hurry up and tell me what you want."

    - "I wish to keep intact the memories of my past life"

    - ¡°Are you completely sure? A soul that retains its past memories gains a stigma that will bring misfortune in its new life. Can you bear the weight of that decision? ¨C This time without showing exaltation, Astaroth seemed interested in the final answer of the detective. As if in advance the deity had anticipated everything for the scenario he wanted.

    Answering him in the affirmative, Aurora gave herself completely into the hands of the fallen deity. Feeling an immense pain that penetrated his soul to the point that the experience prior to his death seemed insignificant to him.

    - ¡°So be it, greedy creature. I will send you to a distant world on earth, where there are other creatures that go beyond your imagination. But rest assured that this decision that you have made could lead you to madness if you don''t know how to handle it."

    - "In that the trick goddess Astaroth has gone wrong for you. According to my ex-boyfriend, I was already crazy¡± ¨C Laughing like a maniac possessed, Aurora was enveloped by a whitish light that blinded her completely. But for a brief moment, she was able to contemplate the immense and glorious silhouette of the deity that had recognized her.

    With a burnished metal tiara similar to gold, adorned by a translucent veil that shone with sparkles like stars. Her dark skin and smiling full lips gave the impression of being identical to Sumerian deities.

    ¡°Good luck, my little girl. I wish it to you, because in truth you are going to need it as much as the air you breathe¡± ¨C With a snap of his fingers, Astaroth disappeared leaving Aurora''s consciousness once again plunged into darkness.

    Little by little recovering the sensitivity of a body that she thought was lost, the detective felt surrounded by a warm liquid that covered her completely. The salty sensation that permeated his palate resembled a brine that had a certain familiarity with something that he could not identify firsthand.

    It was then that her subconscious experienced terror when trying to take a breath, to realize that no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn''t get her face out of that liquid. Kicking and moving his arms, he felt an immense weakness in his muscles. As much as if he had never used them in his life.

    Suddenly due to his efforts, a membrane-like surface broke open. Making the liquid that surrounded her escape completely, leaving her delicate skin exposed to a light current of air that was cut off for periods of time.

    - ¡°Push Valeria, push curse. I can barely see a couple of feet through the birth canal¡± ¨C As if it were murmurs that were barely distinguishable to her ears, Aurora began to recognize that unknown dialect as if it were her native language.

    - "Come on, keep it up. He already has almost his entire body out, I need one last effort¡± ¨C Realizing what it was, Aurora knew that she was being born. The promise made by the deity to remember his past life had been fulfilled. Otherwise, as a baby you would be aware that you are at your own birth.

    When her head finally came out of her mother''s womb, the blinding light of that new world that opened up in front of her welcomed her, preventing her from appreciating her surroundings. Settling for distinguishing the voices of the people around her.

    - ¡°She has already been born, she is a healthy girl. Do you want to hold it?¡± ¨C With the utmost care that seemed reverential, the midwife approached the fragile humanity of the newborn to her mother''s arms. Who barely had it within his reach, extended his arm giving the order to move her away from his presence.

    - "Dark skin? What kind of ominous sign is this befalling the dignified house of the Alberts? ¨C The coldness of the words that came from the lips of that woman, were like daggers that stuck into the heart of the little baby, who, being aware of the intention of those feelings, cried inconsolably .

    At the moment that Aurora was acquiring the ability to see her surroundings, she was able to appreciate for the first time the face of the woman who had given birth to her.

    Endowed with unparalleled beauty, curly black hair to her shoulders, eyes as red as blood rubies, pale skin as a ghost, and a pair of slightly pointed ears. That woman was Emilia Albert, the eldest daughter of Count Eduardo Albert. Guardian of the eastern territories in the kingdom of Antioca.

    - ¡°But my lady. She is your daughter"

    - "Silence. If you mention again that that monstrosity is my daughter, you can consider that your head will roll even when you are my main maiden" - Swallowing in fright, the maiden felt that a cold sword edge surrounded her neck while a corpulent silhouette stood up. bet behind her.

    - "Keep your sword Diogenes, Maria learned her lesson." ¨C Keeping silent as a grave, the bodyguard returned to sheath his saber in its scabbard, dropping the maiden to her knees. Who kept hugging the baby, while shed her tears horrified by the coldness of her mistress.

    - ¡°Mar¨ªa, get rid of that monstrosity. If anyone comes to ask about the birth of the duke''s grandson, say that I have lost my baby at birth.¡±

    - ¡°Pity my lady! Have compassion on this creature. If she has to be disposed of, at least allow me to have her as my adoptive daughter¡± ¨C Tempting her luck, the maiden once again felt the bloodlust that emanated from Diogenes. Who watched her mistress waiting to execute the impertinent maiden.

    But far from receiving the final order to end their lives, Miss Emilia''s silence lasted for a few seconds, causing young Aurora to turn her gaze in the direction of the woman who hated her for her birth.

    - ¡°Maria, you have served the Albert house loyally for so many years. Ever since I was a little girl, you were there as my playmate. In honor of those years, I will give you the opportunity to leave this mansion with that monstrosity. But you will live keeping silence from everything you have seen and heard in this house, forever¡± ¨C Raising her hand, extending her palm towards the maiden, Miss Emilia cast a spell that hit the maiden''s mouth. Taking away the ability to speak forever.

    Exhausted from labor and having used her mana for that spell, Emilia leaned back on her cot and ordered Diogenes to throw both the maiden and the baby out into the street. As she was dragged out of the room, the baby looked at her mother for the last time, noticing an unusual detail in the way her mother''s fangs were developed.

    Outside the mansion the cold wind of the season was beginning to blow, which if it were the earth it would be similar to autumn. On the threshold of the mansion''s back door, which was usually used to receive the merchants who made their deliveries to the kitchen, the pounding of the air simulated the howling of wolves or souls in pain.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    - ¡°Sacrificing yourself like this for impure blood. You must have lost your mind, stupid¡± ¨C Diogenes, who until recently had remained silent, only shouted an insult against the poor maiden. While he held her hard by the arm, escorting her to her room so that she could collect her belongings.

    Leaving the baby on the bed, Maria took an old suitcase that was under the mattress and opened the closet drawers to store her clothes. While the little baby remained expectantly watching the cruel escort out of the corner of her eye.

    With a hard countenance, a square jaw, and sharp eyes like a hawk''s; Miss Emilia''s bodyguard was an imposing man, who was rumored to have a secret affair with the lady of the Albert house.

    Between murmurs within the walls of the mansion, the maidens suggested the possibility that he was responsible for the death of the lady''s husband. Augusto, eldest son of the ducal house of Valdemar.

    The few maidens who dared to raise their voices about that secret were silenced by orders of the imposing Miss Emilia. That truth being buried under capital punishment within the walls of the county.

    With the suitcase packed and her last belongings stored, the maiden tied a cloak to her chest in such a way that the baby was completely covered. Making it impossible for anyone who saw her to sense that it was a creature in her arms.

    Taking one last look at her room with teary eyes, the maid Maria walked to the door and left the mansion without looking back. With a lump in her throat, the unfortunate woman walked along the cobbled path until her booties came to rest on the muddy soil of the country road.

    Waiting for moments that some merchant would take pity on her and take her to the commercial part of the capital. To later transfer in a carriage that will transport her towards her homeland. A small village that still met the boundaries of the Albert County territory.

    - "Woman, do you want me to take you?" ¨C A plump man with a friendly face stopped when he saw Maria who was beginning to tremble with cold, hugging the small bundle of cloth tightly to her chest. Unable to utter a word because of the spell, the maiden nodded and loaded her belongings onto the back of the wagon. Being helped by the man, who suddenly realized that the package was a baby.

    - ¡°You have been fired from your job for getting pregnant, right? Don''t worry, I won''t judge you. I hate vampire nobles too. They think they are all powerful for the simple fact of that garbage of the pure blood lineage¡± ¨C Spitting resentfully on the ground, the traveler sympathized with the maiden, smiling at her as a sign of being on her side. Although he did not want to get him out of that misunderstanding, because he had already been waiting on the sidewalk for a long time and wanted to find accommodation before nightfall.

    Baring the baby''s face a little, Maria sat calmly holding on to the edges of the cart so as not to fall. Allowing herself to be lulled a little by the movement of the cart, which was relaxing her from the stress she experienced in the mansion.

    Curious about the world in which she found herself, Aurora marveled at that scenario that contrasted with the one that remained in her memories. The trees possessed leaves of a purplish color, very similar to the hue of the lavender flower. Their trunks were rough like those of their old world, but in contrast they had a whitish appearance.

    The sky that used to be known as a light blue, was now a greenish hue. Implying that the composition of the atmosphere was very different from that of its former mother planet. Noticing with a more attentive look, that that world had a sun of lower intensity than that of the earth. As if it were a white star.

    All of this marveled the newborn, who touched her face and ears to realize that the features she possessed were identical to those of the woman who had discarded her. Only different from her because of the dark skin tone that she could see when she saw her hands. Very different from the dark skin of his old world, his was closer to a deep blue hue. Like the one about the dark elves described in the fantastic literature that he once read in his past life.

    A detail that caused Aurora''s concern was that throughout the journey she was able to observe animals similar to those she knew, with certain variations in their shapes. The animals that pulled the carts were similar to the extinct dinosaurs of his past life, but unlike them, they were friendly to the humanoid beings that used them to pull their vehicles.

    The livestock that grazed in the meadows had humps like dromedaries and had two pairs of horns on their heads. But even stranger, is that in that emerald sky that he kept contemplating in his eyes, there was not a single bird like the ones he used to appreciate before.

    Yes, it was definite that that world was completely foreign and foreign to his previous knowledge; but something wonderful turned out inside her that she wanted to discover little by little, as if that baby instinct called to her, taking over her reason. Despite the fact that his soul was already over thirty years old.

    Seeing that Maria was still asleep, Aurora tried to use her vocal cords. Gesturing brief babbles without even achieving an intelligible word, despite having mastery of the language they spoke in that world.

    - "Calm down baby, soon we will arrive at the commercial plaza. I assure you that your mother will give you something delicious to eat¡± ¨C Smiling and in good spirits, the lord of the cart turned towards the creature while firmly holding the reins of the cart.

    It was at that moment where the peace was disturbed by the roar of a beast that was crouched among the trees near the path. With the appearance of an eagle and the body of a lion, chimeras used to be used in the hunting grounds of high nobility families.

    That beast had a scarlet bow tied to one of its legs, which indicated that it was a specimen that had been released for hunting, but had escaped the limits of the hunting grounds. At the beak of that imposing animal, hung what seemed to be the arm of a person, which from the appearance of the worn-out clothes that still remained on it, was one of the commoners who were hired to take care of the beasts.

    - ¡°Damned fucking nobles! It is not enough to intimidate the commoners, but they also use us as bait for their sick games¡± ¨C Giving more intense blows of the rein, the driver tried to speed up the pace of his beast to avoid being in sight of the chimera.

    Coming out of her lethargy, Maria could see horrified that that imposing beast was running from the forest trying to ram the cart. Feeling that her blood froze at the same time that cold sweat ran down her neck when she heard the baby screaming unintelligible babbling.

    - ¡°Woman please shut up your daughter! That beast is beginning to move faster and it seems that it is being attracted by it¡± ¨C With great fear, the maiden held the baby to her chest trying to shut her mouth in panic.

    Feeling like she was starting to suffocate, Aurora got desperate and tried to bite into one of the maiden''s breasts. Who realized that the girl was suffering, releasing her a little while begging her not to cry to avoid further alerting the beast.

    Understanding the situation they were in, the baby remained silent as she settled in Maria''s lap, trying to rationalize a way to survive that unwanted event.

    It was then that remembering the way in which its biological mother cast that spell, the creature looked for a way to reproduce that effect. Aurora thought that if that magic came from the bloodline she had heard so much about in the short time she was alive, she would lose nothing if she tried her luck.

    Extending her small arm in the direction of the chimera, Aurora closed her eyes and focused her senses on the environment where she was. As he paid attention, his ears stopped hearing the screams of the driver and the growling of the beast behind them.

    Little by little, her breathing synchronized with the beating of her heart and in the dim light she could appreciate small traces of light that were drawn giving the silhouette of her arm. And beyond her, the chimera''s shape looked as intense as a full, rapidly moving silhouette.

    In that strange world, where magic prevailed as a reference to the concept of nobility and blood lineage, the little baby had acquired the knowledge that was only achieved at the age of ten for the natives of that planet.

    Thinking of the fantasy stories she used to read with her sister, Aurora tried to express incantations in the different languages she knew from her past life without success. Sensing how the chimera was dangerously approaching the carriage, the little baby tried to try the most common language in medical science: Latin.

    - ¡°Subita morte¡± ¨C Even though it sounded like a babble on his lips, the concept of sudden death resonated inside his head with the clarity of the pronunciation of the ancient language.

    At that moment, the beast that until recently ran with the force of the ocean waves, collapsed on the ground in a loud way gasping until its breathing stopped completely.

    - "That''s great! It seems that animal was already mortally wounded and was just running desperate. Good thing¡± ¨C Giving a sigh of relief, the driver laughed nervously while his hands still trembled as he held the reins of the wagon. On the other hand, Maria couldn''t fit in astonishment at what her eyes had just seen.

    The baby that until recently had been discarded as garbage by the prestigious Albert house, had managed to use magic as soon as she was born. Such a prodigy had never been recorded in the history of the noble houses and in front of her, it had just happened as if it were something as simple as a crying baby.

    When their eyes met, Maria smiled proudly at Aurora, as if she were her blood daughter.

    Already with the last rays of light on them, the cart arrived at the commercial district where the lamps were already beginning to light up to welcome the night. The sound of the tires hitting the cobblestone of the main street woke up the maiden and the baby, who had fallen asleep due to the shock of that event on the road.

    - ¡°Well, up to here I can take them. Yes, it has been an intense trip, but they are now in a safe place¡± ¨C With that smile that characterized him, the lord of the cart raised his hand saying goodbye to Maria, who bowed her face in reverence thanking the favor received. Taking her suitcase and the baby in her arms, walking in the direction of an inn where they could spend the night.

    - ¡°There are five copper for you and three copper for the baby. That includes one night and breakfast¡± ¨C The owner of the inn was a woman of mature age, with the years marked on her skin. Her reluctant countenance was in stark contrast to the warmth in her eyes, showing signs that she''d had a hard life, but hadn''t soured her heart.

    Picking up a manastone lamp, he escorted the maiden with the baby in her arms up to the second floor of the inn, showing her the room where she would stay. Receiving her payment, the owner closed the door and Maria put the little baby on the bed, while she took off her clothes to put on a nightgown.

    Muttering cheerfully, Aurora looked around, thankful for having a roof under which to spend the night. Causing Maria to be touched by her and take her in her arms while lulling her to sleep.

    Unable to utter a word, Maria tried to gesticulate on her lips in the hope that that prodigious baby would understand her. And to the grace of having been reincarnated by the goddess Astaroth, for Aurora that was possible. Reading the lips of the maiden, understanding the following: ¡°You are now my daughter, even though I don''t carry you in my womb. I will carry you in my heart and I will give you the name Silvia. Because nature obeys your will"

    Upon hearing the meaning of that name that had been given to her by her new mother, Aurora decided to abandon her old name and take the one that had been lovingly given to her to live in that new world.

    Lying down next to the baby, Maria turned off the lamp and hugged the girl falling asleep in that warmth. Dreaming of the new life that was in store for him with his daughter.

 Chapter III: Living under a new skin.

    In the universe there are infinite possibilities, multiple worlds where life has made its way through countless events as our planet did. Even in those confines where desolation seems to prevail, there are worlds like ours where living beings weave stories and give meaning to their existences.

    Alkaria, the planet to which Astaroth sent Aurora''s soul, was a world whose civilization resembled our Victorian period. Society was governed by a strict caste lineage system, cruelly marking the gap between nobles and commoners.

    But even in this bipartisan society, ethnicity played a crucial role in determining who was at the top, such as who was in the lower rungs of the nobility.

    The highest positions were occupied by the Lichen race. Beings similar to the vampires of the old folklore of our world. Followed by the Lupus, men who could take the form of bipedal beasts at will, preserving their reasoning. Lastly, the Aspirtenes; a race that was distinguished by the scales that decorated its skin and the characteristic of the slit pupils.

    The individuals that made up the bloc of the mob were not very different in appearance from what human beings on earth are. With the difference that their life expectancy more than tripled the expectation of our species, as well as being endowed with a strength that could be compared to that of the great primates of our world.

    Despite her fragile appearance, Maria was an extremely strong woman. Able to carry out any task no matter how rudimentary it might be. When the young maiden and baby arrived in Maria''s hometown, the new mother searched for her old home and returned with her family to work in the fields.

    Trading her luxury goods for the sickle and the rake, she began working the day''s wages from sunrise to sunset while leaving the baby in the care of her grandmother. At nightfall, the young woman returned with her hands full of blisters and slight cuts, with an empty stomach and dry lips.

    Paying attention to these details, Silvia tried to smile at her mother as she extended her arms to her. Relieving a bit of the stress that was accumulating on the maiden''s muscles. To Grandma Edith, that only seemed like the impetus of a baby longing for its mother''s arms. But both Mar¨ªa and Silvia knew perfectly well that the creature was using its latent magical ability to heal him.

    That routine was repeated as long as the warm seasons prevailed, while, when the freezing times arrived, Maria occupied herself with sewing work inside the warm hut nestled in the countryside.

    With the changes of seasons, came the years. And with the passing of that time, Silvia had completed five years of living in that new world.

    ¡°Mother, I want to go play in the stream with the children of Mrs. Gertrudis. I can go?" ¨C A little girl who could barely reach her waist, held on to Maria''s lap, who was stirring the ladle inside the pot on the fire. Thanks to her lineage magic, little by little Silvia was able to develop her innate abilities as a Lichen, among which telepathy helped her to communicate with her mother.

    With curly silver hair and crimson red eyes, her smile showed the gaps of the missing pieces due to the change of age. Despite having been despised by her birth in the Albert mansion and exiled, Silvia had developed fully and happily in that small town with the commoners.

    Due to her peculiar skin tone and the characteristic features of her race, Maria had to lie to her family regarding the origin of the girl''s birth. Telling them that she had been thrown out of the Albert mansion for having shared the bed with a relative of the noble family. Not caring that her honor was sullied with it, the maiden accepted that price to save the life of the little baby.

    As marked by the traditions, the bastard sons of the noble houses were presumed dead and the mere mention of such an incident was severely punished among the commoners. Therefore, during the last years, Silvia was able to grow up without the burden of the stigma of unclean blood.

    - ¡°Okay, you can go play with them. But promise me you won''t go beyond the edge of the stream."

    - "I promise mom" - Extending her small hand to make the pinky promise, Silvia hastened to take an old and worn cap with which she covered the tips of her ears. Opening the door of the hut as he turned around to say goodbye to Maria.

    Feeling the cool afternoon breeze that hit her cheeks, Silvia ran through the pastures passing her fingertips to feel the pleasant tickling that the tender tips of the ears of wild wheat produced.

    - "Teacher, teacher Silvia, we are here" - A boy of a little over seven years old got up from a fallen log while a girl the same age as Silvia held him tightly by the wrist, gesturing for him to come down the voice so as not to attract attention with his screams.

    - ¡°Lucas, I told you not to call me a teacher out loud. You know very well that even when the adults take it as a game, if any official finds out it will get us into trouble¡± ¨C Making a fuss with an awkward expression on his face, the boy provoked a complicit laugh from Silvia. Who only put his hands over his mouth trying to hide his toothless smile.

    Because her mental maturity was far from that of a little infanta, Silvia was continually bored at home. Dolls and children''s games were not something that could satisfy him, so he decided at the time to teach Do?a Gertrudis'' children mathematics.

    Due to her skin tone, some mothers had forbidden their sons to get involved with the little girl. Being only Lucas and his sister Abigail, the only ones who dared at the time to beg their mother to let them play with her.

    As she grew up, Silvia listened and watched adults do rudimentary arithmetic operations. Realizing that the mathematical principles of that world were not very different from his old home.

    Since the inhabitants of that village barely subsisted on the income from farming the fields, few children could afford to go to school, which was four hours away by cart. The lucky ones who were sent by their parents studied enough so that, at the age of twelve, they had the opportunity to find work as servants of the nobles in the big cities.

    In the case of Lucas and Abigail, Dona Gertrudis was too poor to afford to send them to school. Being a widow and with no other support than her work in the fields, the poor woman tried with all her might to provide the best for her children to the best of her ability.

    One morning when Silvia was alone playing near the stream, Lucas approached her in silence to watch her while she used a twig to write on the damp earth on the shore. Her sister, who saw them from afar, impulsively ran up to them, startling the little girl. Who, feeling discovered, erased with the sole of his foot the scribbles he had written on the ground.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    Those children were aware of their situation and feeling sorry for their mother, they begged Silvia to teach them arithmetic. Promising that they would keep his secret and in return they would pay him with fruits that they collected from the surrounding forest.

    - "Very well, before we start our lesson, you know what to do" - Extending her hands, the young Lichen received the payment for her tutoring. Lucas had brought a few nuts and little Abigail had with her some purple fruits that had a slightly sweet and sour taste that resembled the wild strawberries that Silvia knew.

    Even when they were insignificant things, Silvia gladly received them from those children with a smile. Well, I wanted to teach them to value work and effort, as well as how fair it is to receive a payment for providing their services.

    Despite this, the three children were close friends who shared their joys, sorrows, and worries like any other child their age.

    Using pieces of firewood that she had secretly collected from the ash bucket in the fireplace, Silvia wrote with them on the rocks that rested on the bank of the stream. Diligently teaching the children, who did their calculations on the ground using small stones or branches that they found lying nearby.

    When the sun''s rays began to languish on the horizon behind the mountain ranges, the children washed their hands in the cool water of the stream and Silvia brushed off the soot, taking great care not to stain her clothes. Well, she had to keep a secret from her mother that she gave lessons to do?a Gertrudis''s children.

    As they walked back to their home, insects similar to fireflies began to come out of the grass. Unmistakable sign in that world, that the first days of the icy season were near.

    - "Mom is soon out of work again" - Pressing her hands against her chest, Abigail lowered her face trying to hide the sadness that harbored her heart. Well, he knew very well that his brother would have to go once again to work in the mercenaries'' workshops to get a little sustenance that would allow them to survive the winter.

    Seeing him out of the corner of his eye, Lucas placed his hand on his sister''s head, shaking her hair. At the same time that he smiled from ear to ear while with an air of security, he told her that he shouldn''t worry.

    Moving forward a bit to give them space, Silvia remembered with nostalgia the relationship she had with her late sister. Unable to prevent the memories she evoked from bringing her light tears of nostalgia, the girl wiped herself with the sleeve of her blouse. Saying that the wheat pollen had stung her nose and made her feel a little unwell.

    Saying goodbye on the sidewalk that connected to their houses, Silvia hurried to arrive with Maria, who was waiting for her sitting at the table with a stern look in her eyes.

    - "Silvia. Did you break the promise you made to me?" ¨C Maria''s voice rumbled in the little girl''s head, with a different look than she used to feel.

    - ¡°No mother, I did not break my promise. I swear I didn''t cross the creek"

    - "I don''t mean that promise!" ¨C Raising her voice with a tone of severity, Maria got up from her chair and walked to where Silvia was. Who was still surprised by the change in her mother''s countenance.

    - "Show me your hands. What are you waiting for? Do it!" ¨C Trembling with fear and beginning to whimper, Silvia extended her little hands while Maria checked under her nails. Passing a small piece of straw between the skin and the nail, one by one he went over the fingers until he removed the lumps of ash dust from them.

    - ¡°Do?a Gertrudis came to talk to me after you left. When I knock on the door, she looked very happy and brought with her a basket with barley bread. When I wrote asking him the reason for that gift, he told me that it was in gratitude for teaching his children mathematics.¡± ¨C Holding her gaze steady, while containing the anger in the timbre of her voice, Maria watched the little girl whose lip did not stop trembling.

    - ¡°I had to lie to him! Tell him that I was teaching you and your children the math I learned at the Albert mansion. Do you know how stupid I felt when I realized that you have deceived me all this time that I trusted you? What would have happened if an adult found out that you were teaching arithmetic to Gertrudis''s children? Did you also break your promise not to use your magic?¡±

    - "No mommy, I have not used my magic in public"

    -"Do not lie to me!" ¨C Unable to contain herself before the feeling that the soul of the adult woman who resided in the body of that girl overwhelmed her, she completely broke. Starting to cry like any child who is scolded by their parents would.

    Realizing how hard she had been with the girl, Maria fell to her knees and hugged her trying to comfort her while she regretted the fact that she had reprimanded him in that way.

    In all the time she had been a mother to Silvia, the former maid of the Albert house had sworn to herself that she would never hurt the baby she took as her own daughter. But that cool early autumn night, that vow had been completely broken.

    Feeling a strong pang in her chest, Maria began to cough uncontrollably to the point that the air in her lungs collapsed from the spasms.

    - "Mom, mom, what do you have, mom?" ¨C Surprised by that sudden event, Silvia tried to help her mother using her magic without having any effect on Maria''s body. Desperate not knowing what to do, the girl tried to remember the little medical knowledge she had acquired in her past life. Praying that the physiology of the body of that species could receive first aid as he remembered it in humans.

    As the minutes passed, Maria''s countenance improved and the color in her cheeks returned. For a moment Silvia felt relieved to see that her mother had recovered, but a doubt inside her did not allow her to remain calm.

    Trying to manipulate magic to create a spell that would allow her to see the inside of bodies like the x-rays she used in her past life, Silvia managed to reproduce something similar through the mana conduits that circled inside the bodies of living beings from that world.

    Unlike humans, the humanoids from the planet Alkaria used their mana channels as blood vessels. Commoners being affected by being exposed to nobles with an immense amount of mana.

    Usually, the mana of the higher species was harmless and was expelled from the body of the servants, when undergoing purification rituals administered by the priests who served the temple. But in Maria''s case, upon receiving a curse spell from Miss Emilia, the mana had embedded itself in the mana lines of the maiden''s body. Causing his body to develop a condition that little by little consumed his life.

    - ¡°Gluttony of mana. It is a curse that kills its bearer¡± ¨C With teary eyes and barely holding her breath, Silvia''s mother extended her hand to the girl''s face trying to comfort her.

    For the first time, little Lynche felt powerless in that world, contemplating the woman she considered a true mother, bedridden with one hand against her chest.

    - "Is there any way to ease your pain, mom?" ¨C Holding her mother''s hand with her little hands, Silvia asked Mar¨ªa for some concoction or medicine that would help her alleviate her ailment.

    - ¡°In the forest that is crossing the stream, grows a plant whose root is often used as a sedative by commoners when they cannot receive purification from the priest in the temple. Maybe it will also help to alleviate my pain¡± ¨C With a slightly lost look, Maria felt her eyelids grow heavy and she told her daughter that she needed to sleep.

    With those words in mind, the girl stood by her mother, keeping watch, while the fire in the fireplace continued to burn, warming the lonely room.

    For the next morning, having only slept for a couple of hours, Silvia washed her face and left her mother covered with a blanket to keep her warm in bed. Taking a bag that was hanging near the door of the hut, the girl ran to Mrs. Gertrudis''s house and asked Lucas to accompany her towards the forest.

    - ¡°Go to the forest? You know that we are forbidden to go to the forest that is beyond the stream. If the adults find out, they will scold us."

    - "Lucas, my mommy is dying" - As if a bucket of cold water fell on him suddenly, the child could not understand what Silvia was saying.

    - "What do you mean by dying? Was there an accident in the field?¡±

    -"Nope! She collapsed in the night and can''t get out of bed. My mother told me that she has the curse of gluttony¡± ¨C With her eyes wrapped in a sea of tears, Silvia could barely repeat those words, almost stuttering, trying to breathe to hold back her tears.

    Mrs. Gertrudis, who was listening from the kitchen, quickly approached the door and took the girl, trying to comfort her. Closing the door of the house and taking Abigail to go to Maria''s hut. Ordering Lucas to accompany the poor creature to the forest and help him look for alcorn stems.

    - "Okay teacher, walk. Don''t worry, we''ll get the yerba de alcornio so your mom gets better¡± ¨C Wiping her nose with the sleeve of her blouse, Silvia nodded and took Lucas''s hand, heading quickly to the stream. To later cross the vast forest that was in front of them.

 Chapter IV: Just for a moment.

    The town of Balderas was a region that was mainly dedicated to agriculture during the warm seasons. At the arrival of the first frosts, the activity of the settlers could vary between textile management, pottery, hunting and forestry; These last activities were carried out in the limits of the village, crossing the Medis stream.

    Known as the Marota Forest, an expanse of land covered in lush vegetation, it was home to countless medium-sized beasts. Which were used by hunters as emergency food in winter times.

    Of the most representative fauna, the bolgio, an animal similar to the wild boar. With frontal antlers and sharp fangs, it was an extremely dangerous animal in the first days of the arrival of the change of seasons.

    Walking in hand in hand, Sylvia and Luca walked along the path that the hunters took away from their caves. Trying to make as little noise as possible in order to avoid attracting the attention of those fearsome beasts.

    ¡°Luca, wait a moment please¡± ¨C Pulling his sleeve a bit, Sylvia stopped for a moment to sit on the sidewalk to check the soles of her feet. Because footwear was a commodity that was a luxury for the poorer commoners, the girl had endured many times having to wear shoes that no longer fit her as she grew older.

    Knowing that Mar¨ªa could barely earn enough to support them both, Sylvia tried to endure that ordeal in silence. But this time, because she left her house very quickly, the little girl had left her shoes at the foot of the door.

    ¡°Well, it seems that there is no remedy¡± ¨C Squatting with his back to Sylvia, the young Luca offered the fragile girl to climb on his back. Trembling from the slight cold air that was beginning to be felt among the trees, little Lichen firmly took the boy by the shoulders and clung to him.

    - "Don''t worry Sylvia. It won''t be long before we get to where the alcornio plants grow." ¨C Nodding her head very close to Luca''s face, Sylvia did not notice that the boy''s cheeks had blushed a little.

    Feeling embarrassed, Luca continued up the path with the girl on his back. Keeping your attention to the sides in order to notice any sign of the proximity of a bolgio.

    Experiencing a bit of drowsiness due to Luca''s body moving, the little girl closed her eyes and fell prey to the sleep accumulated from the waking night she spent taking care of her mother.

    - ¡°Aurora, we are late! Move, dad can''t start the car¡± ¨C A voice that was familiar to her, came to her in the form of a dream from a distant life. Katia, Aurora''s sister, was standing at the door of the house adjusting her headband while she looked at herself in the mirror hanging on the wall.

    - "Kathia? How are you alive?" ¨C Walking slowly until she reached her sister at the door, Aurora didn''t get an answer from her. As if it were simply a mirage that evoked his heart.

    Appearing in the doorway, Dr. Anderson made gestures by pointing his finger at the face of the wristwatch. That vivid memory of the day her sister was kidnapped, made the wounds she thought had closed slowly open up, letting the repressed emotions of so many years flow.

    The feelings of guilt that she harbored in the depths of her being, caused the detective''s soul to fluctuate violently, causing the memory image to be disfigured until it was a shade of blood red.

    "I told you there was a price to pay for your request" ¨C Descending with a pair of outstretched wings similar to those of a bat, Astaroth manifested himself in the young Lichen''s dream. The pure appearance that had manifested in front of Aurora prior to her reincarnation had been changed to that of a being that was closer to being a demon than a god.

    - "Do you have fun playing like this with me?"

    - ¡°Silly creature, do you think I''m laughing right now? I wanted to give you a chance to live a life away from pain, a new beginning. But contrary to my wishes, you chose the most painful path. Every soul that maintains ties with its previous life is condemned to drag part of it to the new world in which it will be born.

    Unfortunately for you, the trauma of losing your sister burned very strongly into your old self. And behold the result, a new soul that has neither head nor tail. You''re lucky you haven''t lost your sanity in these five years. However, you will have to face the cost of maintaining your previous consciousness¡± ¨C Opening a portal that allowed them to view the interior of Mar¨ªa''s hut, Astaroth and Sylvia contemplated how Do?a Gertrudis did not stop placing fresh cloths on the maiden''s forehead.

    Who was already delirious from the sudden fever caused by the curse of mana gluttony.

    - "Mother!" ¨C Extending her arm uselessly, Sylvia was desperate before the panorama that the goddess allowed her to observe. As the minutes passed, Maria''s state of health deteriorated to the point that her life expectancy was considerably shortened.

    - ¡°Goddess Astaroth, please! Take what you want from me, but save her life¡± ¨C Taking the original form of her former self, Aurora stood up and stood firmly before the unshakable goddess. Who for a moment was hesitant to witness the determination of that woman.

    Not only had he challenged her in the moment before his rebirth, but right at that moment, his eyes didn''t show even an iota of fear or hesitation.

    - "Are you completely sure of your words, creature?"

    - "Yes I am! Take even my life if necessary¡± ¨C Clenching her fists with her arms firmly at her sides, Aurora faced the goddess, who extended her hand over her and nailed her claws just at the height of her heart.

    - "I accept" - With a violent movement Astaroth ripped out Aurora''s heart; it began to form a silhouette of flesh and blood, which little by little took on the shape of little Sylvia.

    - ¡°In exchange for prolonging the life of that woman, I will take away your powers. As long as the breath of life remains in the one you call mother, the magic of your species will be sealed. The body and physical characteristics with which you have been known since you were born, will change due to the appearance you possessed while you were alive on earth¡± - Embracing the little homunculus, Astaroth threw Aurora''s consciousness back to the earthly plane.

    Opening her eyes again, Sylvia felt her body begin to burn while Luca was startled, throwing her to the ground.

    - "Who are you? Where is Sylvia?

    - ¡°Luca, wait, Luca! I am your friend Sylvia¡± ¨C With blue eyes and brown hair, her bluish skin had been transposed by a Caucasian tone similar to the rest of the people in the village. The shape of his face had also changed, taking on the appearance of his childhood on earth.

    - "I don''t believe you! You are an evil spirit that kidnapped Sylvia. Confess, where did you take her to¡± ¨C Taking out a small dagger that he used while serving the mercenaries, Luca stood defensively in front of the helpless girl, who kept repeating that she was her friend, begging him to lower the dagger.

    Then without realizing it, a wild bolgio hatchling appeared behind them. Despite being a mere puppy, that animal was twice the size and weight of the unfortunate Luca, who barely had time to react to its onslaught. Receiving a strong blow that almost cut off his right arm.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    - "Lucaaaaa!" ¨C Extending her arms, Sylvia tried to conjure magic to defend her friend from that wild beast, realizing the fact that the goddess had declared in the dream. The little girl lost her powers.

    - "You brought this beast, right?" - Clumsily articulating those words, Luca tried to get up feeling how his right side was cold and bloody. Spitting blood out of his mouth from the spasms, Luca stood to attention with what little strength he had left and threw himself squarely against the bolgio.

    - "Luca, stop!" ¨C Screaming with all her might, Sylvia desperately tried to make her friend throw herself to certain death. But those cries of supplication fell in vain on the ears of the brave little boy. Who, in a single movement, saw how his head rolled on the ground, decapitated by the bolgio''s horns.

    - ¡°Nooooo!¡± ¨C Giving a heartbreaking scream that shook the treetops, Sylvia fell to her knees to the ground with her face covered in tears. The moment the beast noticed it, it began to run furiously trying to ram it , being pierced by the arrow of a group of hunters that belonged to the town.

    - ¡°Girl, hey girl! Are you okay?" ¨C Taking her by the arms shaking her with force, one of the hunters was trying to get her out of the shock. Seeing how his eyes looked like those of an undead.

    - "Lucas... Lucas" - Repeating the name of her friend, little Sylvia was traumatized after witnessing that heartbreaking end. Such a young and dreamy life had ended at the hands of a beast that fell so easily from a hunter''s arrow.

    If only they had shown up seconds earlier, if that arrow had been fired before Luca plunged himself to his death. The feeling of guilt ate at the little girl, who was reliving the trauma of losing her sister in her past life.

    - "Hey boss, this child is the son of Mrs. Gertrudis" - Holding the child''s severed head, the hunter closed his eyes, shaking his face as a sign of distress. Everyone in the villa knew little Luca, a lively boy with the drive of a small wild animal.

    The mercenaries who used to hunt in the forest accompanied by Lucas, marveled at him, who had the potential to become a knight in the service of a noble family. But now, that longing had been extinguished with the last breath of his heart.

    Taking what was left of Lucas''s body, the hunters wrapped him in the skin of a wolfen and threw him into the wagon, while the leader took the girl by the waist and carried her back to the village. The march of that procession remained silent, with a solemnity typical of the courage shown by the reckless boy.

    Spotting them from the door, little Abigail recognized the clothes of what she thought at one point was her friend. But seeing him up close, he reacted in a similar way to his brother, completely ignoring poor Sylvia, who was clinging firmly to the mercenary''s cape.

    Do?a Gertrudis, who was still inside attending to Mar¨ªa, hurried to the threshold of the hut to receive the brigade leader. Who, leaving Sylvia on the ground, extended the dagger that belonged to Lucas while he was alive, while he lowered his face when explaining that the child had died in the forest.

    Collapsing in pain, Mrs. Gertrudis cried bitterly, raising her hands to her face, being comforted by Abigail, who hugged her trying to contain herself by the sudden death of her older brother.

    Instead, Sylvia, taken beside herself by the shock of seeing her friend die, had one last thought in mind that allowed her to walk weakly inside the hut.

    Bedridden, Maria found herself with a better countenance, as if the curse had miraculously ceased. But as if it were one more trick of the goddess Astaroth, the maiden did not react no matter how much the little girl repeated her name and waved her hand without being able to wake her up.

    - ¡°Who the hell are you? Release her right now!¡±

    - "Grandma it''s me, I''m Sylvia"

    - ¡°You are not my granddaughter! Who are you and where did you come from? ¨C Pushing her hard causing her to fall to the ground, Mrs. Edith rebuked her firmly, demanding the whereabouts of her granddaughter.

    It was then that the little girl realized that no matter how she tried to explain the situation, no one would believe her. Yes, the goddess had kept her promise. But the price to pay wasn''t just limited to his powers; but also, he had taken his life in a way beyond symbolism.

    Like a foreigner in the midst of those people, the girl lowered her face and walked towards the outside of the hut. Where one of the hunters took her by the arm and tied her hands to take her to the bailiff of the town.

    During the hours that she remained under the surveillance of the village guardian, the girl was questioned about what had happened, remaining silent without saying a word.

    - "It''s useless, this brat won''t speak no matter how much we question her" - Taking a sip from a beer jar, the bailiff hit the container on the wooden table without getting any reaction from the girl. That she was immediately thrown into the cell, waiting for a representative of the ducal head to come to give a judicial verdict.

    Cornered in a fetal position inside that cold cell, Sylvia looked through the bars that communicated with the outside. The delicate moonlight that filtered through them reflected on her skin a tone as pale as that of a ghost.

    As if longing to turn back time, the girl stretched out her arms towards the night sky. Seeing through the spaces of his fingers, the storm clouds that began to cover the night sky.

    - "Luca" - Repeating that name in a low voice, the girl was running out of strength until exhaustion seized her, falling into a deep sleep.

    The next morning the sound of sword metal hitting the bars made her startle awake.

    Turning her gaze, still clouded by sleep, she saw four silhouettes that stood imposingly on the other side of the cell bars. With a severe aspect, sharp nose and the expression of the eyes like those of a lion; Captain Eusebio Rivera, responsible for public security within the Albert domain, was accompanied by two soldiers with their faces covered by their helmets.

    "Is this the brat responsible for the impure blood''s death?"

    - "We don''t know, your excellency, but she was the only survivor that the hunters found in the forest" - The bailiff could not hide his nervousness before his superior, a sea of cold sweat seemed to sprout from his forehead in panic, as if his life depended on the words he chose to speak in front of him.

    Among the commoners, the temperament of Captain Eusebio was well known, a man lacking in empathy and tact for those he considered inferior. With eyes whose pupils exuded scarlet and pointed ears, it was undoubtedly a low-ranking Lichen.

    Any soul that fell into his clutches would experience a fate worse than death. Therefore, among the common people it was common to mention that it was preferable to end up in the jaws of a chimera, than to face the bloodthirsty captain.

    Giving a signal, the soldiers opened the gates and entered holding the girl by the arms, letting her dangle level with the imposing captain of the guard.

    - "This is your last chance. Did you kill the unclean blood?¡± ¨C Roughly holding her hair, Eusebio fixed his gaze on Sylvia''s eyes, who vigorously denied the accusation that fell on her.

    - "What''s your junk name?"

    - "My name is Sil..." - Stopping on the spot, the little girl considered that continuing to use the name her mother gave her would bring her more problems. For them, Sylvia had died in the forest. Repeating her identity would only get her charged as a phony and executed for impersonation.

    - "My name is Aurora"

    - "Aurora? Interesting name for a miserable rat¡± ¨C With an apparently kind smile, the captain looked at the little girl for a brief moment. Who looked askance at the soldiers, who seemed to be trembling in fear for having seen their captain''s smile.

    By the time the girl tried to see Eusebio''s face again, she felt a pair of sharp fangs piercing her carotid. The sensation of those cold jaws contrasted with the warmth of the threads of blood that ran through the delicate skin of her neck.

    Pain quickly took over her body, feeling as if her blood was boiling as she was sucked forcefully by the inhuman captain.

    Screaming until her throat seemed to tear, the girl kicked hard trying to free herself from that unpleasant torment. By the time he finished drinking his blood, Eusebio took a handkerchief and wiped the corners of his mouth. Snapping her fingers forming a magic circle that reminded the girl of the curse her biological mother cast on Maria.

    - "Commoner Aurora, for the crime of murdering the commoner Lucas and being an accomplice in the kidnapping of a member of the Albert house, she is sentenced to live as a slave in the service of the Rivera house until the day of her death"

    On the girl''s chest, a blue flame etched a sinister symbol onto her delicate skin. Shaped like a star surrounded by a semicircle with a curse written on it, that mark was the sign of the Albert family''s enslavement.

    From noble to commoner, from commoner to slave. In a brief span of her life, Aurora was experiencing the weight of the curse she gained from defying the will of the goddess Astaroth.

    Unable to maintain consciousness, Aurora''s fragile humanity gave way to the pain and she fell unconscious, leaving her body to hang like a corpse at the hands of the soldiers.

    - ¡°We have finished in this place. Take the slave to my carriage and chain her hands and feet so she doesn''t try to escape¡± ¨C Turning around letting his cape flutter, Eusebio walked imposingly out of the cell, followed by his soldiers who escorted the little girl''s body.

    Keeping his head down, the bailiff continued to tremble as he watched the way the captain dispensed his form of justice. Giving thanks to the goddess that it was not him who ended up receiving such cruel punishment.

    Putting on the shackles, the soldiers chained the little girl to the floor of the carriage, immediately withdrawing to make way for the captain. Who barely got into the cabin, gave the order to start marching towards his mansion.

 Chapter V: Dollhouse

    Following the main path that connects the rural pass with the nearest town, the rattling of the carriage wheels ended up waking Aurora. Still feeling dizzy from the loss of blood, the girl tried to raise her head, feeling a cold, heavy metal encircle her neck.

    - "It seems you''ve already woken up" - Holding some official documents, reading them with a pair of square glass glasses, Eusebio kept his gaze fixed on the content written on them. Talking to the little girl without directing her, she will look at her in a single moment.

    - ¡°Five years ago, inside the Albert house, a painful incident occurred. One of noble Miss Emilia Valeria Albert''s personal maids was accused of stealing her mistress'' belongings and selling them to a disreputable pawnshop. Said maiden was about to be executed by order of the patriarch of the Albert house, but in a magnanimous gesture of good will, the distinguished daughter of Count Albert took pity on her.

    Having lost her firstborn in childbirth, she was moved by the maiden who appealed for her crimes, alleging that it was all to support her family in the countryside, since she planned to send her bastard daughter as a result of an extramarital affair.

    It all looks like it''s straight out of a romance novel, but those jerks love to adorn themselves with pride. Hiding the truth behind the scenes while they dance on the blood of enemies and relatives" - Frowning, squeezing the documents, Eusebio turned his face towards the girl, while from his pupils a slight purple light shone while the body of Aurora was enveloped by it.

    Breaking the chains that held her to the carriage, the girl''s body rose and was once again at the height of the captain. Who raised the face of the little girl with the tip of her index finger, fixing her cold gaze on the eyes of the unfortunate minor.

    - ¡°I don''t know who did it, I must admit that such a feat in sorcery should be praiseworthy. But before my eyes nothing escapes. You may look like a commoner, look like one, and even smell like one. But no one can fool the palate of a noble lynch, except me, an inquisitor. If you want your head to remain on your shoulders, you must answer me truthfully right now. Are you the bastard daughter of the Albert house?¡± ¨C Having experienced the horror of that man''s power, unable to move or defend herself due to her sealed magic, Aurora could only move her lips to confirm the captain''s suspicions.

    Upon hearing the answer he wanted, Eusebio laughed, throwing his face back with the expression in his eyes wide open with euphoria. The soldiers who were pulling the reins of the beasts felt their blood run cold from that uproarious maniacal laughter that came from the carriage, praying that this journey would come to an end soon.

    - "Who''d say? It seems that the goddess has blessed me greatly with this little tadpole. For years I have tried to bring down that accursed bastard Eduardo, to take away everything he has and behold, it will not be by the sword that his power fails, but by the hand of a little filthy blooded scum¡± ¨C While in the other races miscegenation was something that was not considered serious, within the lineage of Lichen nobles , blood crossing was a taboo subject. Proud to remain pure for generations, considering blood the bargaining chip of souls, the vampire houses put purity of blood above all things beyond military or political achievement.

    The fact that a house had among its members a Lichen of impure blood was a source of shame to the point that they could not remain flaunting their power over other lineages. Being degraded and on many occasions, completely exterminated.

    Eusebio, who shared a fifth bloodline relationship with Count Eduardo, always lived in the shadow of that noble Lichen despite his achievements on the battlefield. Hating what he considered a petulant nobleman lacking in determination or strength, the captain of the guard always looked for a way to destroy that man''s foundations to take his place.

    Seeing that the little girl was trembling, Eusebio placed the tip of his thumb on the girl''s lower lip, smiling at her mischievously while indicating the fate that was in store for him.

    The girl would be taken as a slave under the emblem of the Rivera house; receiving training as a maiden in appearance, but stripped of all rights and freedom. Lowering himself to a mere object, subject to the whims of the direct members of the blood of Eusebio.

    - ¡°You will be a maiden in training, under the direct orders of my little daughter Berenice. Dress her up, comb her hair, serve her tea, even be her personal toy if she so desires. You will have clothes, food, and a roof over your head, but coming of age, you will serve my purposes."

    - "What do you mean?" ¨C Responding impulsively driven by fear, Aurora closed her lips immediately when she saw that her master''s face changed to one of anger.

    - ¡°You dare question your master? Do you still not understand that your life ended the moment you fell into my hands? Your existence only has the purpose of serving my desires, apart from that, I could kill you right now and drink your blood" - Tightening her claw on the delicate neck of the little girl, Aurora felt how that cruel grip began to cut off her flow blood to the brain, changing the coloration of his face to a slightly bluish tone.

    - "I''m... sorry... master" - Muttering with the little breath she had left, the girl''s body broke free from Eusebio''s grasp, falling to the floor of the carriage while gasping trying to catch her breath.

    - ¡°That attitude is better. Don''t forget what you just felt, so you don''t make mistakes in the future¡± ¨C Adjusting the cuff of the sleeve of his jacket, Eusebio did not move his gaze of contempt on Aurora''s fragile silhouette.

    With the minutes that had become an eternity inside the carriage, the cold silence between master and slave became unbearable to the point that Eusebio himself kept tapping the tips of his fingers on the window frame, contemplating the landscape. the path that led to the mansion.

    - "My lord, we have arrived" - When the carriage stopped, one of the soldiers opened the door bowing slightly while bowing to the captain, who took the little girl by her blouse, taking her with him as if it were a sack of potatoes.

    Fully expectant, Aurora leered at the servants who had lined up at the ends, bowing their faces reverently to the manor''s lord who had returned from his mission.

    - "Welcome home, my lord" - A middle-aged man, with graying hair, a prominent mustache and a face with the marks of time already visible on it, welcomed the imposing captain who took off his cape and handed it over. in your hands.

    - "Vicente, what has happened in the time that I have been away?"

    - "Nothing particularly important my lord, just that Miss Berenice broke one of her wrists again" - Giving a sigh, leaning his face, Eusebio shook his head as if that was something he already experienced often.

    Berenice Rivera was a nine-year-old girl, the captain''s only daughter, who had experienced the loss of her mother at the age of three. Because her father was frequently away from home, the girl grew up without a father figure to dictate sober behavior. Becoming capricious and lacking a sense of gratitude or self-control.

    - "Is it the fifth this month?"

    - ¡°Yes my lord, this last one lasted longer than the others. But it seems that the young lady got angry because it was difficult for her to comb her hair. So I rip its head off and throw it off the balcony."

    - ¡°Go to the city and look for another one that suits your taste more. I don''t want my daughter to throw a tantrum that would embarrass me¡± ¨C Nodding vehemently, Vicente withdrew, calling for one of the maids to assist the captain.

    - ¡°Here, take this and give him a bath. Teach her the basics so she can incorporate herself as a maiden in training¡± ¨C Throwing Aurora into the arms of the servant, Eusebio retired to his study, leaving behind the little girl who was soon taken to the servants'' preparation room.

    Stripped of her garments and thrown into an incinerator fire, the girl was taken to a tub where the maiden proceeded to wash her body. Seeing the torture marks that she had received in the interrogation when she was arrested.

    - "I can''t believe how they could get so cruel with a little girl" ¨C Pursing her lips in anger, the maiden seemed to contain her frustration at that infamous punishment. Eunice was a girl who had recently arrived at the Rivera mansion, like all commoner children looking for a better life, as soon as she finished her studies she applied for a recommendation in the captain''s house.

    Even when she knew of the terrible rumors that were spreading within the walls of the mansion, the young woman decided to risk the large pay that was well worth the risk.

    - "Girl, what is your name?" ¨C With a soft tone, Eunice passed the sponge through the girl''s arms delicately, trying not to hurt her where the whipping wounds still remained.

    - "My name is Aurora" - With a low tone of voice, the little girl kept her face lowered in fear due to the fear that she found herself in that place.

    With eleven siblings to feed, Eunice felt an immediate attachment to the girl as she reminded her of her little sisters. Thinking that someone at such a young age would find it difficult to serve in that mansion.

    Upon reaching his chest, the maiden started and collapsed on the ground, taking her hands to her mouth as she gazed in horror at the scar that had been left by the mark of slavery. Realizing the situation Aurora was in, the maiden cried hugging the girl as if a wound had opened in her heart.

    When she was thirteen years old and still in school, Eunice''s parents were accused of theft by a noble belonging to the Aspirtenos race . With no opportunity to defend themselves, both were sentenced to be slaves and serve for life at the hands of that nobleman. Being his mother taken as a slave to the mansion and his father, as a cargo slave in the orichalcum mines.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

    - ¡°Don''t be afraid, I''m going to protect you. I promise I''ll protect you¡± ¨C Tightening her arms around the girl, Eunice repeated those words as if her life was gone with each breath. The aroma of aromatic herbs in the water, similar to rosemary, impregnated that moment in which Aurora let herself be carried away, responding to the maiden''s kind gesture.

    As the days went by, the girl''s training began at five in the morning before the first rays of the sun appeared on the horizon. First there were kitchen tasks, learning to peel vegetables and how to prepare young Berenice''s special dishes.

    Every detail had to be taken care of with great care, due to the explosive temperament of the captain''s daughter. Then they continued with the laundry, doing the laundry, basic etiquette classes for servants and most importantly, training to suppress the emotions on her face.

    Inside the Rivera mansion, the servants and maids walked the halls and did their chores without showing an ounce of emotion. As if they were dolls, their faces had to remain immovable in any situation.

    That time Eunice opened up to the little girl, she was fortunate that the other maids were busy cleaning up the garden after the incident with the young lady. Otherwise, the situation would have been terrible for her.

    - ¡°Remember Aurora, your face should never show any emotion when you are in public . Especially with Miss Berenice¡±

    - ¡°Yes, Mrs. Eunice. I''ll keep it in mind." ¨C Serving a cup of tea according to the etiquette classes of the kingdom, the little girl had a face identical to the rest of the employees of the mansion.

    - "Eunice, the maid has finished her training" - Appearing through the doorway, the maid rose from her chair and brought her hands forward to bow to the head butler.

    - ¡°Yes, she is ready. But¡­"

    - "But?" ¨C Slightly raising one of his eyebrows, the butler approached the maid with his arms crossed giving an air of severity.

    - "But I think it would be better to take a few days to make sure she doesn''t bother the young lady" ¨C Gritting her teeth while keeping her face down, Eunice was more afraid for the safety of little Aurora than her own.

    - "Certainly our young lady is something special with her tastes, but that is something that is not the responsibility of a mere maiden"

    - "I''m sorry butler, this maid did not think properly about your words"

    - ¡°If you understand, move away. You, follow me in silence¡± ¨C Leaving the room to follow Vicente, Aurora turned sideways in the direction of Eunice, who stood firm with her face raised and her gaze fixed on the girl. With a hint of concern that he barely managed to hide.

    - ¡°Remember that you must remain silent unless the young lady asks you otherwise. In the same way, no matter what happens, never dare to contradict him. At best, you will be disciplined by the head maid. And at worst... well, you''ll realize that yourself¡± ¨C Adjusting his monocle, Vicente turned his face towards little Aurora, while clearing his throat to hide the nervousness in his last words.

    - "Young lady, I have brought the new maid who will be at your service" - Knocking twice on the door, a childish and slightly shrill voice responded from the other side giving permission to enter.

    Sitting at the table reading a storybook, a little girl with golden-tint curly hair, red eyes, and lips as soft as cherries, finely dressed in a pink ruffled dress and a waistband that framed a red ribbon at her waist.

    Berenice Rivera was the definition of a beautiful porcelain doll, perfect in her movements and manners. No one could say that behind that air of perfection, a temperamental lady was hiding.

    - "Are you sure that this girl is suitable to be my personal servant Vicente?"

    - "He is barely four years younger than you, my lady, but I assure you that he is efficient" - Rising from her chair, Berenice took a few steps to where little Aurora was, checking her thoroughly to the point of seeming that she was about to buy a horse. .

    Smiling with satisfaction, Berenice expressed her pleasure with the new maid, ordering Vicente to leave the room.

    - "Tell me, do you like to play with dolls?"

    - "I like the games that the lady likes" - Just as Eunice had taught her, the girl responded in such a way that her will showed complete submission to her mistress. That answer was liked by Miss Berenice, who quickly took her arm and led her to one end of the room, where there was a dark wooden door with fine engravings that simulated fallen leaves.

    - ¡°My father travels a lot and spends little time with me. So I can''t get out of this boring mansion. But daddy is also a wonderful man and he gives me splendid gifts to amuse myself ¡± ¨C Turning the doorknob, Berenice smiled at Aurora as she invited him into her playroom.

    Inside that room, countless toys and stuffed animals were arranged in all directions. With the walls painted a pastel pink, this game room did not seem like something from another world.

    Until the little girl turned her gaze towards a pavilion decorated with lights and artificial roses, simulating a small kiosk like the one noble ladies usually have their tea parties in the gardens.

    Seated at the table, dressed in fine dresses without moving the expression on their faces, a group of women close to thirty years of age, remained motionless as if they were living dolls.

    - "Look look. Don''t you think the dolls in my collection are fabulous? My dad is an amazing man, don''t you think so? While the daughters of nobles have boring dolls that can''t move, my daddy only gets me the best¡± ¨C Smiling enthusiastically before Aurora, Berenice showed off that sinister collection of living dolls.

    From the slums or brothels, Vicente brought young women who were sold by their families or their pimps. Experiencing luxuries that they never imagined, these women wore clothes that they had only seen on noble ladies. Food, drinks, everything was at your beck and call. As long as they are the precious toys of the capricious daughter of Captain Eusebio.

    - "Go Go. Follow me, I want you to play with me. Take a doll and follow me¡± ¨C Giving the order to little Aurora, Berenice was excited to have a girl her age to play with.

    The women who were at the table allowed their bodies to be manipulated like simple mannequins by the girls. Almost as if their souls had left their bodies and they were just puppets.

    Suddenly, one of them began to show fear on her face when she felt the touch of young Berenice''s skin on her hands. Making him spill a cup of tea on the noble lady''s dress.

    At that moment, the woman fell into a panic and knelt at the girl''s feet, begging her to forgive her for that accident, before the rest of the people stared. Who kept their composure and their faces without the slightest expression.

    - ¡°Look Aurora, you see how my dolls are better than those of other girls. They can talk, move on their own and cry¡± ¨C Berenice si bowed in front of the terrified woman, lifting her face by the chin while she smiled warmly at her as if she were a pet.

    "Of course I forgive you! You are one of my beloved dolls." ¨C Feeling an air of relief, the woman thanked the young lady by kissing the tip of her slippers. Being that moment, that he felt that his body did not respond to him no matter how hard he tried to move.

    - "Hey Aurora, living dolls are fantastic, don''t you think so?"

    - "Yes, my lady, they are" - Keeping her face immovable, Aurora watched carefully, feeling that at the slightest hint of fear in her response, her life would be in danger.

    Smiling once more, Berenice congratulated her maid for answering her the way she wanted. While the woman kept that horrified expression in her eyes, as if she were begging little Aurora to save her.

    - "Let me show you how these incredible dolls work" - Turning her face again to the woman she was holding, using her lynch powers, Berenice twisted the woman''s arms, breaking them completely. Continuing with his legs until the joints of the phalanxes of his body wobbled like pendulums, in the midst of cries of pain and despair that found no echo of mercy in that infamous heart.

    The fruit does not fall far from the tree, was the thought that Aurora had in mind when contemplating the bloodthirsty behavior of Berenice, who had inherited that wickedness from Captain Eusebio.

    With her consciousness nearly leaving her in pain, the woman could barely beg with what little air was left in her lungs. Being carried floating until it was in front of the little personal maiden.

    That face that before showed no emotion, now seemed the spitting image of Calvary. With a lost look looking up at the ceiling and a trembling mouth barely articulating a word in front of Aurora''s face. A slight murmur escaped from that woman''s lips, being heard by the maiden and the young lady: "For mercy, kill me."

    - ¡°Granted. Look Aurora, this is the mechanism that makes these dolls move!¡± ¨C Making a gesture with her hands as if she were tearing something in the air, Berenice''s energy enveloped the woman, who showed on her face one last expression of agony as she screamed at being split in half. Bathing in blood the face of Aurora, who remained immutable as an ivory statue.

    - "Brilliant brilliant! I told you Aurora, my dolls are the best my dad can get." -Smiling with a macabre air, Berenice watched little Aurora, who remained silent for a moment.

    - "Did what I did bother you?" ¨C Changing her smile for a serious face, Berenice walked through the blood to where Aurora was, who remained without saying a single word.

    - ¡°Your ears were deaf from the screams of my toy? I just asked you, so answer me" - Bringing her hand to Aurora''s cheek, caressing her ear while squeezing it lightly with her fingertips, Berenice had her gaze fixed on the maiden''s eyes. Who, keeping her face serious, denied to her mistress that she was upset by what she saw.

    - ¡°You are a good maiden, you know when to respond and how to respond despite being so small. The last stupid one that served me was so annoying, she would respond and act without me wanting it. He thought that by celebrating everything I did, he would win my favor. But there is nothing more annoying than a pet that keeps barking when its owner is upset. ¨C Wiping the blood from her cheek to put her finger on her tongue, Berenice tried to intimidate Aurora in order to get an expression on her face. Without thereby achieving its attack.

    - "Clean the room and go away, I want to be alone" - Bowing reverently to her mistress, Aurora did as she was ordered. Leaving the room as soon as she finished her work, leaving Berenice behind, who sat down again in the same place where she had found her, continuing her reading to finish it.

    Walking through the corridors with the uniform and bloody face, the servants watched him without speaking to him. The fine scarlet red carpet perfectly hid the drops of blood that rolled down the girl''s skin and fell to the floor.

    - ¡°Good job¡± ¨C With a serious face, Vicente praised little Aurora for surviving the young lady''s temperament. Instructing her to go wash up in the pond behind the mansion, where the bushes grew and did not allow idle eyes to witness her.

    Walking through the grass that creaked with each step she took, the girl approached the pond and put her hands in the water while she saw the reflection of her face bathed in that scarlet red. Diligently washing herself trying not to leave a single trace of blood on her skin, Aurora plunged her head into the pool and screamed under the water as if trying to tear her vocal cords.

    Despite having seen all kinds of murder and atrocities as a police detective in his past life, the emotions in his childish body clashed with the maturity of his soul. Causing him to break at that moment and cry in fear at that barbaric behavior.

    - "Nobles are monsters"

    - "Yes, we are" - That deep and sinister voice made Aurora''s skin stand on end as if the devil himself had manifested himself before her. Falling by surprise in the pond, while feeling that a hand kept his head submerged in the water.

    She knew that rough hand, it was none other than Captain Eusebio, who had arrived without warning at the Mansion.

    Letting the girl''s face come out for air at times, the ruthless captain continued to torture him until he felt the little girl''s hands begin to lose strength.

    Reaching the maiden out of the pool, Eusebio wiped his hands while maintaining his stern, disapproving gaze.

    - ¡°Now you are my daughter''s maid. As promised, your life will not be in danger until I fulfill my plans. But you must take care of your tongue so as not to make another slip like the one from a moment ago¡± - Throwing her handkerchief to the ground, Aurora took it bowing in silence.

    - ¡°She is my most precious treasure, she has my temperament. But her face reminds me of her late mother. Try not to be a nuisance to her. Is it clear?"

    - "Yes, my lord" - Leaning down, putting one knee on the ground, little Aurora curtsied while Captain Eusebio left the place.

    Aurora looked at the emerald sky that was beginning to turn purple to give way to night, while a light wind made her tremble with her soaked clothes. She knew she was no different from those living dolls, trapped in a cage at the whims of the ruthless Rivera family.

 Chapter VI: Blue Ribbon.

    - "The way you have decorated this splendid garden is wonderful, Miss Berenice"

    - "I agree with Miss Dinora, there is no doubt that she has exquisite taste in roses" - Gossiping and drinking midday tea accompanied by their personal maids, the young ladies of the distinguished noble families of the Lichen race met every month. Playing on that occasion that the hostess of the party was the young lady of the Rivera house.

    The years had passed and the nine-year-old girl had become an eighteen-year-old lady, just one year after making her debut in society.

    Thanks to the efforts of Captain Eusebio, the Rivera house had grown from a simple lineage of gentlemen, to the rank of a barony. But secretly, all that had been possible in Aurora''s existence.

    Preferring to use her as a bargaining chip as opposed to his original plan, Eusebio blackmailed Eduardo into revealing the existence of his bastard granddaughter. Just two years after giving birth to her first daughter, Emilia had conceived a healthy boy who was betrothed to the royal family of Antioca as crown prince.

    Those ties that the Albert house had achieved were tempting for Eusebio, who did not hesitate to have an object that would allow him to manipulate the crown in the future through Eduardo''s grandson.

    With that change of environment, the young Berenice became more careful about her performance in public, trying to keep the mask of a prominent lady and worthy of being the daughter of the notable Baron Eusebio.

    - "No one can deny her qualities as a lady, she even knows how to surround herself with beautiful living roses" - Raising the fan to her face, a young woman looked sideways at the silent Aurora, who kept her face immovable as always after years of serving at the Rivera mansion.

    With her hair already grown to her waist and her eyes covered by a pair of discreet crystal glasses, the little girl had left behind that fragile appearance to become quite a beautiful young woman at fifteen years of age.

    Indeed, as the young lady of the nobility put it with a scathing tone, that maiden was comparable to a rose. But that comment made the always perfect Berenice gnash her teeth for a moment.

    - ¡°You have a very good eye, Miss Lucrecia, certainly my maid has been the best gift my father could have given me. I have had her since my childhood and I can testify that she is a very intelligent girl for a commoner. As obedient as a dog that knows how to give its master its paw¡± ¨C Extending her hand in the direction of Aurora, Berenice ordered the maiden between the lines to come closer and place her hand on hers. Causing with it the laughter of all the noble ladies who were present at the tea party.

    - "It seems that the ladies have a pleasant talk, they would like to receive us to share tea" - Rising all at the same time to bow, those ladies bowed their faces, extending the hem of their skirts as a sign of respect.

    Accompanied by Baron Eusebio, a man with a gallant figure and delicate face entered the garden where the tea party was taking place.

    Maximilian of Antioca , was the third prince in the line of succession for the kingdom''s crown. Nicknamed the blinder of the battlefield, his gentle face was a far cry from his demeanor on the front lines as he swung his sword at the enemy.

    With his sister Eleanor as a direct candidate to ascend to the throne, the young prince felt identified with Captain Eusebio. Two men of the Lichen lineage who, despite their achievements, were considered shadows, shared an ambition to acquire the power to place themselves over their respective adversaries.

    - "Father, if you had told me that the prince would come, I would have prepared a better reception"

    - ¡°Don''t worry miss, my visit here was mere coincidence. With such beautiful ladies present, it is more than enough for me to feel welcome¡± ¨C Placing a kiss on the back of Berenice''s hand, the prince bowed a little, holding his left arm behind his back for the bow.

    The ladies present hid their jealousy for the young lady of the Rivera house, who was already known as a potential candidate for Prince Maximilian''s wife.

    - "Miss Berenice, could you tell me the name of the maid who accompanies you?" - With that sudden request, the young lady turned her face with bloodshot eyes towards the maiden. Who respectfully presented himself at the prince''s request.

    - ¡°Certainly you have known how to choose your servants, Eusebio. In all my years I have never seen a commoner who was aware of the etiquette that must be observed with royalty ¡±

    - "Your words flatter me, young prince" - Clenching his fists at the obvious disrespect that fell on his beloved daughter, Eusebio asked the prince to accompany him to his office to finalize the details for the safety of the celebration for him. day of the founding of the kingdom.

    - "I think we should end our meeting today" - Understanding the situation, the ladies of the nobility who were present paid their respects to young Berenice and left with their maids. Leaving both Berenice and Aurora alone.

    - "It entertains you?"

    - "No, my lady"

    - "Do you covet a man you shouldn''t even look into his eyes?"

    - ¡°I would never dare¡­¡±

    - "Do not lie!" ¨C Holding his arm tightly, Berenice dragged the maid towards the pond that was behind the mansion.

    - ¡°Do you remember this place? Answer to me!" ¨C Raising her voice angrily, Berenice forcefully pulled Aurora''s arm making her fall to her knees on the mud on the edge of the pond.

    - ¡°Lick the mud off my shoes. Clean them without leaving a single speck of dirt on them.¡± ¨C Extending her leg up to Aurora''s face, the maiden began to lick the mud between the arches caused by that unclean taste on her tongue.

    That infamous lake not only brought back the memory of the night Eusebio tortured her after witnessing Berenice''s play in the doll''s house. But years later, when he was barely twelve years old, a bitter moment occurred in what was his only birthday celebration.

    From the age of five diligently and without fail, Aurora served as the personal maid of the young lady of the Rivera household. Impeccable and worthy of service, the girl grew up alongside her young lady.

    As promised, the maiden Eunice protected little Aurora in order to preserve a little of her innocence in that hellish place. During the nights when the servants would cost, Eunice would take the little girl to her bed to hold her so that she would fall asleep.

    Night after night, crying silently so the other maids wouldn''t notice, Aurora would stick her face to Eunice''s chest, hugging him until the tears stopped flowing and she fell asleep.

    It was thanks to that maternal care that the conscience of the fragile Aurora was able to continue standing after submitting to the atrocities that she witnessed inside Miss Berenice''s playroom. Who had no qualms about giving free rein to his bloodthirsty behavior.

    One morning at the beginning of the cold season, Aurora had matured physically, leaving behind the little girl. While doing her laundry, the young maiden tried to hold back her hair while keeping her body bent while scrubbing the clothes.

    - "Your hair has grown very beautiful, my little Aurora" - With a serene countenance where a discreet smile hinted at warmth, Eunice had sought a way to escape from the gazes of the other servants to allow Aurora to express part of her emotions.

    - "It''s a bit annoying, I think I''m going to cut it off"

    - "Do not do that! It''s so cute that it would be a shame if you cut it off."

    - ¡°But I have nothing with which to tie it. Slaves don''t get pay and I can''t afford to get hair accessories."

    - "Not the slaves, but I do" - Taking a small box out of her clothes, Eunice placed a small present in Aurora''s hands that surprised the girl.

    - "Happy Birthday"

    - ¡°But today is not my birthday. I don''t even remember the day I was born."

    - ¡°Maybe you don''t remember. But on a day like today, you came to this mansion. So we can use that date to celebrate your birthday. And so for the years that remain¡± ¨C Holding back tears, Aurora felt loved at that moment.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

    Her biological mother had thrown her away, while her adoptive mother fell into a deep sleep without being able to say goodbye to her; so that maiden in front of her was the closest thing to what she could call a mother in that place.

    - "Come on, let me help you" - Opening the small gift box, inside it was a hair ornament that had a pair of crystals that simulated raindrops, adorned by a navy blue ribbon. The meaning of that hair ornament symbolized commitment.

    Each drop was the reflection of Aurora and Eunice, under the commitment to be mother and daughter despite not having blood ties.

    - "Maybe I don''t carry you in my womb, but these years I have learned to carry you inside my heart" ¨C Those words had a deep meaning for Aurora, when she learned the secret hidden in the body of the maiden Eunice.

    In one of young Miss Berenice''s many outbursts, the maidens ended up injured and even more than one lost her life. Among them, poor Eunice had lost her womb because she was thrown down the stairs, piercing her belly with the splinters from the railings that broke when cushioning her fall.

    Unable to become a mother, Eunice poured out that impossible love on the little girl she was protecting within the walls of that hell. Fighting at all times to preserve the soul of whom I consider a daughter that the goddess gave her to mitigate her pain.

    The following days that Aurora used that ribbon, her countenance looked more radiant despite the sea of rigid faces that accumulated in the corridors of the Rivera mansion. When it was time to serve the infamous young lady, Aurora was careful to take off her ribbon and keep it very carefully in her drawer so they wouldn''t see it.

    But misfortune never warns when it has to knock on the door and one fateful afternoon, the young maiden understood once again that the goddess had been merciless with her.

    Leaning over to serve Miss Berenice tea, Aurora used to hold her hair up with her hand so it wouldn''t get in the way of her eyes. But that afternoon she had forgotten to remove the ribbon, instinctively reaching her hand to hold her hair back.

    - ¡°It''s a nice ribbon. Who gave it to you?" - With a shiver that ran down the back of her neck, Aurora looked up meeting the sagacious eyes of Berenice, who maintained a severe face while waiting for an answer from her maid.

    - "I asked you a question, aren''t you going to answer me?" ¨C Already sixteen years old, Miss Berenice''s appearance was that of a lady of nobility. With her long curly hair pulled back into a ponytail, revealing her beautiful face, her ruby red eyes gazed disapprovingly on Aurora''s emerald greens.

    - "Vincent!" ¨C Giving a scream that hit the walls of the mansion, Miss Berenice did not hold back and let her mana flow in a threatening manner. Causing everyone in the mansion to experience dizziness and nausea.

    - "My lady, please, I beg you, contain your anger or the mansion could collapse"

    - "Do you dare to give me orders?"

    -"Never my lady, I only appeal to your noble heart" ¨C Holding back for a moment thanks to the biting tongue of that servant, Berenice got up from her chair and violently grabbed Aurora by the hair. Throwing it at the butler''s feet.

    - "This maiden has committed theft"

    - "My lady, I have never stolen!"

    - "Then answer for the last time. Who gave you that ribbon?" ¨C Knowing that Eunice''s safety was in danger, the young maiden bit her lips, bowing her face without saying a word.

    Exasperated by that situation, Berenice kicked poor Aurora countless times in the stomach, causing her to spit up blood.

    - ¡° Take this trash to the stables and tell the foreman to tie it up with outstretched arms. Whip her a hundred times until her skin splits open."

    - "But my lady, the captain has said that..."

    - "I''m giving you a bloody order!" ¨C Breaking the windows of the room by the explosion of mana, one of the splinters injured one of the butler''s eyes. Who, putting his hand to his face to stop the bleeding, violently grabbed Aurora, leaving the room.

    - "Look what you''ve provoked stupid damn!" ¨C Angered by the pain, the butler dragged the injured maiden, who did not stop feeling how her belly was burning and stinging strongly.

    As ordered by the lady of the Rivera house, Aurora was tied up in the stables and whipped until the pain in her body caused her to completely lose consciousness for four days.

    By the time she was able to open her eyes, she found herself unable to move her body due to injuries, finding herself bedridden in the maids'' room.

    Her vision clouded with pain, the young woman searched in all directions for Eunice''s face without success. Unable to get any response from the other maidens, who remained silent, completely ignoring him.

    As the days passed, Aurora recovered under the care of a doctor who had been called by Captain Eusebio. Who for the first time stood up to his daughter, being so severe that he confined her to his room.

    Now fully recovered, Aurora dressed in her maid''s uniform and prepared to serve once more in the mansion. Being approached on her way out of the maid''s room by the butler Vicente.

    - ¡°Young Miss Berenice is waiting for you in the back garden of the mansion. She has ordered me to escort you to her¡± ¨C With a patch that hid the injury on his face, the butler looked at himself with an expression of satisfaction that he had never shown in all the time he served the Rivera house. That was completely strange to Aurora, who knew perfectly well that the servants inside the mansion should always show their faces without an iota of emotion.

    Walking through the corridors of the first floor, the young woman noticed that the faces of the servants showed emotions for the first time. Some with mocking smiles, others with indifference; certainly that was something that was out of place and made him feel afraid.

    - ¡°Aurora my dear friend. I''m glad you recovered from your injuries. You know, this time that I was in confinement helped me a lot.

    After father explained things to me, I realized that I have been very ungrateful to you. So much so that I wholeheartedly regret the hard time I caused you¡± ¨C Hugging the young maiden tightly, the young lady of the Rivera house seemed a completely different person compared to what the maiden remembered.

    Thinking that this was a hallucination and she was still bedridden, Aurora pinched her arm to make sure it wasn''t a dream. But it was real, Miss Berenice was completely different.

    - ¡°Thanks to the fact that I was locked up all these days, I was able to concentrate on my studies of lineage magic. It was surprising, I never thought my power was so magnificent and I could only discover it thanks to you¡± ¨C Extending her arm in the direction of a terrestrial bird that was nearby, Berenice cast an incantation without reciting a spell. Instantly transforming that defenseless animal into a soulless puppet.

    Like the wooden dolls in shows, that living being changed completely as if its joints were made of wood, moving at angles that he never thought possible.

    - ¡°My lineage art according to my teacher is called master of the puppets. Any living being that is in my mana wave range will become a puppet that I can manipulate at will. It''s amazing! Do not you believe it?" ¨C With eyes wide open in horror, Aurora took a few steps back, being stopped by the butler, who tightened his hands on the teenager''s shoulders.

    - "The young lady has worked hard to give you your first puppet show, I think that the least you can do in the face of such an honor is to accompany you to the end" - With a smile cold as ice, Vicente''s expression did not hide his joy unhealthy on the unfortunate Aurora, who was dragged to a table that was arranged near the pond.

    Seated at the table, the women who served as living dolls were arranged as they had been for Miss Rivera''s macabre tea games years ago. Unlike before when they still hid the expressions on their faces, now the desperation was clearly seen on them as they remained tied to the chairs.

    - "Look Aurora, even a bigger animal is no match for my ability to master puppets" ¨C One by one the women screamed in pain as their bodies turned into pieces of wood. The flesh and blood that gave life to their beings was soon replaced by the cold touch of planks shaped like a doll.

    The souls of those unfortunate women had not left their bodies despite the fact that they no longer had a heart beating in their chests. They had turned in an instant into what for years had served as pantomime games.

    - ¡°You see, they are finally perfect dolls. They will be here for me, always beautiful, never aging to delight me with much play time. Wonderful, it is something simply sublime. But there is still more my dear friend.¡± ¨C Walking slowly up to a woman who kept her face covered by a veil, Berenice gave small jumps of joy while she did not take her eyes off the maiden.

    ¨C ¡°As I told you, I was very hard on you for that annoying ribbon of hair. I realized that my punishment on you was very severe when you were never at fault. That is why, from the bottom of my heart I ask your forgiveness. I also apologize for being such a bad friend and not remembering to celebrate your birthday.

    It was very unfair of me that all these years you saw me happy receiving so many gifts and I never bothered to give you anything. But not anymore, I know it''s a little late but here is my gift for you¡± ¨C Removing the veil from the woman''s face, Aurora cried out desperately begging Miss Berenice for mercy.

    Hands bound and gagged, Eunice tried to free herself from her restraints, tearing the skin on the wrists of her hands.

    - ¡°Please my young lady, have mercy. She hasn''t done anything wrong."

    - ¡°Hasn''t he done anything wrong? You know perfectly well that a slave has no right to own anything. But this woman knowingly defied that law and gave you a ribbon, the same one that you are wearing right now in your hair" - Placing her hand on Eunice''s head, the young Miss Rivera was turning each part of the maiden''s body in those of a wooden doll.

    With tears of sorrow, Eunice''s eyes clearly saw the intention of her heart for the girl she had considered her daughter: "This is not your fault."

    Finishing the transformation, Berenice ordered the servants to take the doll and bind it with chains to throw it into the pond. While walking to where another of the unfortunate women who remained inert at the table was. Ripping off his head, showing it to Aurora, while throwing it at her feet.

    - "I release you" - The head, which until a few moments ago was a simple piece of wood, soon recovered its real shape, as did the body that remained tied to the chair.

    - ¡°This is the potential of my ability. Puppets who do not feel fear, soldiers who can fight on the front lines without stopping. And easily return to its original form if I so desire¡± ¨C That demonic ability was to the liking of Captain Eusebio, who saw the potential that his only daughter had for war.

    Aurora fell exhausted to the ground, crying with bitterness at the fate that Eunice had fallen prey to due to her mistake. In the brief time that he had lived in that world, misfortune had knocked on his door so many times that he felt as if his soul was gradually losing what remained of its humanity.

    - ¡°Remember it stupid. Remember that day until you expire your last breath. You live for me, your duty is to serve me and never covet beyond being a simple dog under my desires" - Keeping her head touching the cold ground, Aurora cried silently while keeping her gaze in the direction of the pond where the doll that contained the Eunice''s soul

    Meanwhile, watching them from the second floor of the mansion, Prince Maximilian remained leaning against the window frame. With a stoic countenance and a frown, he turned around in the direction of the steps where Baron Eusebio was already waiting for him.

    - "All the arrangements are ready, on the last day of the celebration we will proceed as my lord has indicated"

    - "I don''t want you to make the slightest mistake Eusebio"

    - "Of course not my lord. You can fully trust me."

    - "Trust? That''s a big word for a man as ambitious as you. When everything is resolved, rest assured that I will keep my promise¡± ¨C Turning around, leaving Eusebio behind with his face red with anger, the prince left the mansion waiting for the agreed date.

 Chapter VII: Behind a veil of lies

    The kingdom of Antioca was a land that showed great devotion to myths and legends; Paying tribute to the heroism of the men and women who shaped the life of the kingdom, the day of the founding was the most important holiday within the continental calendar.

    In the beginning, when the universe was plunged into chaos, the matter that surrounded the world gradually gained consciousness. Studying and analyzing the fundamental principles of the essence of matter, that consciousness began to manifest a greater intellect as the eons progressed.

    That was how he defined himself as a god with the name of Ignis , taking power over everything that existed and beginning an ambitious desire that he imagined in those eras of stony dreams. To do this, from his consciousness I take four fragments that I mold according to a different personality each one, but essentially unanimous in their desire: The four Pleiades.

    Pathera , Eris, Astaroth and Minerva, celestial beings to whom that entity granted the title of daughters, served as architects to give shape and essence to the surrounding worlds that were molded according to their will. At the end of their work, the Pleiades bestowed the gift of life on each of the lands that they themselves had created, thus originating all the existing races in those vast worlds.

    Over the course of the lunar cycles, the Pleiades were pleased to see their planets evolve peacefully. The creatures existing in them understood the meaning of their lives and the importance of the harmonic balance transmitted by the celestial beings. But one day, all that came to an end.

    Seeing how his daughters had reached that creative pinnacle, the god Ignis experienced for the first time a feeling that he had never experienced in the millennia that he had existed. Jealousy turned into greed and with it, fear took the form of hate.

    Turning his fury on the creations of his seed, the father god infected the hearts of the creatures with those dark thoughts that he had accumulated inside. Races that once treated each other as equals soon took up arms and began hurting each other. Killing and taking what belonged to the other, the living beings lost their way and gave free rein to their basest passions.

    Seeing with horror that curse that their father had brought to the lands they had created, Pathera , Eris and Astaroth , took sides to face him. But Minerva, the last of the sister Pleiades, joined her father and made war against them.

    As the virtues of the heavens are moved and fall from the firmament, so one by one the sisters experienced their annihilation. Only the Pleiade Astaroth remained standing , who inherited the will of her fallen sisters, taking for herself the title of goddess. Fighting with greater impetus against his sister and his father, until the scales turned the tables even.

    Unaware of his daughter''s nature, Ignis fell prey to Minerva''s ambitions, who imprisoned him in a space called the Void. Leaving only the two sisters face to face in that bloody fight.

    Realizing that the power of both was comparable, the goddesses realized that prolonging that fight would bring nothing. So they opted for a solution that would satisfy each other.

    From the worlds created by the deities, four races were chosen to fight on behalf of the goddesses. Hand in hand with Ashtharot , the Lichen and Lupus stood up proudly to dedicate their lives to their creator; while the Aspirtenos and Manekis , took sides with Minerva.

    In the forge of that crucible of war, the blood of both sides spilled over the lands without respite, experiencing the horrors that come hand in hand with battle.

    At the moment when the endless struggle seemed to tip in favor of Minerva, the Aspirtenes conspired and betrayed the will of their mother goddess. Joining Astaroth ''s side , leaving the Manekis in a crushing defeat.

    Humiliated and abandoned by her own creation, the goddess Minerva could not prevail in Astaroth ''s presence ; fleeing from that plane, getting lost in the darkness of the cosmos.

    Fully pleased with their achievements, the goddess rewarded each race according to their merits. Being the Lichen the most favored, giving them the power to reign over the other races.

    Fearing that this decision could cause discontent, Astaroth observed that the seed of sedition was latent among the Lupus and especially with the Aspirtenos . Deciding with this that the defeated race of the Maneki would be perpetual servitude to the other races, as a sign of mercy on their part instead of annihilating them.

    Over the years, the descendants of the three main races gave order and origin to the civilizations of that planet. Arriving to leave the balance of the world in the following way: The territory predominantly dominated by the Lichen , took the name of the kingdom of Antioca . The lands that rested on the desert sands were called the kingdom of Sidelia . Home of the members of the Lupus race.

    Finally, a kingdom that extended between the marshy lands of exuberant vegetation, received the name of Melina: The mother land of the race of the Aspirtenos .

    After years of bloody disputes to establish the territorial limits , those kingdoms rose on the continent of Attila. And with it, a tense peace was proclaimed annually with that celebration. Of which, the three kingdoms each participated in their own way, desire and devotion.

    In the case of Antioca , the kingdom was decorated for a week for reasons of the festivities; where the royal family opened wide the treasury coffers, to show the world that the wealth of the kingdom was the unequivocal sign of its power and prosperity.

    That particular year, the celebration of the founding day had a special significance, as the royal family was about to make an announcement that would bring about important changes in the historical flow of the nation.

    The commercial cities in charge of each duchy, dressed in majestic adornments with the vintage of culinary dishes, crafts and shows, showing the reflection of the prosperity achieved by each one of the ducal lordships.

    But certainly none of them compared to the kingdom''s capital, the city of Velamia , where countless nobles and dignitaries from the other kingdoms congregated for festivities.

    The imposing buildings belonging to the bourgeois families displayed banners and heraldry adorned with fine gold and silver threads. The squares and gardens were arranged with various species of roses and ornamental plants that were brought as presents by the ambassadors of other nations.

    On the other hand, the city block where the mansions of the noble families were located, had military parades and rehearsed skirmishes by the soldiers belonging to the ducal families and baronies.

    Finally, the imposing and majestic palace of the king, where the towers rose dressed in fine ivory quarry rock and scarlet banners that fluttered with the wind that blew from above.

    The garden that served as the entrance to the palace had leafy lilac-leaved trees arranged wide on the sides of the main path. The carriages of the noble families that traveled under the shade of those trees used to say that this spectacle was idyllic in cold times when the leaves were shedding.

    - "Is everything ready Maximiliano?"

    - ¡°Yes father, as you have requested. Every detail was reviewed and is in place by the time of the announcement."

    - "You are an excellent son, I knew I could place my trust in you" - A mitrile crown inlaid with emerald stone and the sign of the miter that simulated the sun, rested on chestnut hair that was already beginning to show its first gray hair typical of age.

    With abundant eyebrows and a pair of red eyes characteristic of the Lichen , that bearded man placed his right hand on the head of the prince who remained submissive on his knees before his presence.

    King Alfonso de Antioca , a solemn man with a candid temperament with his family and fierce with his enemies, knew that this celebration was about to bring a tide that he could hardly handle if he did not have the support of the third prince.

    With the growing position of the ducal houses, the crown was dwindling due to the last territorial conflict that took place just ten years ago, when the young prince Maximilian had barely entered his teens.

    - "I am sorry to have to put such a heavy weight on your shoulders my dear son, but you know very well that you are the only one to whom I could entrust this task without major incidents."

    - "I know father, I know very well" - Clenching his fist against his chest, the young man who had grown up in the fire of the battlefield, felt how those words fell into the wounds of his heart as if he were adding salt to the wound.

    - "Your Majesty, Queen Andrea has requested to see you in private" - A maid with a bowed face opened the door reverently. Behind her, the queen was waiting to enter her majesty''s apartments.

    - "I think it''s time for me to retire father" - Giving a kiss on the back of the king''s hand, the prince made a last bow and went to the door where Her Majesty Queen Andrea was still .

    - "Greetings to the moon of the kingdom, holy mother Andrea"

    - ¡°Third Prince¡± ¨C With a look as cold as ice, the beautiful woman with reddish hair raised her eyebrow with an expression of indifference as she looked over her shoulder at Prince Maximilian.

    The son of a concubine, the young prince was greatly despised by the queen because she blamed him for the death of her blood son, the second prince Adrian.

    Being barely teenagers, the two princes served on the battlefront under the orders of Captain Eusebio. Making his way with the dignity that only members of the royal family could ever demonstrate.

    With a heightened talent for magic, Prince Adrian kept up the rear as support, while Maximilian cut his way with the edge of the sword. The two brothers were very close despite only sharing half of their blood, to such an extent that one terrible summer day in the heat of the inclement sands of the Lupus desert, Maximilian was outnumbered by the soldiers of the enemy army. .If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Contemplating that situation, Adri¨¢n disobeyed Captain Eusebio''s orders and broke the formation of magicians, launching himself with attack magic on the soldiers. Saving his brother, but falling down on the ground by the edge of the enemy spears.

    - "I hope I don''t embarrass the family this day"

    - "Don''t worry, queen mother. With your permission¡± ¨C With the door of the king''s bedroom closing behind him, Maximilian raised his hand to his face, caressing his hair with a sigh of anguish and discomfort.

    - "What ails you, my good sir?" ¨C Looking up, Maximiliano could see the face of Miss Rivera who was accompanied by her personal maid. Experiencing a series of mixed feelings inside.

    On the one hand, the prince felt a deep contempt for the self-centered daughter of the Rivera house, while, on the other, the woman behind her caused him an innocent curiosity when seeing those green eyes that were not common among commoners.

    - ¡° Prince? The prince!" ¨C Coming out of his trance, Maximiliano reacted to the annoying timbre of Berenice''s voice. Who did not hide the expression of annoyance when realizing that once again, the attention of whoever was her fianc¨¦, was directly focused on her servant.

    - "What do you want, Miss Rivera?"

    - "You might as well start calling me by my first name since we are engaged"

    - "I think that is something that could be frowned upon by other nobles, miss."

    - "And looking at your fianc¨¦e''s servant isn''t it?" ¨C Remembering that terrible incident that he observed through the window of the mansion, Maximiliano turned his face away with a hint of guilt. That gesture being recognized by Aurora, who maintained a serious expression despite being intimidated by Miss Berenice.

    - ¡°My father is looking for him in the royal guard barracks. He wants to discuss with you some last details in the preparations¡±

    - "Then I must say goodbye, Berenice" - Giving a kiss to her hand, the prince tried with that gesture to divert the anger of the impulsive young lady. Who blushed and nodded bowing while saying goodbye to her fianc¨¦.

    - "Can you see the big difference between trash like you and a lady like me?"

    - "Yes my lady, thank you for teaching me"

    - ¡°Remember that the life of your dear Eunice is in my hands. Never forget who you serve."

    - "My lady, when?"

    - "When that? Be clear damn useless¡±

    - "Tell me when you will release Eunice from your spell?" ¨C Putting the tip of the fan on her chin, Berenice observed poor Aurora mischievously. At the same time that he brought his lips to her ear whispering that he would only do it until his loyalty was complete.

    Four years had already passed since that incident in the mansion''s pond and during all that time, Aurora couldn''t help but feel guilty about the fate that unfortunate Eunice had fallen prey to. First there was Mar¨ªa, the product of Emilia''s dark ambition; who a few years after having fled from the Albert mansion, was plunged into a deep sleep from which she would not wake up. Later, Eunice who saw her body become that of a wooden doll, with her soul imprisoned while she was submerged in the cold waters of the pond.

    It didn''t matter if it was this life or the previous one, young Aurora was aware that misfortune could only come to those who were involved with her. That was his thought that remained like heavy chains on his contrite heart.

    - "Go get me a drink, I''ll go to the reading room of the palace." ¨C Extending her hand waving her fan, Berenice threw her maid who observed out of the corner of her eye that Baron Eusebio was present in that room.

    The palace servants who passed by the maiden were frantic in their work while preparing the final touches to start the celebration, being unable to attend to the young woman . Who lost his way while searching for the area where the palace sommelier was located.

    Walking lost through the corridors of the first floor, a corpulent presence collided with her as she turned a corner, knocking her to the ground.

    Coiling around her ankles and wrists, a pair of jade-colored snakes violently squeezed around her joints, dragging her body until she was suspended from the corridor wall.

    With hair as silver as moonlight, her slit-pupiled asp eyes had a golden hue like the sun. With a sharp nose and a face on which a scar ran from his neck to his forehead, Demetrio Barbosa, Viscount of the territory of Engracia in the confines of the Melina kingdom, slapped his hand on the wall to one side of Aurora''s face.

    - ¡°It seems that the servants inside the palace have lost their manners and good customs towards the dignitaries of other nations. Don''t you think so Lucretius?"

    - "Indeed my lord, the Lichen seem to have relaxed the discipline with the Maneki garbage ." ¨C With black hair held in a ponytail, that man was Lucrecio Santorino . Advisor and childhood friend of Viscount Demetrius.

    Known for their coolness, the pair of friends carried rumors about his behavior towards commoners. Mainly influenced by the doctrine of the goddess Astaroth , the Aspirtenes were a race that despised the Maneki with all their hearts.

    While in the territories of the kingdom of Antioca and Sidelia a caste system was maintained where the commoners could have limited rights, for the Aspirtenos the only possible goal for the descendants of the Maneki race was to become slaves without exception.

    - ¡° Sniff , sniff . You smell that Lucretius, a delicious aroma comes from the skin of this damn Maneki trash ¡± - Giving the order to their snakes to sneak under the maid''s blouse, the reptiles snaked violently under the cloth until the buttons of the clothes gave way to your movement. Exposing the mark of slavery that was etched on Aurora''s skin.

    - ¡°I knew I had smelled something delicious when we turned around my dear Lucrecio! It''s a delicious field rat. Observe the tenderness of her cheekbones and how the veins on her neck throb so discreetly with fear. Don''t you fancy an aperitif before the celebration begins?" ¨C Disengaging his jaw like a snake would, the noble Aspirteno dangerously placed his mouth on Aurora''s head, while violently squeezing the lady''s delicate neck.

    - ¡° Arrrgh ¡± ¨C Without warning, a dagger flew through the air, stabbing into Demetrius''s shoulder, causing Lucretius to draw his sword to stand between his friend and the man who maintained a stoic position who, before Aurora''s failing eyes, he was like a savior god.

    - ¡°Lower your weapon, Baron Lucrecio. Although this is a day of celebration, I will not overlook a citizen of the kingdom of Antioca harming himself ¡± ¨C Wearing his purple-hued cape edged with Termiso fur (a large feline with snow-white fur ), Prince Maximilian heard the murmurs of the servants who had fled the place when the incident occurred.

    - ¡°This slave offended a member of Melina''s nobility! I was punishing you for this offense when you arrived, Your Excellency¡± ¨C Gasping from the pain of the deep cut made by the dagger, Demetrio was still holding the unfortunate Aurora, who already showed on her face that she would soon die from lack of oxygen.

    - "If a palace slave committed a mistake, only members of the royal family can impose a punishment on them" - Approaching Demetrius, Maximilian squeezed his wrist making him let go of Aurora, who collapsed almost unconscious on the hallway carpet.

    - "If you have said so, then we should take it as a legitimate promise of restitution" - Putting away his saber, Lucrecio made a slight bow and took his friend with him to withdraw from the corridor, leaving them alone.

    Taking Aurora''s body in her arms, covering the nakedness of her chest with part of her cape. Walking through the corridors before the curious glances of the servants, while she was preparing to enter her rooms to lay the maiden on her bed.

    - "Vargas"

    - "Tell me my lord" - Calling his personal assistant, Maximilian ordered him to bring the doctor from the palace to check the maiden''s condition. Under the pretext that she was Miss Berenice''s personal servant.

    Being alone in that room, Maximiliano went to the window that overlooked the main garden and opened it so that fresh air could enter the bedroom. Making the breeze go waking Aurora little by little. Who, upon realizing that she was lying on the prince''s bed with her chest covered by the royal cape, felt embarrassed by bringing her legs into a fetal position.

    - ¡°Do not be afraid, no one has laid a hand on you to harm your dignity. I give my word of honor for it."

    - "What am I doing here?"

    - "A few moments ago you were going to be the snack of an Aspirteno , but I arrived just in time before the unfortunate guy bit your head off."

    - "I thank you, Your Excellency!" ¨C Bowing her head with a blushing face, Aurora showed on her white skin that hint of shame that made the always serious third prince laugh slightly.

    - ¡°The mark on your chest is a slavery spell, right? In the kingdom of Antioca , slavery was abolished several centuries ago, but we reserve such ridicule for those who have committed a crime against the nobility. Only a few nobles and knights belonging to the ministry of justice can apply it, and the fact that you bear that mark means that you were considered a sinner.¡±

    - "My lord, I have not committed any crime!"

    - ¡°I know , I know perfectly well because the mark that you carry on your skin is different from the one that the court magicians apply in their work as inquisitors. What you have is a mark of slavery that has been applied illegally¡± ¨C When Aurora heard from the prince''s lips that he believed in her innocence, the young maiden began to cry, putting her hands to her face to hide her expression.

    For eleven years, the weight of an undeserved punishment had stigmatized her, taking away her quality as a person and reducing her to a mere object. Unable to find sympathy from anyone within the walls of the cold Rivera mansion, save for his putative mother Eunice.

    Slowly approaching to place his hands on the maiden''s shoulders, Prince Maximilian asked her to raise her face and look into his eyes to ask for a special favor, which only she as Berenice''s maid could accomplish.

    - ¡°You who have spent all these years close to that woman, know her blood lineage power. That magic that rests in his hands is a dangerous weapon in the possession of the Rivera family.

    For years, Baron Eusebio has made a fortune illegally in the slave trade in cahoots with nobles from Melina''s country. My people, the people of this nation, have had to endure the abuses of that man for being considered a war hero.

    But his ambition has no limits and despite all the wealth he has amassed at the expense of the subjects of the crown, he dared to conspire with the second prince of the Aspirtenos .

    Today, when the marriage of my half-sister Aurelia to the son of the ducal house of Albert is announced, Eusebio''s men will storm the main square of the capital and try to assassinate the royal family so that I can ascend to the throne." ¨C The prince''s face when he said those words, was shaken with an expression of pain while he lightly pressed his fingertips on the skin of Aurora''s shoulders. Who could feel that feeling of despair transmitted by the young monarch.

    - "Your Majesty. Tell me what should I do for you?" ¨C With a look full of determination on her face, Aurora took the prince by the forearms, running through them until she took his hands.

    The young woman who, until a few moments ago, was crying, had a different face before Maximiliano, who was able to appreciate that the maiden was committed to a common goal with His Highness: Destroy the plans of Baron Eusebio.

    - ¡°My father and I knowing in advance Eusebio''s plans through our spies infiltrated in his mansion, we decided to let him continue with his plan until we gathered enough evidence to unmask him. Right at the moment I give my signal, my men who are mixed with the traitors of the Rivera house, will proceed to attack them and I will take care of Captain Eusebio.

    But her daughter poses a bigger problem with her ability. And that''s where you come in, my dear maiden. I need you to pour this elixir into the glass of wine that your lady has requested" - Taking a small bottle with an intense red liquid from his sack, the prince deposited in one of the servant''s hands that potion that blocked the magic of that to drink from her

    - ¡°With this, Berenice''s blood lineage powers will be rendered useless and she will not be able to use the people around her as puppets. It is imperative that she drink this or our plan will fail and the traitors will succeed."

    - ¡°But if I do this, my mother, Eunice will be in danger! She''s stuck at the bottom of the pond!"

    - ¡°I know, I am not a beast that will do anything to fulfill its purposes. I''ve already dispatched a few of my men to the Rivera mansion to retrieve the maiden''s body. I give you my word that she will be safe¡± - In her past life Aurora had seen many criminals lie pathologically at work, people who to the untrained eye seemed to speak the truth in their statements.

    But in his eyes, Maximiliano was not one of them. Looking at him from the first time in the mansion, she had felt that he was a different person from the nobles she met in her past.

    - "If I have your word, then that is enough for me, my lord" - Getting up from the bed while kneeling in front of the prince, Aurora took Maximiliano''s hand and gave a sincere kiss on his back as a sign of submission.

    The window curtains billowed behind them like a blanket of clouds, while the sun''s rays eclipsed their silhouettes in the middle of that room where the lies that had been veiled were revealed.

 Chapter VIII: Serpents fangs

    Under that brilliant midday sky , bathed in a shower of confetti and rose petals, the carriage where the first princess and her fianc¨¦ were parading was escorted by an imposing guard of knights who led the procession on steeds.

    Equinoxem , were a breed similar to land horses. Being more similar in appearance to the horse that the god Loki gave to the monarch of Asgard. With scarlet manes resembling flames of fire and black fur, with their eight legs those majestic steeds were destined exclusively for the use of the royal family.

    On the occasion of the celebration of the commitment between the Albert house and the crown of Antioca , the king had ordered that no expense or resources be spared to give the celebration the greatest enhancement.

    At the head of the caravan, waving a banner bearing the symbol of a dragon-like animal devouring a sun, Prince Maximilian kept his eyes straight ahead as the people cheered the valorous prince as a war hero and at his right hand, the Baron Eusebio kept his sharp eyes in the direction of the dais where the announcement would take place by the king.

    - "He seems a bit nervous young prince" - With a scathing smile on his face, Eusebio rebuked Maximilian who lightly tightened the reins of his steed.

    - "Are your men in position yet?"

    - "Of course. All you have to do is give the signal and the princess''s head will roll on the ground. Although it is a pity that the king and queen will not live long enough to see the show¡± ¨C Making a gesture with his face in the direction of the stands, Eusebio pointed with his gaze to the seat where his daughter Berenice was already. Who waved his hand with a fake smile hiding his involvement in the betrayal.

    - "Today is a splendid day, don''t you think so my dear Aurora?" Taking the maiden''s hand and digging her nails into it, Berenice seemed very confident in herself that her father''s ambitions would succeed. While Aurora remained silent at her side, enduring that pain while comforting herself with the idea that soon her ordeal would come to an end and she would be able to reunite with Eunice.

    Having placed her trust in Prince Maximilian, the maiden proceeded with the plan and poured the contents of the flask into the wineglass she handed over to her mistress. Contemplating her while she drank carefree drop by drop, that concoction that would take away her powers completely.

    When the procession reached the limits of the dais, the prince dismounted from his steed and escorted the first princess along with her fianc¨¦ to the reserved seats in front of the public that gathered in the main square.

    As the town crowd sang chants of praise for the future royal family and the glory of the kingdom, Maximilian was uneasy to see the king and queen''s seats empty just before the main announcement began.

    - ¡°Brother, why do you feel so uncomfortable? Most likely, mother and father are still busy with the ambassadors of the kingdom of Melina and Sidelia ¡± ¨C With an awkward expression that bordered on innocent, princess Aurelia took the prince''s arm by the edges of his sleeve asking him to keep composure in front of the public. Well, despite the fact that he had always been a man unperturbed by eventualities, Maximilian could not help but unconsciously show his concern in the absence of the king.

    - ¡°Father is not someone who tends to be late in important situations. Something must have happened to him¡± ¨C With that thought drilling his mind, the prince was about to leave the presidium to go in search of the monarch. Right at that moment, the trumpets of the royal guards began to sound announcing the arrival of the royal family. But after that sound, only the presence of the queen went up the steps of the dais, holding a wooden box that she delivered directly into the hands of Princess Aurelia.

    - ¡°This is my wedding present for you, dear daughter. For a long time I was thinking about a perfect gift for you on an occasion like this. I hope you like it¡± ¨C Enthusiastic about that gesture, the princess thanked the queen with a smile; but when he opened the box, the expression on his face changed from glee to horror. Dropping the contents of that box to the floor of the dais before the shocked looks of the assembled people.

    Rolling across the carpet to fall on the stone floor of the square, the heads of a man and a woman with empty eye sockets, lay at the feet of the crowd that began to react between anger and fear.

    Of the children of the royal family, Prince Maximilian was not the only descendant who ran impure blood through his veins. For many years the queen had kept silent about the origin of the first princess, announcing to the people that she had been born from her womb.

    But the baby she had carried for nine months was never able to open her eyes to the world, leaving the Queen heartbroken into a deep depression. However, at the same time that she was waiting for the eldest son of the royal house, a woman of the fallen nobility had had an affair with King Alfonso giving birth to a girl who had the hereditary traits of the royal family.

    With that emptiness that losing her baby had left, the queen reluctantly accepted that betrayal by the king. But in return he had asked that only a direct descendant of his blood take his place as heir to the crown.

    - ¡°Adri¨¢n was my only son, the baby that I carried in my womb and who shared my blood. He was the only one who could be worthy of becoming king. Not some bastard bitch like you."

    - "Mother?" ¨C Even with the bitter regret of Queen Andrea''s words on her heart, the innocent princess looked up looking for her eyes to hear that all that was a lie, but instead of receiving a gesture of affection from who she considered her mother, the Cold from the edge of a dagger pierced his chest through his heart.

    - ¡°Your mother was the trash whose head I cut off along with your impious father. That is my last gift to you before you leave this world¡± ¨C With eyes full of tears as blood flowed from her lips, the princess closed her eyes while her body fell on the wooden floor of the dais.

    - ¡°Queen mother. This is high treason¡± ¨C Raising his right arm to give the signal to his men to attack Eusebio''s guard, Maximiliano felt how his body stopped responding at that moment that he turned his face to a smiling Baron who cut off his right arm .

    - "Both your father and you were imbeciles who never knew their place, my dear prince" - Eusebio gave the signal to his men and the prince''s soldiers fell one by one until the sword of betrayal arrived to decapitate the firstborn from the Albert house. While Maximiliano turned his gaze to Aurora, who couldn''t believe what was happening.

    She was completely sure that she had placed the elixir in Berenice''s cup, making it impossible for the lady of the Rivera house to be able to use her blood lineage ability.

    - ¡°Oh my sweet little Aurora, I have always liked you. You know why? It''s because you''re such a fucking bitch that I find it amusing the way you have those hopeful eyes.

    Did you think that I would drink something you gave me without being prepared for it? By the time you gave me that wine, a certain handsome silver-haired man had given me an antidote to counteract any restraining curse¡± ¨C Climbing up the steps of the dais, Viscount Demetrius walked to stand behind Aurora, who experienced again the coldness of that claw on his neck.

    With the fire of the insurrection burning red hot, the queen announced to the people that the kingdom of Antioca was about to become a vassal state of the kingdom of Melina. Thus creating the first hegemonic empire of the continent, under the banner of the religion of the goddess Astaroth .

    The commoners who were still congregated in the square were surrounded by sorcerers sent by the second prince of Melina, Romulos. Melina''s Astaroth . Falling one by one under the brand of slavery that turned them into mere objects at the mercy of the tradition of the corrupt Aspirteno kingdom .

    " Nooo . Why queen mother? ¨C Resisting the effects of Berenice''s magic, Prince Maximilian turned his face towards Queen Andrea. Who walked up to him to slap his face with an expression full of fury.

    - ¡°A mere bastard like you should never call me mother! For all these years I had to suffer in silence the humiliation of raising you and your sister, but only because my son Adrian was in the direct line of succession.

    But your bloody father could not respect the memory of my beloved son; As soon as he died protecting an impure trash like you, I bend his will with those unfortunate Alberts.

    Distant relatives of the crown? Just because of that shit I don''t even mourn a year for our son!

    If the kingdom would fall into someone''s hands, better than mine¡± ¨C Having secretly met with Prince Romulos , Queen Andrea accepted the young prince''s offer to take him as queen consort. Both Eusebio and the queen had the Albert house in their eyes and with this, the conspiracy was forged in such a way that that day the fire of gunpowder and blood perfumed the air of the territory of Antioca .Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    - "Miss Berenice, can I break the neck of this annoying field rat?" ¨C Pressing his fingers a little on Aurora''s neck, Demetrio could not restrain his thirst for blood at the fresh memory of the shame of being threatened by Prince Maximilian.

    - "No honey, not yet. I need to give my farewell gift to my dear childhood friend¡± ¨C Snapping their fingers to the servants who remained under the stage, they brought a rustic coffin from which muddy water was seen dripping from the cracks in the wood.

    - ¡°You know Aurora, I am going to tell you a secret. Something that has been bothering me since the first day I met you. I was always jealous of you.

    I was jealous that no matter how many horrors I made you experience, you kept that damn light of hope in your eyes. I felt curious as to where that determination came from, that strength to resist adversity so steadfastly.

    And I spied on you, I spied on you for a long time and I realized that relationship you had with that maiden. Oh what was it called? Oh yes, Eunice.

    That pathetic maiden hungry to be a mother. The stupid one tried to be a mother figure to me long before I took you in.

    Did she think that if she loved me I would grow up without hate or malice? Poor fool¡± ¨C Laughing as she remembered that story, Berenice stuck those memories like thorns in Aurora''s heart, until she saw that tears did not stop flowing from her eyes.

    - "Please. Tell me no¡­"

    - ¡°What tell you what? Oh, haven''t you figured it out yet, you stupid bitch? I never had the intention of releasing your dear Eunice from her prison... oh well, not in the way you would expect" - As the coffin lid opened, Aurora''s eyes widened in horror as she contemplated the skeleton of a woman resting on the bed of the coffin. coffin.

    Trying to deny with his heart what his mind was pronouncing rampant for throwing in his face, he saw that clothing on the bones of the corpse. Screaming in despair upon seeing a glow that rested on the battered hair that still remained on the skin that remained on the skull of that woman.

    The only birthday present he had received in his life, that blue ribbon that provoked the wrath of the infamous Berenice. It was the unequivocal proof that the body of that woman was that of his beloved Eunice.

    Crying inconsolably, clinging to the skull of someone who at some point hugged her during the long nights in the Rivera mansion, Aurora began to lose herself in a spiral of madness before the afflicted gaze of Prince Maximiliano.

    - ¡°Miss Berenice. I would like to rip off the head of this damn commoner, please give me permission¡± ¨C Eager to open his jaws and eat her head in one bite, Demetrio approached the unfortunate Aurora. Who, absorbed in the midst of her pain, could not feel the saliva spilled by the fangs of the Viscount of Engracia.

    - "Go ahead, do it" - With her hand resting on her cheek and directing the tip of her fan as she laughed, Berenice felt a blunt blow that injured her forehead. Among the few commoners who had not yet fallen into the hands of the magicians, a little girl was throwing stones at the young lady of the Rivera house.

    Provoking his anger, breaking his concentration on the incomplete spell of Prince Maximilian''s body.

    Without touching her heart, Berenice channeled all her magic over the minor''s small body, turning her into a doll that destroyed all the joints, throwing the parts into the air. It was in that brief moment that the third prince regained control of his body and feeling the blood flow where his arm had been severed, he pulled a dagger from his belt and pierced Baron Eusebio''s neck.

    Shocked to see her dying father, Miss Rivera channeled her magic over her father''s body to turn him into a doll. Completely ignoring the prince who pounced on Aurora, casting a displacement spell making their bodies disappear into thin air.

    - ¡°Whoa, whoa. I told you your mind would break sooner or later creature. And here we are, once again seeing each other''s faces as if this were already so natural" - Standing in front of Aurora in an astral plane full of darkness, the goddess Astaroth gloated over the misfortune of that woman who had lost everything from the moment when he crossed his path.

    Broken in spirit, arms drooping, head bowed, Aurora had dropped her arms without resistance as if she were an empty shell.

    - ¡°It doesn''t matter what world you are in, it doesn''t matter where you go or how much you run away. You carry hell inside and you will never be able to tear it out of your pathetic being.

    - "Run away? Of you? Is that even possible for me?" ¨C Stabbing those words like a baby that can''t defend itself, Aurora''s soul had fallen into boredom to the point that she wanted eternal death.

    Smiling at her with an unhealthy mockery, Astaroth took her by the hair and dragged her to a mirror where the immensity of the cosmos was reflected. With his right hand he lifted her chin and with his left hand, he raised her eyelids while digging his claws into them. Crushing her face against the glass while her pupils saw a nebula forming in front of her.

    In that old reflection of countless eons in the past, a tired silhouette that let its light go out, rushed to a planet of beautiful turquoise blue. That familiar scenario brought Detective Aurora out of her trance, who recognized each element that began to appear to her eyes.

    - ¡°When you fell defeated by my hand, you took our father and fled from my presence like a beast that hides its tail between its legs. You were so pathetic, so useless, that it was a delight to see you so despicable when before I was haughty.

    I thought you just ran away to find a place to die, but like a pesky insect, you resisted and as a last resort split your essence in two.

    Do you know how much it cost me to find you for so many millennia? Jumping from body to body until for a moment I thought about giving up my search, but perseverance is a virtue of the gods.

    And I found you there, with your power sealed in the bodies of a pair of twins. My beloved sister Minerva¡± ¨C With that revelation hitting her in the face, Aurora felt how Astaroth threw her to the ground while materializing a glowing black energy sword.

    - ¡°Did you want to die? Did you get tired of your futile fight? Let me be a good sister and allow me to end your suffering once and for all, like the merciful goddess that I am" ¨C At the moment that the edge was about to deal its fateful blow on Aurora''s naked neck, a small hand appeared on her I walk stopping him suddenly.

    - "What the hell?" ¨C Being taken by surprise, Astaroth saw that the original essence of Silvia''s body became aware of its own. When the eyes of Aurora and the little girl who was taken away at the age of five met, a weak voice came from her lips revealing its origin.

    - ¡°We don''t have much time, our sister. As our time has already passed, we can only remain for a brief moment on this plane. The myth of the creation of this world is a lie, seek the truth and defeat Astaroth . Minerva, no. Aurora, we trust you¡± ¨C The small arm of Silvia''s astral entity began to break until her entire body was turned into pieces by the energy of Astaroth ''s sword .

    Who felt how the resulting burst of that clash of forces threw her against the astral mirror, to be absorbed by it.

    - I have not been defeated! My pathetic sisters will never be able to defeat me. I will give you a brief time of grace Minerva, just a sigh in the immense ocean of eternity. In the past or in the future, my victory is assured¡± ¨C With those last words, the astral mirror dissolved in the immense darkness of the plane. Causing Aurora little by little to recover consciousness.

    Feeling immense pain from the space-time displacement spell, Aurora struggled to sit up, feeling an enormous weight imprisoning her against a rough and dusty surface.

    When his eyes had fully recovered, he looked around and saw the night sky bathing the barren desert land in moonlight. No matter where he turned his face, horizons of sand and sparse vegetation were all that his eyes contemplated.

    - "This is the desert of Goba , just a few days'' journey from the capital of the kingdom of Sidelia " - With a broken voice, a man tried to lean on a rock dragging his body with great pain.

    - "The prince?"

    - ¡°Yes, or what''s left of me. I am very sorry for not having kept my promise, please forgive me¡± ¨C With that white jacket covered in crimson red, the face of the fallen prince was pale and drenched in sweat.

    The moment Aurora saw him clearly, she flung herself up to him to try and keep him awake. She knew that a patient with hypovolemic shock had to maintain consciousness or he would go into a coma, hastily removing his jacket and proceeding to tear off part of his skirt to apply a tourniquet to stop him from losing any more blood.

    - "Woman... I"

    - "Don''t talk, you need to maintain your energy until we reach a place with civilization" - Feeling the cold on Prince Maximilian''s skin, Aurora feared that his organs would begin to fail due to the lack of circulation in the smaller blood vessels. If that happened, cell death from hypoxemia would bring about multi-organ failure.

    It was at that moment that he remembered the uniqueness of the Lichen race , who could partially recover by drinking the blood of another living being.

    - ¡°Prince, please. Take my blood, I need you to stay alive" ¨C Tearing the neck of her dress leaving the skin of her shoulders partially bare, the young maiden brought her body closer to the prince''s lips, who tried to push her away with the little strength he had left.

    - "Have you lost your sanity? If a Lichen drinks the blood of a Maneki , it will die after three days from the poison we have in our fangs."

    - ¡°Please prince, I can''t tell you now, but you must trust me. I will not die¡± ¨C Approaching him once more, Aurora placed her neck on the prince''s lips, who, feeling the throbbing of the veins of that soft neck, nailed his fangs delicately. At the same time, with his only arm, he hugged Aurora around the waist. Who little by little felt how the blood circulated faster from his heart to the wound on his neck.

    - ¡°Prince please, no more. Prince, I beg you. Stop!" ¨C Realizing that his primitive instincts had taken over him for an instant, the prince quickly withdrew his jaws from Aurora''s neck. Who was panting heavily as she covered the wound on her neck with a piece of cloth.

    - "Are you OK?"

    - ¡°No , damn idiot! No one would feel good if you suddenly sucked it down like a fucking energy shake."

    - ¡°Energy shake? What''s that?" ¨C Falling into a deep sleep that was not life threatening, the prince collapsed on the sand while Aurora checked his temperature and heart rate. After waiting a few minutes, he tied his feet by his waist and began to drag him unconscious through that vast desert.

    With extreme weather both day and night, the Goba Desert was an inhospitable region that merchants used to transit in caravans for seasons. With scorching heat during the day and bitter cold at nightfall, this setting was a crossroads for any traveler who ventured to travel alone through its cruel sands.

    With her body trembling from the cold, Aurora felt that her teeth were chattering while the wound on her neck did not stop throbbing. Just as the prince had told him, the Maneki were a race that was weak to Lichen poison . But for her that ordeal was not the first time she had experienced such pain.

    When Eusebio attacked her inside the cell the first time they met, that man bit her with the intention of killing him slowly and painfully, believing her to be a Maneki . But because only his appearance had changed, the latent blood of the Lichen in his body allowed him to survive the poison. Spending five days in severe pain and fever while in Eunice''s care. Who was shocked to see her survive after he noticed the bite marks on her neck.

    - ¡° Arghhh , fucking prince. If you weren''t so handsome, I would throw you to the side of the road and continue walking by myself¡± ¨C Turning her face to see the condition in which Maximiliano was, Aurora saw that face with its calm expression and gave a deep sigh.

    - ¡°You are not to blame for the shitty life I''ve had. You''re like me, just an unfortunate mudblood who has no place to return to¡± ¨C Outlining a smile with a hint of spite, Aurora continued walking through the sands of Goba while the night wind shook the dust storms on the horizon.

 Chapter IX: The nation on the sands

    ¡°Si vis pacem , para bellum ¡± ¨C If you want peace, prepare for war. Regardless of the world, that ancient principle of the hunger for power dictates the flow of the history of cultures and nations.

    Within hours of usurping the crown of the kingdom of Antioca , Prince Romulus crowned himself the new ruler of the proud nation. Signing the agreement with the king of Melina, the kingdom that remained dominant, became a vassal state under the orders of the Aspirtena nation .

    With the help of the troops loyal to Captain Eusebio, as if they were thieves under cover of night, the soldiers raised their swords and at the edge of cruel infamy, killed the nobles who still remained faithful to the faction of Prince Maximilian .

    Man or woman, child or old man, no one escaped from the troops that broke into the mansions of the capital and the fields on the outskirts. The cries of the servants and maidens begging for mercy were silenced by the sharp point of the swords that plunged into their necks.

    Like jackals unleashed in front of their prey, the soldiers gave free rein to their baser passions abusing the ladies of the nobility. Those who preferred to commit suicide when they saw that at their gates the herd of savages gasped to devour their virtues.

    Between duchies, marquises and counties, the heads of the nobles were raised on stakes, exhibited during the days that followed in the city square. As a sign of victory, as well as a threat to those who would hide their fangs against the new government.

    - "My lord, pardon, great sovereign Romulos I. Queen Andrea requests an audience with your most illustrious" - With a trembling voice while maintaining a bow with her hands in front, the main maiden of the palace introduced herself with the new monarch.

    Intoxicated by the power he had achieved, Romulos from the first moment of his reign declared that no other man could serve within the castle walls. Only maidens left, among daughters of low-ranking nobles and commoners, whom he enjoyed torturing to satisfy his morbidity.

    - ¡°You have beautiful skin and your face is beautiful. It would be a pity if the passage of time withered all your splendor¡± ¨C Grabbing him gently by a lock of hair, the king was about to sink his fangs into the maiden when the queen burst into the office not hearing what was announced to her.

    - ¡°This would be the fifth maiden that he turned into a statue. If it continues at this rate it will be difficult to keep enough employees to take care of the palace¡±

    - ¡° Tch . My queen is a killjoy¡± ¨C Pushing the maiden, the young woman left the room as quickly as she could, closing the door behind her.

    - "My beloved queen, to what do I owe the honor of your visit?"

    - ¡°Save the unnecessary verbiage Romulos . The reason for my visit will always be the same until you give me a clear answer¡±

    - ¡°Oh, that hurts my feelings my beloved queen! The fact that you come every time thinking of another man when you come to see me makes me feel jealous¡± ¨C Pulling her arm to slam her body against the desk, Romulos threw all the objects on it while standing over the queen, bringing her face closer.

    Starting with his right ear, he took small bites in the lobe while going down the skin of his neck to where his throbbing vein was located, revealing how his heartbeat accelerated as he felt the heat of his breath bathing his skin.

    - We need your spies to find Maximiliano. We cannot leave a single loose end¡± ¨C Raising her back, remaining on her knees with the queen in the middle of them, Romulo tilted her head back, placing the palm of her right hand on her face. Exhaling with disgust when I hear the name of the fallen prince.

    - ¡°It''s seriously woman! Just when we''re about to produce an heir, you have to get that bastard''s name out. Five months! It''s been five fucking months! If that rat were alive, it would have left a trail no matter where it was. Eusebio cut off his arm and his daughter injured him with her power enough to make him disabled."

    - "So where is the corpse?" ¨C Hitting the palms of his hands on the desk at the height of the queen''s face, Romulo had bloodshot eyes while letting the skin scales on his face be seen with the naked eye with the light of the room .

    - ¡°If you want a corpse, my queen. I can at this very moment pierce that arrogant chest of yours with my claws and take out your heart.

    - ¡°Without a son of royal Lichen blood , your dream of keeping the crown will be more ephemeral than the breath of air in my lungs when you kill me. Remember your father put that clause in the vassalage pact. I wonder if he would have done the same if it was the first prince?¡±

    - Get out!¡± ¨C Throwing her from the desk to the office floor, Romulos kept hitting the desk until his hands bled. Being a temperamental young man who had lived in his brother''s shadow, the former prince always sought his father''s approval, failing every time.

    Adjusting her dress to cover the scratches, Adriana left the room as two maids entered to clean the place. Listening to the cries for help from the young women, which faded away as the queen walked away.

    Meanwhile, under the scorching midday sun in the inclement Goba desert , an ocher tent flapped its fabric in the wind.

    - " Mederi , tell me what my son has, please?" ¨C A woman with brown skin, black hair and abundant hair on her forearms, was holding a little boy who had an expression of discomfort on his face.

    - "You don''t have to worry. Your son only has indigestion from eating too many dates on the sly¡± ¨C With brown hair collected in a ponytail, his eyes were hidden by round glasses while a yellow scarf covered him like a chinstrap.

    After surviving the punishment of the desert for four moons, Aurora had arrived with the prince in the southern city of Tiblis , within the sovereign territory of the kingdom of Sidelia . The nation that stood on the desert sands.

    Without a penny to her name or possessions to sell, the young maiden began working in bars as a waitress while babysitting the prince at night to aid his recovery. By chance, after witnessing a fight inside the bar where he worked, he made use of his medical knowledge from his past life to attend to a man injured by a knife.

    Since the town of Tiblis was located on the edge of the Goba desert , the inhabitants of that urban settlement had to wait for days for the arrival of a healer, whom they used to refer to as mederi .

    - ¡°Have him take this mandrake serum before each meal and within a week he should feel better. So bring it with me for a review in seven days¡± ¨C Inclining her head in thanks, the woman took her son and left the tent while another patient entered the office.

    Forming endless lines almost every day, Aurora watched the sunrises and sunsets pass behind the canvas of the tent. Remembering for brief moments the times when he used to provide his social service in his family''s hospital.

    When night came and with the weight of work on his shoulders, he would get up from his chair, giving himself light blows to massage his tired back. Removing his glasses to clean the sand from his eyelids. Closing his tent to go immediately to a small room that he rented in the most crowded part of the border city.

    Holding her bag tight against her chest, the young doctor kept her senses alert to a possible assault. Because his practice was located within the slums, it was common for incidents to occur due to the lack of surveillance by the city guards, who used to collect bribes from criminals for turning a blind eye.

    When she got home, Aurora would remove her mask by hanging it on the side of the door, heading to the clay stove to start cooking dinner.

    - ¡°Forgive me for not receiving you. Lately it''s more difficult for me to move my right leg¡± ¨C Leaning his body against the door frame of one of the rooms, Maximiliano pushed himself with a crutch, balancing himself until he reached Aurora.

    Despite having drunk the young woman''s blood, the prince''s body did not respond adequately to the regenerative stimulus of his species. By forcibly freeing himself from Berenice''s bloodline ability, Maximilian had damaged his mana channels to the point that his blood vessels and nerves atrophied leaving him in poor condition.

    - It smells good what you''re cooking. What is?"

    - ¡°Jingo root broth with some camulus meat that the landlady gave me. It seems that your husband had a good hunt in the desert and he has a lot of meat left over¡± ¨C Shaking the ladle inside the pot, Aurora kept her eyes away from Maximiliano''s body. That proud and imposing prince that she met just a few months ago had become a crippled man.

    Sensing in her conscience that the deplorable state her savior was in was a consequence of the bad star that had accompanied her since Astaroth laid his claws on her, Aurora did not know how to address him without hurting his pride.

    - "I disgust you right? If you didn''t have to carry a nuisance like me, you could rebuild your life and have a better place than this. With a man who could really protect you¡± ¨C Hearing those words, Aurora hit the ladle on the pot and raised her hands to her head helplessly.

    - ¡°Take the soup while it is hot. I''m going to bed, I had a difficult day at the office and I feel a little sick" - Trying to hold back the tears between sobs for not knowing how to respond to the man who was sitting wallowing in his own pity, the young woman retired to her room getting into bed while muffled crying against the pillow.

    Under that same night sky that was illuminated by moonlight, distant among the ocean of sand, the capital city of the kingdom of Sidelia was shaken by the news that came from the kingdom of Antioca .

    Kalifuto royal palace , a majestic building in white splendor decorated with the pearls of desert scorpions, was the venue for an emergency conference between ministers and members of the royal family.

    - ¡°This is unheard of! Raising toll fees three times will leave us with no profit. Those bastards want to bleed us¡± ¨C Slamming his fist against the table, the treasury minister, Rubelus , grumbled as he threw down the edict documents with the seal of the royal family of Antioca .

    - ¡°Not only that, they even want our nation to give up twenty percent more of the water from the Tigra and Euphic rivers . They know that we are about to enter the dry season, if we do that our crops will begin to wither and the population will starve¡± ¨C Holding his beard with a frown in his eyes of concern, the minister of agriculture and trade, Artorius , He was shaking his head, looking down.

    - "With all due respect my lord. But even a child could realize that what those damn Aspirtenes are trying to do is take us to a siege scene. Those ambitious snakes are not satisfied with having taken Antioca but also want to take over our kingdom¡± ¨C With his fingers crossed holding his penetrating gaze directly into the eyes of the king, the defense minister, Vinicio, challenged the monarch who still He remained silent before the claims of his men.

    Rising from the dialogue table, the king walked up to one of the windows, casting his gaze at the vast expanse of the city''s territory. Where the lights of the businesses and the bustle of the town could be heard unperturbed, unaware of the danger that was being discussed on the walls of the room.

    With a face in Greco-Roman profile, a straight nose, and sharp eyes, King Ambrose had ascended the throne at the age of fifteen. After the death of the previous king due to a mysterious plague that plagued the nation, the young heir took the reins of a nation in turbulence, guiding it to a successful conclusion, after years of fighting to consolidate his position.

    Already with four decades on his back, the monarch of the sands knew perfectly well that those movements by the kingdom of Antioca were a sign of imminent invasion. So he did not miss the remarks of his ministers.

    - ¡°We are certainly at a crossroads. To the East, the Aspirtenes in their swamps have a plentiful supply of water and will use it to blackmail us in dry season for every penny.

    And to the west, the Lichen being their puppets will cut off our supplies of grain and other food if we don''t recognize the new toll agreement for the royal roads.

    Minister Artorius , give the order to the people in your charge to increase the purchase of grains to fill the storehouses. As for you, Rubelus and Vinicio, determine an estimated budget for the next meeting in a month, I want to know how many soldiers we have and how much it will cost us to arm the training reserves.

    Those damned Aspirtenes knocked on the door looking for a war, so I hope their pathetic reptilian skins can withstand the intense heat of our nation''s arena. Officially, the kingdom of Sidelia has entered a state of emergency¡± ¨C Turning around to leave the conference room, the king was dismissed by his loyal subjects with a military salute, clenching his hands against his chest.

    Walking through the corridor that communicates with the inner courtyards of the palace, the king leaned against a railing, sighing with his head down after giving that order. Knowing that the alliance outnumbered them three to one, Ambrosio looked at the scars on his hands, longing for those days when his youthful body burned with the vigor of battle.

    On the other side of the continent, where the swamps and swamps were bathed in a splendid purple hue by the exuberant vegetation, in the streets of the kingdom of Melina its inhabitants were celebrating the overwhelming victory over the kingdom of Antioca .

    Shipments of slaves arriving from the remote regions of vassal territory were brought to auction houses where nobles bid obscene amounts for the youngest and most beautiful maneki .

    If they were lucky, some would be bought as escorts by ladies and gentlemen of the high nobility, to serve as lewd entertainment during the warm nights of the bustling capital city.

    Those less fortunate who found themselves robust and resilient would be sent to private coliseums to serve as entertainment fighting beasts or each other.

    - ¡°Sold for ten thousand gold coins! Let''s give a round of applause to your highness for such a wonderful acquisition¡± ¨C Dressed in a dark-colored suit, adorning his face with a mask that covered half his face. Prince Remius , direct heir to the crown of the kingdom of Melina, got up from his place to go to a room where the auction house employees were waiting for him to receive the money.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    - "It seems that my lord has been very enthusiastic tonight. He hardly left a single slave for the other guests to buy."

    - "There is a problem with that?"

    - ¡°No, my lord! How dare I insinuate such a thing¡± ¨C Wiping the sweat from his forehead with a cloth, the auction house employee swallowed while Prince Remius'' penetrating gaze seemed to want to devour him.

    - ¡°Your shipment is ready, prince¡± ¨C Composed of children with their mothers, the commoners stood trembling under the sharp gazes of the establishment''s employees. With lash marks on their skin, these creatures showed slight signs of malnutrition on their ribs.

    Slave sellers within Melina''s kingdom were cruel to the maneki they thought would make little profit, reducing their food rations. Many came to die even before the auctions were held.

    - "Gideon, escort these things to the wagon" - Bowing to one knee on the ground, the prince''s escort heeded his master''s wishes and placed magic-infused chains on the slaves'' wrists. Just as he was about to finish his work, a little boy ran up to the prince and began to hit his leg.

    - "Damn garbage, how dare you hit his royalty!" ¨C The speaker of the auction house raised his might in anger over the creature, being stopped by the prince who raised his hand in warning.

    - ¡°Are you going to put your hands on a product that already belongs to me? Dare you rob the crown?¡±

    - ¡°Not my lord! I never thought of such blasphemy, but any citizen would be furious to see a dirty maneki who doesn''t know his place."

    - ¡°Only for this occasion, for the time that we have been doing business, I will overlook this offense. But if it happens again, rest assured that I will not settle for a simple apology." ¨C Taking off the mask that covered half of his face, the prince showed that face disfigured by the wounds of the battles of a decade ago.

    The scars that rested on his white skin had a throbbing scarlet appearance that gave the impression of being the result of a fire magic attack.

    Falling to his knees with his forehead on the ground, the speaker begged His Excellency to forgive his audacity while the memory of those soulless eyes stuck in his mind.

    Taking the boy by the rags, the prince left the auction house, carrying him like a bundle to his carriage, tossing him onto the cushions as he closed the doors and gave the order for the coachman to set off.

    - "Gideon, you know where we''re going."

    - "Yes, my prince" - Standing with his horse at the head of the caravan, the faithful escort dictated the way for the coachmen to get lost in the thickness of the wooded part of the swamp. Inside Prince Remius ''s carriage , an awkward silence was kept between the little maneki and the worthy son of the royal house.

    - "What''s your name?"

    - " Excuse me?"

    - ¡°I don''t like to repeat what I say. Tell me your name"

    - "My name is Nicolas, sir" - Clenching his fists on his thighs, the little boy who until recently acted bravely in the auction house, inside that carriage felt a presence so intense that it suffocated him at times.

    Pulling out a pocket watch from his jacket, the prince leered at the innocent boy while clicking his tongue against the palate simulating the rhythm of the hands of the clock. Making that creature let out a light laugh, to cover his mouth with his hands at the moment that Remius turned to see him once more.

    - ¡°Nicolas, you are a very brave boy. Among all the other children you were the only one who dared to hit me while the others clung to their mothers. Why?"

    - "You killed my father!" ¨C The cry of that child burst from his chest without inhibitions, before realizing that he had raised his voice to the first prince. The mere offense of hitting a member of the royal family meant death and that man had forgiven him, but now, when he raised his voice at him, the little boy felt that his fate was sealed.

    - "Sir, we have arrived" - Opening the door of the carriage, Gideon extended his arm so that the prince leaned down on the uneven ground. Taking the child once more, taking him in front of him as he walked to a cave that seemed to glow inside.

    As they advanced further into the cave, the light grew more intense as the air inside grew warmer with each step they took.

    Feeling how his eyes adapted to that environment, the boy began to kick, screaming for them to let him go. In front of them, an immense column of blue fire completely covered the path to the other side of that cavern.

    - ¡°You are a very brave boy, Nicolas. This is your prize¡± - Advancing with the child ahead of him, Remius kept walking, turning a deaf ear to the child''s pleas as they entered that immense sea of flames.

    - "Open your eyes" - Doing as ordered by the prince, the boy opened his eyelids and an incandescent light blinded him. As his sight recovered, when he looked around, he realized that they had entered a kind of room where other children like him were playing and taking lessons.

    - "Is this the afterlife?"

    - "I''m sorry Nicolas, I don''t believe in the afterlife." ¨C Putting it on the ground, Remius smiled at the boy as he asked his escort to pass him a cloth to clean his hands.

    Despite belonging to the Aspirteno race , the first prince had a deep respect for the life of the maneki unlike his brother.

    The first queen Isaiah Astarothe of Melina, mother of Remius , carried maneki blood in her veins . The daughter of a fallen nobleman, Queen Isaiah was the king''s first love, whom he met in his time within the magic academy of the kingdom of Melina.

    From that student relationship, a deep love grew, breaking down social and blood barriers, until the king himself faced his father in a duel to obtain the right to choose him as his wife.

    Ordering on pain of death that the queen''s lineage be kept secret, the king kept his wife surrounded by all the protection her position allowed her. But no matter how he persevered in protecting his love, the king had to see his beloved wife go the moment she gave birth to the first prince .

    Knowing no mother''s love, Remius lived under the ridicule of his stepmother. Who did not miss the opportunity to harass him when he saw that his own son lost the favor of the king before the child he considered impure.

    - "Nick!"

    - "Mother? Mother!" ¨C Among the crowd that was in that room, a woman ran to meet little Nicolas, who clung to her crying to see that at least his mother was still alive.

    - "My lord, thank you for bringing my son back"

    - "Don''t lean over woman, it''s only fair that a son is next to his mother" ¨C With a warm smile on his face, Remius turned around giving the order to Gideon to take care of everything necessary for the newcomers. Leaving once again through that mysterious fire.

    - ¡°My lord, it is becoming more and more dangerous to do this. I think we should stop, he has already helped these people enough" - Outside the cave, Astrid, maid under the charge of the first prince, maintained a reverent posture to her lord while expressing her concern about the rumors that were heard in the ballrooms of the nobles of the kingdom.

    The daughter of a distant relative on her mother''s side, the half-breed maiden was aware that the people within that cave shared a lineage similar to hers and her highness. But concern for the prince''s safety led her to act recklessly even if it earned her lord''s anger.

    - ¡°My dear cousin, it is true that a sovereign must pay attention to his subjects in order to govern them properly. But if I listen to those pompous fools from my brother''s faction, the only thing I will get is more wrinkles on my face" - Lowering her face before the prince''s smile, Astrid blushed for that man for whom her heart overflowed with feeling beyond admiration.

    - ¡°As long as the slave trade continues, I will do everything in my power to free these poor souls from the clutches of death. So that one day, when I sit on the throne, this accursed system of subjugation will come to an end" - Helping the maiden into the carriage, the prince kissed the back of her hand as he pushed hard to enter the carriage. cabin, banging on the roof as a signal to the driver that it was time to leave.

    From that brilliant moon that gave way to the sun, the seasons changed until two years had elapsed since the emergence of the vassal state of Antioca .

    In the territory of Melina, the situation occurred as the ministers and the monarch predicted, but thanks to their decisions, the population was able to face the first phase of the plan that sought to destabilize the town.

    With a rationing of supplies, the population, although not facing famine, experienced an increase in the prices of products. Sharpening more and more between the retired territories of the kingdom.

    In the city of Tiblis , grain supplies began to dwindle and the beasts that lived on the banks of the rivers began to migrate, making it more difficult for hunters to obtain them.

    At the age of eighteen, Aurora was still working in the tent she used as a clinic. While, for his part, Maximiliano found a job as a fencing teacher with the children of the town. Faced with the growing threat of invasion due to the imminent signs of war on the horizon, the settlers wanted the little ones to defend themselves against possible attacks by the enemy army.

    - ¡° Jasim , keep your back straight and your feet firmly on the ground. Acasius , raise the rapier more and push your body forward to print strength in the counterattack¡± ¨C Looking at him out of the corner of her eye through the window of the tent, Aurora contemplated that man who had struggled to get out of his depression. Feeling proud to see that face once again as alive and radiant as the first time she met him.

    - ¡° Mederi Aurora! My arm¡± ¨C Coming out of her trance by the voice of an old woman, the young doctor realized that she had squeezed the blood pressure meter cuff very hard. With the passing of those two years, having the knowledge of her past life, Aurora had reproduced in a rudimentary way some clinical instruments to facilitate her work.

    - "I''m very sorry, Mrs. Amelec "

    - "Do not worry child. Certainly your husband is a very captivating man.¡±

    - "Husband? Who?"

    - "Like who? The handsome young man who is teaching the boys to fight."

    - "Mrs. Amelec , Maximiliano and I are just friends" - With a flushed face that was visible despite her mask, Aurora felt the complicit gaze of Mrs. Amelec who did not stop smiling when she saw that the girl''s heart was more sincere than his lips.

    When the sun was about to fall on the horizon and the clinic was about to close, Aurora kept the instruments in a box while looking out the window once more. Bathed in sweat with his shirt sticking to his body, Maximiliano showed that body pickled by years of confrontation in combat.

    Feeling a small leap in her heart, Aurora dropped the box in surprise causing the man to run dragging his leg to enter the tent.

    - "Dawn! Are you OK?" ¨C Being closer, Maximiliano''s body looked clearer through the wet cloth. His ripped, well-defined muscles, with that worried expression on his face, caused Aurora to start stuttering, biting her tongue. Causing the laughter of that gentleman.

    - ¡°What makes you laugh?¡±

    - ¡°Don''t be angry, it''s been a while since I saw you so charming. You are cute when you blush, like that time in my room in the palace when¡­¡±

    - "Get out of here now!" ¨C Throwing a towel over his face, Aurora hid her face with her hands to prevent Maximiliano from continuing to harass her.

    When the two youths calmed down, Maximiliano helped Aurora load the materials that were left in the drawers and they prepared to go home.

    With an awkward silence between the two of them, they walked through the alleys while the bustle of passers-by mingled with the sounds of howling beasts on the desert plains.

    Looking at the faces of the people as he passed, Maximiliano saw in them the reflection of concern that can only be seen in those who are aware of the horrors of war. Unlike Aurora, the young knight had experienced firsthand the cruelty of war. Fearing greatly for the well-being of the young woman at his side, the once-prince pondered silently to himself how to take her away from the conflict.

    - ¡°Aurora, don''t look back and keep walking. Whatever happens, when I tell you to run, don''t look back¡± ¨C Squeezing the young woman''s shoulder, Maximiliano paid attention to the footsteps that followed them a short distance away.

    Counting with only one arm, the former knight felt within himself the imminent danger that he was about to strike, at the same time that he turned around, drawing his sword.

    - "Maximilian!"

    - "Run Aurora!" ¨C Two scruffy-looking men, with red eyes from alcohol, drew their short swords to attack the couple. The city guards that were supposed to take care of the citizens had sunk low enough to become common thieves due to the scarcity of resources in the area.

    Making use of his blood lineage ability, Maximilian projected energy swords at the guards. Who repelled his attacks with ease due to the damage he had in his mana channels.

    Unable to keep up with them, one of them ran ahead, chasing Aurora, who ran as fast as she could trying to get help. No matter how much he shouted and begged, the doors and windows of the houses were closed ignoring him, because the residents did not want to get into trouble with the corrupt guards of that city.

    - "I got you damn bitch!" ¨C Pulling her hair to knock her down on the ground, that man struggled with the doctor to snatch her bag.

    Seeing that the guard maintained his intention about the money he brought from the product of his day''s work, the young woman dropped her bag and tried to get rid of that man. Who, upon seeing the blue ribbon with precious stones that tied her hair, pulled it causing Aurora to react by giving her a slap, marking her nails on the face.

    - "How dare you, damn whore?" ¨C Losing his temper, the guard struck a blow on the delicate face of the young woman. Leaving her stunned while that beast saw her delicate skin through the neckline of the blouse.

    Seeing with horror the expression of that subject, the young woman screamed with all her strength the name of Maximiliano, hoping that once again, that gentleman would come to her rescue as in the past.

    At that moment, a scream of agony hit the walls of the houses in the alley, like the sound of a man who had received a fatal wound.

    - "It''s a pity, it seems that your boyfriend will not be able to come to save you" - Throwing himself on the body of the unfortunate woman, that unfortunate man began to run his tongue over the face bathed in tears of Aurora, who was crying bitterly due to the uncertainty of fate of Maximilian.

    While unbuttoning the young doctor''s blouse, the footsteps of a man could be heard approaching behind the guard, who yelled that it would be his partner''s turn as soon as he finished.

    - "You''re right. It''s your damn turn¡± - Turning his face towards his back, the guard saw for the last time the edge of a sword that flew like an arrow, dealing a fatal blow to his neck. Rolling his head on the ground as his body fell to the side of the doctor.

    With a deep wound at the level of his stomach, Maximiliano''s shirt was dyed an intense red like the horizon of twilight. Panting, cold sweat running down his body, the knight''s countenance seemed closer to the grave than to this world.

    Falling to the ground next to the body of the guard, Maximiliano began to desperately drink the blood of his victim in order to support his injuries to escort Aurora back home.

    - ¡°Max?¡±

    - ¡°Don''t come any closer, Aurora. In my current state, I don''t have the power to contain myself¡± ¨C Letting out his Lichen wings that showed clear signs of deterioration, Maximilian''s face had an expression like that of a beast devouring its victim.

    Feeling a slight chill in her heart, Aurora turned her face away as the young Lichen kept consuming blood in a frenzy that could make anyone who saw it turn their stomachs.

    - "Dawn?" ¨C With his face bathed in blood, Maximiliano approached the young woman, who instinctively backed down when she saw him.

    - "You''re right. I''m a monster"

    - "Nope! You''re not a monster, Max. They were the monsters. It''s just that I, I¡­¡±

    - "What about you?"

    - "I cannot bear the idea that my existence has cursed you in this way!"

    - ¡°What the hell are you talking about Aurora? Look me in the eyes!" ¨C Taking her by the shoulder while bringing his forehead closer to hers, Maximiliano whispered to the young woman that none of this was her fault. Trying to comfort her while Aurora cried hugging him while he told her his deep secret.

    As the minutes passed, the two young men continued on their way in silence, hiding from any prying eyes until they reached their home.

    Wiping the blood from his face, Maximiliano went to his room, taking off his shirt while taking a suture to close what was left open from the wound in his abdomen.

    - "You know that won''t work"

    - "I''m not going to drink more blood."

    - "You need to drink it or you will not heal"

    - "Understand that I will not do it!" ¨C Throwing the young gentleman on the bed, the expression on Aurora''s face seemed serene as she took off her blouse and threw it on the floor, while she sat on Maximiliano placing her hands on the muscles of his chest.

    - ¡°What do you think you are doing? You know very well that that time I drank your blood it was for an emergency. But for a man to drink a woman''s blood means¡­¡± ¨C Without giving him time to react, Aurora placed her lips on Maximiliano''s and inserted her tongue into a deep kiss. While caressing the hair of the man who was at his mercy in bed.

    - ¡°I know what Max means, I know it very well. I''m not doing this on impulse, it''s not out of gratitude or anything as simple as that. Give me your hand, touch my chest, feel it. This heart is beating fast and it''s not because of lust"

    Running his fingers over Aurora''s delicate breasts, Maximiliano felt each beat with his fingertips until his heart began to respond in the same way.

    - "Dawn? Are you sure?"

    - "Yes, Max. I want you to drink my blood, I want you to take my body and make me your woman" ¨C With those green eyes alight with passion that were reflected in the knight''s pupils, Aurora gently removed his pants so as not to open the wound on his abdomen. While he was kissing every inch of her skin until he reached that wound, delicately licking the edges as he passed his hands

    - "Come on Max, bite me" - Placing her neck on her man''s lips, Aurora squeezed his head caressing his hair while her fangs dug delicately into his skin, making him let out a moan that mixed pain and pleasure.

    With each drop that was sucked from her body, the young woman pressed her thighs against Maximiliano''s crotch, who ripped open her panties to caress the intimacy of her genitals. Sinking her fingers into that cavity that was already wet, throbbing waiting for her lover''s every move.

    Aurora''s moans escaped her lips, which were silenced at times by Maximiliano''s passionate kisses who did not stop caressing his partner''s skin while he imprisoned the young woman''s bare back with his arm.

    - "Are you ready?"

    - "Yes, take me Max" - With her eyes getting lost in that intense scarlet of Maximiliano''s gaze, Aurora felt how her virginity was taken by the man to whom she had decided to give her heart.

    With the gentleman''s penis slowly entering to spare her the pain, she felt that nostalgic tingle that can only come with the first time experience.

    As she felt that her cavity was narrowing, Aurora wrapped her legs around Maximiliano, feeling in response how her lover''s vigorous hips accelerated their momentum, thrusting faster and faster, making her scream with pleasure that night. Digging her nails into his back as he gritted his teeth to hold himself back before orgasming.

    With the moon as an accomplice in that predestined meeting, passion overflowed in bed until the morning sun rose at dawn.

    With her body aching and unable to stand up, Aurora hugged Maximiliano''s massive body tangled in the bed sheets. While the young woman observed the face of that man who lay next to her.

    - "Thank you for being in my life, Max" - Kissing him on the lips, Aurora surrendered to exhaustion and once again fell asleep next to the gentleman.

 Chapter X: Dark stormy sky.

    After the incident that occurred that night of passion, the Tiblis city authorities issued search warrants for those responsible for the murder of the guards. Despite the fact that the residents saw that those responsible were the mederi and her lover, they remained silent in the face of the investigations carried out by the soldiers of the kingdom. Driven by the feeling of guilt and cowardice, they avoided helping him despite being people who provided support to the population, unlike the vicious guards.

    As the days passed and given the imminent outbreaks of revolt in the border cities of the kingdom, the city guard increased the intensity of the investigations, given the rumors that that attack was due to a group of infiltrated spies from the kingdom of Antioca.

    - ¡°Aurora, are you ready?¡± ¨C Tying his luggage on the back of a tame camulus, Maximilian wiped the sweat from his forehead from the intense heat that came from the dry season. The city that until a few months ago had served as his refuge, with the threatening drums of war on the horizon, that place became a powder keg that would explode with just a spark.

    - "Yes, Max. I have already packed all the tent materials. It only remains to pack what we have left in the house and we can leave "

    - "Remember that we must go with light weight, we must not stand out with the city guard on our heels" - Approaching with a wanted poster with the face of one of the suspects, Aurora put it next to Maximiliano at the same time who smiled clearing the bangs from his forehead.

    - ¡°I don''t think they''ll catch us, at least not with these drawings. You are more handsome¡±- Returning his wife''s smile, Maximiliano lifted her by the waist in a hug, while placing her on the saddle.

    - ¡°Lately you are too funny. At times I miss the grumpy Aurora.¡±

    - "You, my gentleman, are responsible. So take charge or you can say goodbye to this¡± ¨C Taking Max''s neck, Aurora kissed him before the mocking gaze of the children playing in the street. Causing that man to feel so ashamed, that he ended up driving the children away, while the young woman laughed from the mount of the steed.

    Waiting for the arrival of night, they prepared to leave the city under the cover of the darkness that prevailed over the desert and looking back, the couple said goodbye to that place with a mixture of bittersweet memories.

    Riding on the sands of the desert, Maximiliano evoked that nostalgic feeling for that night when they escaped from the clutches of death at the hands of Romulos and Berenice. Remembering the face of his sister and his father, gritting his teeth in an attempt to hold back the angry tears that flowed from the depths of his being.

    - ¡°You don''t have to carry everything on your own. Remember that I am here too¡± ¨C Surrounding him with her arms while resting her face on Maximiliano''s back, as if their souls were connected, Aurora tried to comfort the man she loved. Who responded to that feeling by taking one of her hands to place a gentle kiss on her skin. With the sand flying after the impetus of the gallop of the camulus.

    - ¡°My lady, all the men are in position. Give us the order and we will follow it even to the underworld¡± ¨C With a devotion that bordered on the senseless, a knight in blood-red dyed mithril armor, prostrated himself on the sand while throwing the hem of his cloak to one side.

    In front of him, a lady wearing similar armor adjusted the straps of her bracelet while looking in the direction of the city of Tiblis.

    With the fall of Baron Eusebio, the legion under his command was left in the control of his daughter Berenice. Who after the night of the purge, along with her new husband, rose to the title of Duchess of Rivera.

    Receiving that title under oath before King Romulos I, the young Lichen conferred her power for the service of the crown. Being named battalion marshal for the first incursions on the territories of the kingdom of Sidelia.

    - "Honey, are you ready?" ¨C An emerald snake climbed up the girl''s leg until it was at the level of her face, caressing her while sticking out her tongue near her lips. Right in the rearguard position where the strategists and commanders were, in the light of a lamp that rested on the table inside a tent, the new Duke of Rivera looked on a map at the positions marked to attack.

    - "I''m always ready to play with my dolls, I just hope that this time they don''t break and let me get bored" - With that mischievous smile that distinguished her and her eyes that shone with a spark of lust for blood, Duchess Berenice extended his arms on the soldiers who soon abandoned their nature to become macabre emotionless puppets.

    - ¡°Come on my pretty dolls! Go ahead and bring me new toys for my collection¡± ¨C With that order, the foot soldiers began their march on the sand holding their swords and spears. Behind them, archers and elemental wizards spread their wings soaring across the sky, casting their grim shadows on the ground. And with them, Berenice waved her hands as if wriggling invisible strings that controlled her limbs.

    - ¡°Jasim, come quickly to dinner. It''s already late at night and your father hasn''t come back yet."

    - "I''m coming mom" - Holding a leather ball, Jasim, one of the children that Maximiliano trained with the sword, saw in the distance a cloud of dust that advanced with the sound of a roar like that of a storm.

    Closing his eyelids a little to better see that shadow on the horizon, the boy took a few steps forward, receiving squarely an arrow that pierced his skull.

    To the horrified screams of his mother, the villagers rushed out of their houses and raised the alarm to the regiment of Tiblis guards, who seized their weapons as they sent a messenger bound for the camp of Sidelia''s soldiers. .

    - ¡°Go ahead, don''t leave a single head uncut. Kill, drink their blood, bathe the sands with that beautiful nectar of life¡± ¨C With her face changed into that of a sinister creature, Berenice descended on the sand brandishing her sword against anyone who got in the way.

    Trying to buy time for the women and children to escape, the men of the town took their wolf form and charged against the invading army. Digging in their claws and fangs, they splintered the wooden bodies of the puppets, who stood their ground against the overwhelming force of their adversaries.

    The flames of the fires caused by the magicians of the kingdom of Antioca began to spread between the buildings, destroying belongings and farmyard animals, leaving a stench of charred meat in the air.

    - ¡°Stupid brainless beasts! My prized dolls cannot be beaten by the romps of mere poodles.¡± ¨C Laughing out loud as she pulled the strings, Berenice continued her march through the streets of the town sowing terror and destruction in her path.

    The Lupus who proudly resisted the onslaught of their rival, persevered for more than an hour while their strength and spirit began to falter. Falling one by one, leaving only the women and children standing, entrenched inside a shelter that had been provisioned by the city guard.

    Behind the walls of the building that would protect them from the invading army, the survivors listened helplessly to the furious cries of the brave men of the town of Tiblis. Like a symphony of the sound of metal colliding with claws, the shadows cast by the flames on the windows of the building danced a macabre waltz where one by one, the silhouettes mixed until they became one.

    When suddenly the sounds of the combatants ceased, a deathly silence fell within the shelter, leaving only the slow hustle and bustle of those within.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

    Moved by curiosity, one of the women of the village approached the corner of the boards of the door to observe what was happening outside. Seeing with horror the mutilated corpses of the brave men who had stood up against the invading army.

    As she was about to withdraw her face from the door, that woman stopped feeling the strength in her fingers, experiencing a tingling sensation that ran from her fingertips to the nape of her neck.

    - "Breast! Are you okay?" ¨C One of the village children approached the woman who remained motionless, pulling her dress looking for an answer.

    - "Mommy?" ¨C Without giving him time to react, the woman turned around with her arm transformed into a claw, throwing the poor creature into the crowd. With his chest shattered while spitting blood unable to breathe.

    Seeing what had happened, the rest of the women took their bestial form and threw themselves against the woman who did not have the slightest expression of regret on her face.

    Managing to fatally injure several of them, the woman was subdued to the ground while the others kept protecting the infants behind their backs.

    - "How boring! A toy that can no longer move is of no use to me¡± ¨C Giving a yank with her index finger, Berenice pulled the thread of mana that was anchored to the woman''s heart, tearing it open. Leaving a lifeless puppet that little by little was acquiring its flesh and blood again.

    - "Who the hell are you?" ¨C One of the women who was subduing her partner, raised her voice defiantly against the person who was on the other side of the shelter door. Receiving a brief silence, to later be surprised by a presence behind her back that exuded a sinister energy that was suffocating to her.

    - "I am your executioner" - Whispering those words in the ear of her victim, Berenice transformed one by one of the children inside the shelter into puppets. Forcing them to attack their mothers, who barely resisted the attack of their seed.

    Unable to hurt the little ones they carried in their wombs, the women wept in pain as they watched as their children tore at their skin and extracted their entrails. While the duchess contemplated that gruesome spectacle, sitting at one end of the room. Smiling gleefully resting her chin against her hands.

    - ¡°So this is the way a mother plays dolls with her children? It''s touching, look at them my dear Demetrio. Doesn''t this make you think about wanting to have a child? ¨C The snake that was on the duchess''s shoulder kept its eyes fixed on the scene, while the Duke of Rivera kept a serious expression at the meeting table with the brigade commanders.

    - "It seems that the duchess is a very eloquent woman, if I may say so, Duke Demetrius" - Serving him a cup of tea, Lucretius could not hide his smile when he saw the expression of disgust that his friend was hiding, who was struggling to keep his composure before the presence of the commanders. Those who felt their heads would roll as soon as they said what they really thought of the way Captain Eusebio''s daughter behaved.

    - "Well gentlemen, then we will proceed with the plan as planned. In one year the barbarian territory of Sidelia must be in the hands of the glorious lineage of the Astarothe family. You can withdraw¡± ¨C Taking the copies of the documents detailing the invasion plan, the commanders rose from their seats and withdrew from the tent with mixed feelings for the execution of the plan.

    - "Lucretius, what do you think of these pathetic Lichen?" ¨C Sipping his cup of tea, Demetrio looked at his childhood friend who touched his chin with a serious expression.

    - "Do you want me to say exactly what I think?"

    - "Yes, tell me" - Leaving the jug of tea on the table to sit on Demetrio''s legs, Lucrecio put his arms around his friend''s neck and putting his lips to his ear, whispered a few words while biting his earlobe ear.

    - ¡°I think we should kill them all and not leave a single Lupus or Lichen in this world. Except for Miss Duchess, since I find her as amusing as you are¡± ¨C Pushing him hard to knock him to the ground, Demetrius drew his sword and placed the point on Lucrecio''s neck. Who smiled with disheveled hair, revealing her lips in a sinuously seductive way.

    - "Are you going to nail it to me? Tell me that you are going to plunge your glorious sword into my being my beloved Demetrius" - Laughing out loud like someone who did not fear death, under the collar of the shirt the baron had a scar that ran all over his throat, revealing that his Adam''s apple had been removed with a sharp cut.

    During the turf war fought a decade ago, Lucretius and Demetrius served on the front lines under the king''s direct orders. Fighting with honor for the glory of the Barbosa house, that pair of young men bathed in the blood of their enemies, covering each other''s backs.

    Always together, just as they had since childhood, Demetrio kept in his heart a deep appreciation for the one he considered a brother. While, for his part, Lucretius harbored in his heart a different feeling, bordering on obsession.

    One day when they were given the mission to infiltrate enemy territory for reconnaissance work, the two knights disguised themselves as civilians to enter the besieged cities. While the eldest son of the Barbosa house dressed in the clothes of a day laborer, Lucrecio, trying to play a joke on him, dressed as a maiden, taking advantage of the delicate features of her face and long hair.

    - "What do you think you''re doing, idiot?"

    - "Because? Do you like me? Did the noble son of the Barbosa dynasty get a boner from seeing his childhood friend so beautiful? ¨C Making fun of his friend''s angry face, Lucrecio couldn''t stop laughing while Demetrius ordered him to change his clothes to no avail.

    With no other choice, the two soldiers left their camp and infiltrated enemy territory traveling incognito in a wagon. Hiding his Aspirthen features by means of illusion magic.

    Splitting up to cover ground and gather as much information as possible, the two young men agreed to meet at a point outside the city. But after hours until night came, Demetrio waited for his friend without hearing from him.

    The next morning without hearing from him, contrary to the instructions they received from their superiors, Demetrio returned to the city looking for the trail of his companion. Checking every corner without having any results.

    Thinking that he could find it if he returned to the meeting point, the young knight tried to leave the city once more, only to find that the guards of the kingdom of Antioca had increased their patrols due to the news of infiltrated spies.

    Making the decision to escape through the drains, Demetrio plunged into the pestilential waters of the city and walked in the dark relying only on touch with mere instinct.

    When he saw the light at the end of the tunnel, his eyes were taking a while to get used to the light when he could see him a few steps away. Floating on the nauseating waters, with his dress torn and sword marks on his body, Lucretius lay trembling in agony, staring into space.

    - "Lucretius!" ¨C Running up to him to take him in his arms, the young man from the Santorino family barely had a pulse and his skin was pale from blood loss.

    - "Demetrio? Demetrius, is that you? ¨C Bringing his cold hand over the gentleman''s face, Lucretio ran his fingertips smiling weakly as he recognized his friend.

    - "It''s me! Relax, I came to save you. I will take you to the camp and the healers will attend to you. You''ll be fine, I swear¡± ¨C With the exhaustion of the sleepless night and the cold of the sewage, Demetrio carried his friend through the steep terrain fleeing from the enemy soldiers who were looking for them.

    By the time Demetrius arrived at the camp, the curators urgently took Lucrecio, taking him to the tent. Realizing the ordeal through which the body of the young soldier had passed.

    With his genitals cut off and his neck slit, Lucrecio showed unmistakable signs of sexual abuse. When the soldiers of the kingdom of Antioca captured him, they thought it was a woman, but when they saw him naked, they turned their fury against the unfortunate young man. Who was left for dead after being disposed of in the city drains.

    That event marked Demetrio forever, who swore that he would not rest until he finished with the last Lichen on the face of the planet.

    - "I know what our objective is, Lucrecio, you don''t have to remind me" - Putting his sword in the scabbard, Demetrio helped his friend to get up from the ground. While he rested his hands on the duke''s thick shoulders.

    ¨C ¡°You have that body that I can never have. I envy you, but I envy her even more, because she will be able to have the child that I will never be able to give you¡± ¨C With an expression of sadness in his eyes, Lucrecio looked down, turning his face away. While Demetrio took him by the chin, kissing him on the lips in response.

    Behind the door of the tent, an officer listened in amazement to the conversation, trying not to make a sound as he withdrew. But the moment he turned around, a snake similar to an anaconda swallowed him in one bite, struggling uselessly while the animal''s jaws crushed the bones, crushing the soldier''s armor.

    - ¡°Does it seem like someone was listening? But I already took care of him" - With a mischievous smile, Lucrecio went to the door of the tent, leaving the strategy room leaving Demetrio thoughtful about the words he said.

    Across the sands, a few miles away, Maximilian rode holding the reins of the camelus, his eyes set on the port city of Theseus.

    - ¡°Max¡±?

    - ¡°Everything is fine Aurora, sleep. We still need to get to Theseus. If all goes well, we can take a fishing boat on the Eufico river. I have some acquaintances there that will help us to get out of Sidelia¡± ¨C Tied to her back to prevent her from falling into the sands, Aurora went back to sleep lulled by the steed''s wiggle.

    While the knight turned his face in the direction of Tiblis, seeing how the night sky shone in the direction of that city. Knowing perfectly well that this was a sign that the city had been captured by the army of the kingdom of Antioca.

    - "Damn" - Turning his face gritting his teeth, Maximilian pulled harder on the reins accelerating the pace of his steed. Trying not to think about the fate to which those poor souls were condemned that night.

 Chapter XI: Unexpected encounters.

    - ¡°There is no doubt that Prince Romulos has had a more than satisfactory performance in his raid campaign through the desert. Don''t you think so Minister Sergov ?

    - ¡°Certainly Chancellor Barbosa. It is indisputable that those who proudly carry Aspirthen blood are incomparable. Just like his son Demetrius, who I have already found out through the messenger that he has managed to capitulate almost all the border cities of Sidelia .¡± ¨C Arranged at a round table drinking liquor that was served by maneki slaves , the two heaviest men after the royal family, rejoiced at the dark looks of the servants.

    In just eight months after the military incursion from the west began, despite the valiant efforts of the civilian population and the military deployed along the border of the sands, the kingdom of Sidelia had seen much of its territory fall . at the hands of the coalition army.

    Between infantry detachments made up of aspirtenes and lichens , fifth circle magicians and mounted men, the coalition cut its way through with the edge of the sword without leaving a single soul that could remain standing.

    The fire of war that engulfed everything, made no distinction between men or women, the elderly or even babies, everyone with lupus blood was massacred without the slightest bit of mercy or consideration.

    The few survivors who managed to escape from the immense wave of metal and blood narrated among the cities of refuge the atrocities that their eyes had witnessed on the western battlefront.

    Among the stories that slipped through the cracks of the hearts of the settlers, the most remarkable one told of a woman with scarlet armor and a penetrating gaze similar to the abyss. Who, swinging his arms like the wings of a hawk, took his victims and forced them to fight even when the breath of life had already left their bodies.

    Next to her, a man in emerald green armor with an evil smile on his face, let flow a sea of snakes that crawled through the immense golden sea of sands, mesmerizing the fierce combatants to the point of leaving them at his mercy to attack. against them with the edge of the sword.

    ¡°The two fates of the sunset¡± ¨C It was how the survivors baptized the ducal marriage of Berenice and Demetrius, who carried a gospel of death and desolation under the banner of the new king of Antioca .

    - "Definitely Melina''s arms have been filled with glory from the west, but I consider that our eastern arm needs to move a bit, don''t you think so, your majesty?" ¨C Seated at the table in a position that denoted his hierarchy, a bearded man with a frown remained silent, resting his hands on the handle of a sword that served as a cane.

    Cicero Astarothe de Melina, the current monarch of the kingdom, was a man who the weight of the years and the war wounds had wreaked havoc on his body. Despite this, the vigor in his gaze and the strength of his hands were enough to contain the voracity of the nobles of the kingdom.

    As the venomous words fell from Minister Sergov ''s lips , the king understood that this stance was intended to detract from Prince Remius ''s passive behavior . For years, Melina''s nobility had been united regarding the first prince''s position as heir to the kingdom''s crown. Despite being a mestizo son, the important houses gave their support to the brilliant and eloquent little heir.

    But with the death of Queen Salome and the rise to power of the concubine Virginia, that unit fractured, forming two factions that contended under the table to place their candidate on the throne.

    Remius ''s influence waned among the nobility, with a contempt that was encouraged by the rumors fed by Virginia, of his fierce opposition to the system of slavery that prevailed in the kingdom.

    - "It seems that I am not the only old man in this room who needs to go to the doctor to have his eyes checked frequently, Mr. Minister Sergov . Or are your eyes in the front having trouble getting you the information?

    - "What does your majesty mean?"

    - "While you are here drinking liquor talking about glory like a couple of geezers, the first prince has already been riding for days to the capital of Kalifuto accompanied by his legion"

    - "It is impossible! Haven''t I heard about that?"

    - ¡°I am afraid then that Minister Sergov will have to take better care of his health. The younger blood is imperious and ends up quickly displacing the old one" - With a leisurely laugh while holding his gaze against Sergov ''s eyes , the king tightened the hilt of his sword reflecting on seeing how that man adjusted his neck. the shirt with the expression of the face upset.

    For his part, sailing on his steed leading the immense human wall that followed him through the Goba desert , Remius covered his face with a scarf while the sandstorm obscured his vision.

    - ¡°My lord, the storm is increasing in intensity and the legs of the camelius can barely keep up the trot. If we continue at this rate, we will lose a third of our men before we reach the city of Kalifuto . Besides , we are running out of water, at most we will have rations for two days at the most¡± ¨C With his lips cracked by the dryness of the desert air, Gideon gasped with an emaciated expression on his face.

    Five days after leaving the border of Melina to enter Sidelia , Remius ''s troops had marched without stopping throughout that hostile territory. Facing against the beasts and giant scorpions that threatened during the cold nights of the desert.

    - "What is the nearest city Gideon?"

    - ¡°That would be the port city of Theseus, my lord. It is only one day away from our position and it is one of the few cities that has not been razed to the ground by the coalition army.¡±

    - "I understand. Tell the vanguards that we will go to Theseus first and wait there for three days to make our plan to conquer the capital."

    - "As ordered, prince" - Retreating to the rear group, Gideon communicated his lord''s orders, while he maintained his course towards the port. With a bitter taste in their mouths at the possibility that the coalition army would arrive before them.

    Meanwhile in Theseus, the city bathed by the breeze of the Tigra and Euphic delta , the population was on edge at the news of the advance of the enemy army. The boisterous atmosphere that used to be common among the people of that port was replaced by anxiety in the expressions on their faces as the days passed and the news of the advance of the coalition troops.

    - "I tell you that they are already close, it is better that we run away!"

    - ¡°And how are we going to do it, idiot? The cargo ships were taken by the army as troop transport and the few that remain are mere fishing boats that would not withstand the onslaught of the open sea.

    In addition, the young men were taken as recruits to cover the casualties of our troops. If we leave, what will become of the women and children who are still here?"

    - ¡°And how do you plan to fight? You forget that the men who are left here are a bunch of old people. What fight can we give to the soldiers of the coalition?

    - "You are a bloody coward!"

    - "What did you say old man of dirt?" ¨C Contemplating the old people who were mounting that brawl in the dock area, a man with a bandaged face carried a bag of supplies on his back while keeping his attention to the environment as if he were a thief.

    Moving between the barrels that were in the alleys of the slum, the countenance of his eyes seemed that of a person who was in the middle of a crossroads from which he could hardly escape.

    - "Please try to take the full treatment, that should lessen the gout problem in your right foot"

    ¨C ¡°Thank you mederi , at my age I thought that I would not find relief from my ailment. But it is a miracle that it has reached our town¡± ¨C At the foot of the door of a room in poor condition, that man contemplated a woman with long hair collected in a braid that rested on her chest.

    As in the town of Tiblis , Aurora had established herself as a healer to provide the population with relief from their ailments and needs. Trying with it to keep his mind clear in the face of the crisis that broke out due to the war between nations.

    With a somewhat grown belly, that fragile lady got up from her chair and walked slowly to the door accompanying the old woman, to cling to the arm of that man who remained with his eyes fixed on her.

    - ¡°With each passing day the ingredients to make medicine become scarcer and more scarce. At this rate it won''t take long for this city to collapse due to an epidemic¡± ¨C Raising her hand to her forehead with her eyes closed giving an air of annoyance, Aurora shook her head a little as she gently squeezed the man''s arm.

    - ¡°You must not let this affect you in such a way. Remember that you carry our son in your womb and my priority is you"

    - ¡°Max! I know you care about me, but don''t ask me to close my heart to the pain of the people around me. If I did that, what kind of mother would I be to our baby?" ¨C Affected by the accumulated stress, Aurora felt a slight dizziness that immediately made Maximiliano take her by the waist to take her to the bed.

    - ¡°Aurora, forgive me for being so insensitive. But the mere idea of losing you terrifies me to the point of turning deaf to the problems of others" - Taking her hand while placing his forehead against hers, the one who was once the prince of the nation of Antioca remembered with regret the woman who had given birth to him.

    Only through the anecdotes that his father told him, was the way in which the prince kept in mind the memory of his mother. Unable to live with her due to her sudden death, Maximiliano''s childhood had been marked by profound loneliness.

    From the moment he found out about Aurora''s pregnancy, that man who was known as an unyielding warrior on the battlefield, felt a deep fear like he had never experienced before.The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Would he be a good father? Would his wife survive childbirth? Could they raise a child while on the run from a kingdom that sought their death? All those questions drilled into Maximiliano''s mind every night to the point that he felt he was losing his sanity.

    - ¡°Max, you will be a good father. If we are together, we will be able to raise this baby and we will see it grow¡± ¨C Squeezing her beloved''s hand, Aurora lost herself in Maximiliano''s eyes with a candid essence that gave her a sense of peace in her heart.

    Antioca rose, confined within the walls of the palace in a room without windows, a woman who was attended to remained silent. for a couple of maidens.

    In the fire of rebellion, House Albert had been decimated and all its members executed according to royal edict. But out of all those souls, only one prevailed at the mere whim of King Romulos .

    Stripped of all honor and glory, Emilia Vanessa Albert was the only one who could testify that the feared noble house ever existed.

    - "Come out immediately!" ¨C With his imposing presence that made even the fiercest heart tremble, King Romulos entered the room while the maidens hastened to withdraw to leave them alone.

    - "This humble servant salutes the sun of the kingdom" - Rising from her chair, Emilia tried to bow, falling to the ground due to the tremor in her legs. Causing the monarch to laugh, who knelt in front of her to take her face.

    - ¡°I wonder what your father would say to see you this way? The always proud and haughty lady of the Albert house, trembling like an animal in front of the man who cut off her head¡± ¨C Taking a lock of her hair, Romulos sniffed her while taking out a dagger from her waist to place it on her throbbing chest from Emily.

    - ¡°No, don''t kill me. I will do what you order me"

    - "Anything?"

    - ¡°Yes, anything!¡± ¨C Clasping her hands with closed fists against her thighs, the daughter of the Albert house felt a mixture of impotence and terror in her heart. That was sharpened as he kept his eyes fixed before the amber pupils of Romulos , who drew a smile on his face when he heard him say that.

    Rising from the ground while holding her tightly by the hair, the king stuck out his serpent tongue making an ominous hiss as if he were facing a rabbit whose heart was beating rapidly.

    - ¡°You may have already heard it from the maids who serve you, but there is a rumor that spreads throughout the palace. You know which one is?"

    - "Yes, they, they say that Queen Andrea cannot fulfill her obligations as a wife"

    - "Exact! The queen is a dry land where a seed can never flourish. But at the end of the day, she is my queen and anyone who dares to say such insolence deserves an exemplary punishment."

    - "Excuse me! I only answered his question and repeated what maidens usually say."

    - ¡°How convenient for you, Miss Emilia. Just point your index finger in the direction of others and the blame is no longer yours. But that only worked when you were the worthy heir to the Albert house. However, all its value was reduced to nothing¡±

    Grasping her roughly by the neck, Romulos lifted Emilia''s body even higher until only the tips of her feet lightly brushed the cold stone floor of the room. Holding the force with her hands on the king''s forearm, the woman struggled to support his weight preventing his neck from snapping.

    - ¡°I still have¡­¡±

    - "You still have what?"

    - ¡°I still have courage! My blood has value for you my lord¡± ¨C With a cry that came from the little air that still remained in her lungs, Emilia said those challenging words against the king, who threw her against the stone, dislocating her left shoulder.

    Dragging with difficulty while gagging to gasp for air, Emilia clung to the comforter on the bed trying to push her bruised body against the edge to try to sit up. At the same time, Romulos approached threateningly with a grim attitude.

    - ¡°You are right, little and fragile rat. Even a wreck like you has a utility worth keeping alive in this palace. your blood! That blood of which you are so proud, is the last evidence of the indirect lineage of the royal family.

    Did you tell me that you would do anything for me? Then you will do as you have said according to the weight of your words¡± ¨C Taking off his jacket throwing it to the floor, Romulos started unbuttoning his shirt while Emilia looked at him with her eyes wide open with the terror that climbed up her back.

    - "You have two options. In the first you will keep what little honor you have left as a noble and you will give me your body to father my son as a concubine. And that son you will give to my queen as her adopted son, keeping your mouth shut so that secret will never be known."

    Helping her up to prostrate her on the bed, Romulos tilted his face until his pheromone-laden breath brushed Emilia''s cheeks with almost scorching heat.

    - "And the other, what is the second option?" ¨C Fearful but defiant to the end, the woman felt like a pair of snakes tied her hands against the headboard while Romulos used the dagger to tear the dress she was wearing. Leaving her smooth skin exposed through which the cruel aspirthen passed the tips of his claws, marking a few scratches.

    - "The second is to scream like a vile harlot in heat asking for help that will never come, to be stripped of the last thing you have of dignity and after giving me a child, to end up in a brothel satisfying the desires of countless men until your flesh turns old and rotten. And to prevent you from saying anything about my only son, I will cut your tongue¡± ¨C Feeling how the snakes were biting her skin, injecting her with aphrodisiac venom, Emilia agreed to the demands of the infamous monarch. Drowning his wounded pride in a sea of tears that echoed little or nothing in the soul of Romulos .

    - "My lady, all troops are in position and ready when I give the signal." ¨C With that malicious expression that characterized him, Lucrecio approached Duchess Rivera who kept her gaze with the spyglass in the direction of the port city of Teseo.

    - "Is it a long time before my husband reaches the forefront?" ¨C Throwing the device into the hands of Lucretius, Berenice did not deign to turn her face as she let thin threads of mana flow over the bodies of the fallen soldiers of the Sidelia army .

    - ¡°The grand duke is still attending to the emissaries of the royal palace. But he ordered me to serve you in everything you commanded, my lady¡± ¨C Taking her hand to kiss it on the back, Lucrecio felt a slap that threw the monocle that rested on his left side.

    - ¡°Who has allowed you to have so much trust with me? Don''t forget that I am the Duchess of Rivera¡± ¨C With her face flushed with anger, Berenice knew well that that man had no respect for her and all his behavior was a mere facade that hid his true colours.

    - ¡°I have definitely not made a mistake with you, my lady. Following him on this occasion will guarantee a wonderful spectacle to see¡± ¨C Laughing as he touched his cheek, Lucretius wiped the trickle of blood from his lip with his tongue while keeping his eyes on the silhouette of the duchess. Suffocated by the desire to see that woman losing control of her actions.

    - ¡°Damn sick! The fact that even your head stays on your shoulders is because you are my husband''s friend."

    - "I know that perfectly, my lady."

    - "If you know, then stop wasting time and gather the rearguard troops and tell them that we will start our march at sunset" - Making a slight mocking bow, Lucrecio left the front leaving Berenice, who was gnashing her teeth. biting his thumbnail with his blood boiling.

    - ¡°Prince Remius , we are half an hour away from our destination. Do you want the legion to advance fully or will we form a contingent to enter?¡±

    - ¡°Gideon, we will do the latter. According to our spy the city is in a chaotic state; if we arrive with the whole legion, the villagers will panic and possibly try to defend themselves. I do not want blood to be spilled unnecessarily, so form a group with thirty soldiers and accompany me" - With a serene countenance bathed by the last rays of light on the horizon, the prince took the reins of his steed and led the march of the small contingent headed for the city.

    On the other hand, inside the dusty house that served as a clinic, Aurora and Maximiliano were preparing their luggage to take one of the fishing boats that still remained in the shipyards.

    With the requisition of the royal army from Sidelia , the shipyard workers in the port saw off all the ships that remained afloat on the banks of the Euphiuchus . Only a few remained inside the workshops for maintenance work.

    During the months of his stay in the city, Maximilian had made use of his old contacts among the Lupus tribes to obtain one of those ships, hoping all this time for an opportunity that would allow them to escape the threat of the kingdom of Antioca . .

    - ¡°Aurora, I will go to the shipyards to see if our ship is ready. Wait for me here and don''t go, I won''t be long. I promise¡± ¨C Kissing the lips of his partner, Maximiliano hurried to go directly to the port. Sneaking through the crowd of townspeople who piled up in the alleys with their few belongings on their backs.

    - "Sir, my lord!" ¨C Among the bustle of the crowd, a familiar voice reached the ears of the prince, who turned his face looking for the person who was calling him among the sea of people.

    - "I knew it! I knew it was you! We had hope, we never gave up hope¡± ¨C Bursting into tears while clinging to that dusty cloak, the man knew that figure was none other than the lord whom he had faithfully served within the royal guard.

    - "Vargas?"

    - ¡°Yes, my prince. I am your faithful assistant Vargas Bonaventura. We have been looking for him all these months since the day the rebellion broke out."

    - "Searching? Who apart from you? Quick, answer me!" ¨C Holding him hard by the shoulder, the prince''s eyes could not hide his surprise. As Vargas spoke, the prince''s dull face was recovering that light that months ago seemed to have been almost extinct, only supported by the growing love he professed for what was now his wife.

    - "All of us who managed to escape persecution have settled on the islands of the Kaidos archipelago ."

    - ¡° Kaidos ? The land where divine beasts dwell?¡±

    - ¡°Yes, my lord, it is thanks to them that we have been able to survive all this time. Apparently the divine beasts heard an oracle from the goddess, telling them that men from overseas would come to their lands and they should support them in everything they ordered.

    At first the others and I were skeptical, but the moment they mentioned that you were alive, we decided to accept their words and it was thanks to them that I was able to reach you" ¨C Overwhelmed by the joy of his assistant''s words , the prince thought within himself that he could finally give peace of mind to his family by escaping from the clutches of the kingdom of Antioca .

    But that beacon of light that emerged from the darkness was soon eclipsed by a glow that suddenly exploded in the direction of the slums.

    -"They are here, run away!" ¨C The screams of the crowd were escalating like the wave of a human tsunami that hit the pier. Between confusion and despair, Maximiliano kept bumping into people while Vargas followed him desperately without taking his eyes off him.

    - "Dawn! Dawn!" ¨C Shouting his name to the point of being almost hoarse, the prince felt his heart beating to the point that it could almost come out of his throat. The fear that threatened him at night began to materialize in the shadowy form of an advance of soldiers who cut off every person they saw, killing them with the edge of the sword.

    -"My lord, we must flee!"

    - "Do not stop me! My wife and my son are still in the slums."

    - "His wife? You are not referring to the dirty blood¡­¡± ¨C As soon as he finished pronouncing those words, Maximiliano''s fist hit Vargas'' face hard, who did not believe his lord''s outburst.

    - "Mister! I apologize for my imprudence, I have sinned to death against the woman who carries the descendant of His Highness¡± ¨C Adjusting the jaw that still throbbed, Vargas kept a look that mixed a feeling of astonishment and disbelief.

    Being a descendant of the first Lichen , the very idea that the prince would mix his blood with a humble maneki , was something that seemed unlikely for a man belonging to a species so proud to preserve the purity of the lineage.

    - ¡°If you want to turn your back on me now, you are free to do so, Vargas. But I will not allow my wife to be insulted.¡± - Extending his hand already calm, Maximiliano looked for his subordinate who answered that gesture by squeezing it as a sign of reconciliation.

    - "Who should I follow who is more worthy than you my lord?"

    - "If that is your determination, follow me and help me save my family"

    - "Yes, your Highness!" ¨C Returning his march in a hurry towards the slums, just a few steps away the prince saw the light of a lamp that remained lit inside the house. Spotting a silhouette of the shadow of a woman who was eagerly looking for something among the drawers.

    - "Dawn!" ¨C The cry of relief that Maximiliano released from his chest was soon extinguished by the roar of a great sphere of fire that fell from the sky, destroying the houses that were in front of him, throwing his body and that of Vargas by the force of the burst.

    Dazed and unable to hear his vassal''s voice, Maximilian stared blurry through the cloud of dust and debris trying to focus his vision to find his home. But the moment his vision improved, his eyes gazed in agony at the stage in front of which he left a hole in his heart.

    -"!DAWN!" ¨C With a heartbreaking scream that echoed to the foundations of the tombs, that man was stopped by Vargas while he struggled to get closer to that place devastated by the explosion. Where his wife should have been, now there was only a smoking crater that burned with the remains of the civilians that had been trapped in the attack.

 Chapter XII: Second awakening.

    - "My Sir! It''s too late! We can''t do anything, let''s run away while we still have time"

    - ¡°Leave me Vargas! I have to go get them"

    - ¡°Prince, understand! His family is dead!" ¨C Feeling those words like a stab against his chest, Maximiliano collapsed on his knees crying with bitterness while hitting the sandy ground with his fists until his knuckles were injured.

    Receiving the few soldiers who were beginning to arrive on the scene, Vargas brandished his sword protecting his master''s back. Screaming euphoric to get him out of the trance in which he was immersed due to the pain of losing his beloved.

    Feeling the cold brush of metal against his cheek, the prince swelled with fury and lashed out at the soldiers of the coalition army, slamming his rapier into their chests while kicking them away to clear his way along with Vargas.

    That man who for a brief moment felt the warmth of hope, that cold that penetrated his heart soon began to make him lose all traces of courage for life. Letting himself be carried away by the frenzy of battle, the blood angel rose once more over his enemies before the gaze of Vargas, who cried out with one voice for the glory of the warlord who had returned from the dead.

    "Death to you bastard dogs! The traitors to the royal family must pay with their lives!¡± ¨C With the stupor of adrenaline running through his veins, Vargas followed his lord in that crimson sea that opened before them by the wave of the sword. Instilling courage among the inhabitants, who taking everything they had at hand, began to defend themselves against the invaders, who did not believe what was happening before their eyes.

    - ¡°Whoa! Where is the ship you arrived on?¡±

    - "Yes my lord, the ship is right in front!" ¨C Finished pronouncing those words, a scarlet silhouette fell like a volley of fire on the ship, splitting it in two, amid the screams of the crew that was blinded by the edge of a scythe that glowed like ruby.

    - ¡°Ha, ha, ha, ha. Who would have thought? I knew if I followed that subtle scent in the air I would be in for a pleasant surprise. But look here, my dear fianc¨¦ who I thought was dead!" ¨C Taking steps through the air as if they were jumping, the woman in scarlet armor waved the blood scythe created by her lineage ability. Followed by the corpses of the crew turned into puppets.

    - ¡°Damn psychopath! Are you the person behind the attacks on this city?¡±

    - ¡°Oh wow, what a way to refer to the woman you were about to marry. You break my heart¡± ¨C Placing her hand on her chest, tilting her head with a mocking expression on her face, Berenice waved her weapon threateningly as she continued walking, cutting any meat that came her way.

    - "You did not answer my question?" ¨C Grinding his teeth while maintaining a stoic expression on his face, Maximilian held the handle of his sword tightly as if he expected to hear from that woman''s lips the words that would serve as the starting signal for his attack.

    - "One moment? I think I remember that you left that day with a woman and you abandoned me. What was it called? Oh yes, my friend Aurora. I must admit that it broke my heart that you cheated on me with her. But I am someone who has a merciful self and I forgive easily. How is she? ¨C With a malicious smile on her lips, Berenice looked at Maximiliano out of the corner of her eye, searching for a hint of fury in his expression.

    - "Answer me, damn it!"

    - ¡°And what if I did? Don''t tell me she was here when I started my attack. Did she see the fireworks? I hope he was in the front row¡± ¨C Laughing like a maniac, Berenice did not notice at the time that the skillful gentleman moved right in front of her with a red glow in his pupils, similar to hellfire. Receiving a direct hit against the breastplate of his armor, throwing it into the air until it fell to the ground.

    With his mana flowing uncontrollably through the atrophied nerves, Maximilian stopped hearing any sound save for his racing heartbeat. With bloodshot eyes as he released his wings surrounded by an aurora of energy swords encircling him.

    - "Wonderful! For the first time you show me your true feelings, those that you hid behind the rock facade that you used before everyone. That turns me on, makes my belly tingle; but I''m sorry, I''m already a married woman¡± ¨C Changing her expression to a more sober one with hints of anger, Berenice launched herself fully against Maximiliano. Trading blows at a speed that was hard to follow with your eyes.

    Before Vargas'' astonished gaze, under that darkness of the starry sky, countless undulating sparks between scarlet and purple tones escaped from that battle, launching gusts of wind that raised the loose sand on the street floor.

    - "I''ll kill you!"

    - ¡°Try it, sweetie! Although it is more likely that you will die first. You have not seen yourself in the mirror, you are not even the shadow of the powerful warlord you were years ago. You''re just an imitation of a man who can barely stand up."Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    - "Like your father?" ¨C Upon hearing those words, Berenice became enraged to the point that her power exploded in a roar that shook all the buildings around her. Splitting the houses in two due to the gusts of air, which took the lives of the spectators who were still incredulous behind the walls.

    - "It seems that strikes a sensitive chord"

    - "Shut up, unhappy!" ¨C Taking control of the corpses of the villagers, Berenice threw them like an army against the prince, who little by little felt that his mana flow began to slow down with each puppet he destroyed.

    - "I have you!" ¨C Behind one of the puppets, with her face disfigured in madness, Berenice appeared before Maximilian nailing her left hand into the knight''s chest, holding his beating heart in the palm of her hand.

    - ¡°I finally have your heart! Sure, not the way it should be. But a result is a result¡± ¨C When the fierce maiden squeezed the prince''s heart, he gave a cry followed by a flow of blood that came out of his mouth.

    - "My Sir!" ¨C Vargas, who was still on the ground, could only be a spectator of the martyrdom to which Prince Maximilian was subjected. Unable to get up because of the rubble that crushed his legs to the ground.

    - ¡°Look what a faithful servant you have. I can even get to feel a little envious with that level of devotion that your men keep for you. But don''t worry, you won''t be alone in the underworld for long, I''ll send them with you soon. You will even be able to see that mixed-race bitch¡± ¨C As if the spark of a detonator had activated a bomb, the heart that had stopped for a few seconds, began to beat with such force that it burned in Berenice''s hand.

    - "What the hell is this?" ¨C Unable to believe what she was seeing, the duchess looked at that man over whom until a few seconds ago she gloated invincibly; but now, a different being emerged in a ball of crimson fire like a bloodthirsty demon.

    The blood that was stagnant on the floor, flowed like a spring to the sphere of fire enveloping him until it evaporated into the air. While the fire shone more and more as if a sun illuminated the dark night.

    - "It can''t be, it''s impossible" ¨C A burst of light and sound covered a vast area of the city of Theseus, as if a bomb had been thrown. After that, give way to a silhouette in the mist, which walked imposingly with its wings spread like a burning crucible.

    With his wounds healed and his arm restored, magma-shiny armor covered his entire body, leaving only his fiery red eyes visible behind the tail of his helmet.

    - ¡°I did it, my lord did it! That is the second awakening of the royal family!¡±

    - "What the hell are you saying?" ¨C Without giving her time to finish her sentence, Maximiliano struck a forceful blow on Berenice''s abdomen, who felt her armor break into pieces, exposing her flesh while leaving a groove on the ground.

    Stripped of her body armor, unable to articulate her mana strings to control the puppets, her immortal soldiers fell to the ground leaving her vulnerable at the mercy of what was no longer mere man.

    - ¡°Monster! You are a monster¡± ¨C Whining as she crawled on the ground trying to escape her predator, the Duchess seemed a different person compared to past territorial incursions.

    Turning from predator to prey, the proud woman screamed for help as Maximilian grabbed her right arm, lifting her off the ground, squeezing her wrist until the bones broke completely. Making her scream in pain to the point that she felt like her throat was about to rip out.

    -"Pity, have mercy on me!"

    - "With which hand?"

    - "Sorry?"

    - ¡°I asked with which hand did you give the signal to launch the first attack? Was this what he was holding?¡±

    -"Were you there? How were you? But if you''re holding it¡± ¨C Without warning, Maximiliano closed his fist tearing off Berenice''s right hand, who fell to the ground holding her stump in the middle of a pool of her own blood.

    - "Please! Somebody save Me!" ¨C Materializing a sword of blood, the prince raised his hands in the air over the maiden, preparing to deal the final blow against her fragile humanity.

    - "Die" - At the moment that the point of the sword was about to pierce the woman''s body, a snake bit her shoulder, pulling her just a few seconds before the weapon stuck into the ground.

    - "!Demetrio! You came for me!" - Grateful to the man who had come to her rescue, Berenice''s hand sought her face to give her a caress, being withdrawn with a slap while she held his gaze full of indifference.

    - ¡°This is supposed to be one more capitulation without setbacks. But look what you have done, the prince we had to eliminate is now a Lichen lord.¡±

    - "Lord Lichen?"

    - ¡°Stupid bitch! Don''t you even know the final evolution of your race? All races have an evolution known as the second awakening. We Aspirtenes have the basilisk form, the strongest evolution of our species. You also have yours, but to get it you must experience a very strong trauma that brings you to the brink of death."

    - "Then I?"

    - "Yes, damn idiot. You and your damn games, you caused the fucking prince to acquire a form that not even I can face at this moment" ¨C Demetrio''s body trembled with fear as he contemplated Prince Maximilian, feeling that every second became an eternity while the heir disgraced, he walked through the sand leaving a trail of fire in his footsteps.

    - "We must go"

    - ¡°But we have not captured the city¡±

    - ¡°With a female demon, we must escape while we still have time. Also, Lucretius informed me that he had a close sighting with Prince Remius on his way to the city. So let''s put this down for now and head back to camp."

    Raising his hand to throw a mana gem onto the ground, Duke Demetrius and his wife were engulfed in blinding light as they disappeared into thin air.

    - "Glory to the last son of Antioca!" ¨C Shouting cheers for his lord, Vargas writhed in pain under the rubble, being helped by the prince, who, leaving behind his transformation, took the soldier on his shoulders and walked towards the shipyards. To take the ship that would originally serve as an escape route for him and his wife.

    In the middle of the calm sea without a single wind to starboard, the prince remained silent looking at the coast where the city burned in flames. Reflecting that glow in her moist pupils, shedding one last tear for that love that had been torn from her arms. Harboring in his soul a desire for revenge, which drove him with each oar while they were lost on the horizon bound for the island of Kaidos.

 Chapter XIII: I only have to say goodbye.

    - "Gideon, how is the situation inside the town?"

    - ¡°It is just as His Highness predicted, the population is in a state of maximum alert. Despite the fact that they were busy getting their belongings packed, I could feel their distrustful glances piercing the back of my neck despite my disguise.¡±

    - "We must then prepare ourselves to wear insignia of peace ahead, I do not want citizens to see us as a threat for any reason." ¨C Just outside the city of Theseus, just thirty minutes away on foot, Prince Remius''s small contingent stood guard with all flames extinguished despite the inclement night that was falling on them.

    Taking a map that was inside his bag, the prince circled the location of the city, while scrutinizing the trail of blood that his spies had informed him regarding the advance of the coalition army.

    - "Then everyone ready, get ready to get on your mounts" - Just at that moment that the prince was willing to get on his steed, a threatening shadow covered the sky like a storm cloud that fell on them in the form of a gust of lightning. arrows.

    - "Take cover, we are attacked!" ¨C Raising their shields to create a diamond formation, the soldiers of Remius''s contingent strongly resisted that onslaught; of such magnitude, that the surface of the shields with the royal emblem was completely covered by the arrows that were stuck into them.

    - ¡°My lord, the camelius are dead!

    "Damn it, Gideon! Didn''t you tell me there were no Sidelia soldiers in the city?"

    - ¡°Your highness, there was not a single soul in the city that belonged to the national army! Much less indication of a backup contingent sent by Kalifuto.¡±

    - ¡°Gideon, give the order to the magician to launch the signal to the sky to identify us. I have a hunch¡± ¨C Giving instructions from a distance, covering himself with his shield, the prince''s assistant alerted the wizard to cast a flare spell that could only be seen by the eyes of a particular species.

    When the signal was embodied in the sky, the rain of arrows ceased for an instant, giving a break to the prince''s men, who felt immense cramps in their arms from holding their heavy shields during the time the threat lasted.

    - ¡°Your Highness, we have no casualties among our men. But we have lost all our steeds. Not a single one is left alive."

    - "Calm down, Gideon, I''m going to demand compensation from the commander of the garrison that attacked us" ¨C Without warning, a lone arrow crossed the night sky, piercing the prince''s armor at the level of his left shoulder.

    - ¡°Damn! Squad, surround the prince and protect him!¡± ¨C With the signal of the faithful assistant, the prince''s men formed a circle around him with their shields and spears in front. Awaiting the advance of the distant enemy.

    In that sepulchral silence where only the breaths of the combatants resounded in unison, the death scream of a man was heard a few steps away in the gloom of the desert.

    Carrying a white banner bearing the emblem of the kingdom of Antioca, a man in black armor walked holding the corpse of an archer who wore the uniform of the siege troops of the kingdom of Sidelia.

    - "Are they still alive?" ¨C A male voice with a slightly effeminate accent was heard as he approached Prince Remius''s contingent.

    With an expression of concealed concern, Lucretius waved the banner as his battalion emerged from the shadows under the faint rays of moonlight.

    - ¡°What the hell is going through your head Lucrecio? How dare you attack the prince. Is it that so much is your desire for death that you dance on the edge of the abyss?

    - ¡°Lieutenant Gideon, do I strike you as someone who would attack royalty on a whim? Look at the corpse of the Lupus bastard I have dragging around with me. This is the commander of the archer battalion that we just massacred.¡± ¨C Placing his arm around his assistant''s chest, Remius ordered Gideon to lower his sword as he made his way through his men to face Baron Lucretius.

    - ¡°You have my gratitude, Lucrecio. It seems that they arrived at the opportune moment to suppress our attackers.¡±

    - "Your gratitude is undeserved for this humble servant, your highness, I only did as dictated by the duty of a faithful follower of the crown."

    - ¡°Then according to your words, Baron. I request that you return the thirty camelius that we lost in the fray just now. Well, I guess it''s not a disgrace for someone so devoted to the royal family¡± ¨C With a sarcastic smile, Prince Remius knew the intentions of Lucretius'' heart. Who bit her lips to hide a smile, while clenching her fists behind her back digging her claws into her skin.

    Giving an order to a shout, Lucretius placed the mounts lost in combat at the hands of the prince, while trying to withdraw from the place in a hurry.

    - ¡°Before Lucrecio leaves, I would like to know how they found out we were here. Was it because of the cease-fire signal?¡± ¨C With a cold sweat that began to bathe his forehead, the prince felt that his senses were becoming clumsy as he struggled to stay firm on his feet.

    - ¡°It was just a lucky coincidence, your highness, my men and I were forming a detachment to enter the city. While we were waiting for the signal from our commander, it happened that I saw the cease-fire signal and understood that something was happening in this direction."

    - ¡°Detachment? Who is the commander?

    - ¡°I think you already know that I never separated from that man. I don''t think it''s necessary for me to tell you his name with that said¡± ¨C Faced with such disrespect, Gideon wanted to throw himself at Lucretius with his drawn sword, being stopped by a weakened Remius. Who could hardly maintain awareness of his body.

    - "My Sir! What''s wrong with him? ¨C Removing the arrow from the prince''s shoulder, the assistant sniffed the metal tip looking for signs of poison in it.

    - ¡°Your Highness, this arrow is not the same as the rest. We were certainly attacked by a detachment from Sidelia, but this particular one, its feathers don''t match the pattern they use."

    - ¡°I know, Gideon. That bloody liar is a lapdog of the Barbosa family. I do not doubt that he was the one who fired the last arrow that hit me squarely."

    - ¡°Then why do we allow him to leave? Give me the order and I''ll go kill him."

    - ¡°Gideon! What is the duty of a sovereign? Answer to me?" ¨C Pausing briefly while gnashing his teeth in rage, the knight lowered his face and exclaimed in a calm tone the answer his lord wanted to hear.

    - "A lord must see to the good and safety of his vassals"

    - "Exact. The men who are here with us entrusted their lives to me because they believe in me; if I were to act at my own will, their lives would be wasted uselessly. A king should rule for the will of his people, never for his own interest." ¨C Saying those words with a sorrowful expression on his face, the prince collapsed on the sand while his escort gave the order to the troops to find water and a blanket to help him bear the chills.

    - ¡°My lord, please! Resist!"

    - "Gideon, was there a healer in that city?"

    - "I''m sorry my lord, all the mederi that were there were recruited by the army more than two months ago. But¡­"

    - "But?"

    - ¡°In the slums there was an improvised clinic, but the person who attended it was a woman. I have never heard of a woman healer in my life, I think she is a charlatan who has taken advantage of the need in that city.¡± ¨C Grabbing him by the arm with his hand with barely any strength, the prince looked into Gideon''s eyes and ordered him to go immediately in search of that woman.

    Full of skepticism, the servant took one of the camelius and hit the horse''s reins hard, beginning its gallop at full speed in the face of the imminent threat of the coalition army''s offensive on the city. Meanwhile, with the tumult of people swirling through the streets of the city, a small office remained open with a woman waiting for her partner.

    - ¡°Mederi Aurora! Is the clinic still open? ¨C Knocking insistently on the door, a middle-aged woman had her little son tied up in a shawl on her back.

    - ¡°Mekley? What are you doing here woman? I thought you had already left the city this morning¡± ¨C Leaving aside her belongings outside a velis, the doctor took her stethoscope allowing the mother to pass, who had a disconcerted expression of concern.

    Placing the child on a table, Aurora proceeded to listen to him, realizing that the infant''s ribs were marked with each attempt to breathe, while his lips and fingers were already showing signs of cyanosis.

    With the passing of the months and the sudden cut off of supplies to the city, diseases that could be treated in a simple way, became extreme situations where the lives of the patients hung by a thread.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    By placing her stethoscope on her left side, the doctor was able to see that the patient had a pneumothorax. With a visible bruise on his lower back, the boy had suffered an accident while moving with his mother through crowds.

    - "There are no fractures in the ribs, but your son has a trauma that is compressing one of his lungs. Hold it firmly and whatever happens, don''t be afraid; please, trust me." ¨C With tears rolling down her cheeks, the woman nodded, carefully taking her son while placing him in a prone position.

    Taking out a handmade needle that she had made with the help of her memories, the doctor spilled a little distilled alcohol on the minor''s skin and proceeded with an incision over the intercostal space. Reaching the pleural layer, listening to a slight wheezing sound with which the child''s breathing gradually returned to normal.

    - "Thank you, Mederi!"

    - ¡°Meklei has not finished yet. I need you to keep holding it, I''m going to place a catheter to seal the area.¡±

    - "A what?"

    - "Forget it, just hold your son." ¨C With the emotion of the moment, Aurora had forgotten that this was no longer the world in which she once lived. Casting his gaze to the ceiling, he thought with a slight feeling of nostalgia for the years of his youth that he dreamed of being a doctor.

    - "Okay, it''s done. But I need you to stay here with me to monitor your son, at least I want to be sure that his condition does not relapse until my partner arrives" ¨C Feeling a slight pang in her abdomen, Aurora sat on a chair sighing at the same time who was touching his back with an expression of annoyance on his face.

    - "Is your baby about to be born yet?"

    - ¡°Not yet, there is still a month left until I give birth. But lately these days I have felt these discomforts that do not let me rest well at night "

    - "Wouldn''t it be better if I saw a mederi?" ¨C Provoking Aurora''s laughter, the woman smiled when she saw that this new mother looked relieved in the middle of that disastrous scene of war. Being then, that a stranger knocked on the door, knocking hard as if he wanted to break down the planks.

    - "Mederi, do not open!"

    - ¡°Calm down Meklei, it may be about Max. Lately he''s been more stressed than me with this pregnancy thing. So much so that it seems that he is the one who is going to give birth¡± ¨C When she opened the door, the smiling expression on Aurora''s face changed, experiencing an ominous feeling when she saw those amber eyes that reminded her of the incident in the royal palace.

    - "Are you the healer?"

    - ¡°Yes, I am. What do you want?" ¨C Regaining her composure a bit, steeling herself with courage, Aurora stood her ground before the threatening figure of that man, whose height almost reached the threshold of the door.

    - "Come with me, I don''t have time to lose" -Roughly holding her wrist, Gideon pulled the woman''s arm to the point that it caused discomfort in her belly.

    - ¡°You are a beast! Can''t you see that she is pregnant? ¨C Meklei, who until a few moments ago was paralyzed by fear, seeing how the woman who saved her son was treated, did not take into account her own integrity, attacking the soldier''s arm.

    When Gideon saw those green eyes resting on rosy cheeks with a pained expression, he released his grip on her hand and apologized to the doctor. Being hugged by Meklei, who kept looking down on Melina''s proud soldier.

    - ¡°Please, my friend has been poisoned and has fallen ill in the desert on the outskirts of the city. I beg you, I need you to come with me¡± ¨C Kneeling, leaving his honor aside, the faithful Gideon did not estimate his value more highly, preferring to sacrifice his pride for the well-being of his lord with that gesture.

    Seeing that act of submission on the part of the Aspirtene, Aurora felt moved with compassion for her vocation as a doctor. But as soon as he was about to give him his hand to follow him, he thought about the fact that this man was an enemy.

    - ¡°No, I''m sorry, but I don''t have to go with you. You and your people have slaughtered countless villages on the way to this city. If your friend has been poisoned, better pray to the goddess for their salvation, if they are worthy of reaching it" - Upon hearing those words from Aurora''s lips, Gideon, blinded by rage, took out his dagger and put it on the girl''s neck. woman raising the blade dangerously against her chin.

    - ¡°Unlike you, I don''t believe in gods or myths. But you know what I do believe? I faithfully believe in the idea that anyone is more cooperative when their lives are at stake.¡± ¨C Feeling Gideon''s agitated breathing in her ear, Aurora knew immediately that the man was not lying about cutting her throat if she refused. Fearing more for her son''s life than her own, the doctor with her trembling voice begged her to put down the dagger.

    - ¡°Okay, I''ll accompany you! But please don''t do anything to my baby. I swear on my life that I will do everything you ask of me, but allow me to return as soon as I finish curing your friend" ¨C Sensing that Aurora''s oath was legitimate, Gideon released her to let her take her briefcase to keep everything she needed to serve the prince.

    - ¡°Meklei, if my husband arrives before I return, please tell him not to worry. That I went out to look for the herbalist for some things that I needed"

    - "Mederi don''t go, I beg you!" ¨C Taking the doctor by her wrist, Meklei''s expression was full of anguish at the uncertainty in which her benefactor was. Being comforted by Aurora, who smilingly told her that she would return as soon as she was free and that she would keep an eye on her son until he returned.

    Pulling a hood over her head and a diving helmet over her face, Aurora asked Gideon to lead the way to the man who needed medical attention. Shielding her belly from any accidental bumps from the crowd, the young woman felt Gideon''s stocky arm around her shoulder as he pushed past the passers-by to make their way.

    - "I will keep my promise to protect your life and that of your son, it is better that you keep yours" - The hard expression on the soldier''s face contrasted with the fear reflected in his eyes, like the fear of someone at the idea of losing to a loved one. Aurora knew that feeling very well, remembering how she suffered in her childhood to save Maria''s life.

    How will my mother be? That question hit the doctor''s mind with force, feeling guilty about the fact that since that day when Eusebio tore her away, the young woman had left all thoughts of her in the face of the anxiety of surviving in the Rivera mansion.

    Helping her onto the mount, Gideon leaped after her, careful not to knock her off her feet, hugging her to his chest in this race against time to save the prince''s life.

    Using an alternate route to avoid the watchmen of the coalition army''s advance guard, Gideon cast a spell on his steed to silence the trot, surprising Aurora, who thought it was just a mere foot soldier.

    - "What''s wrong woman?"

    - "Nothing happens, it''s just that I didn''t expect him to know how to use magic."

    - ¡°This spell is very common for a troop commander. If I wanted to, I could silence the footsteps of a thousand men to carry out an ambush."

    - "It''s amazing. But that doesn''t explain how your friend was attacked if you are such a formidable magician¡± ¨C With a frown, Gideon clenched his jaw, pulling hard on the rein of his steed. Shuddering Aurora, who preferred to keep quiet the rest of the way so as not to provoke him.

    -"We have arrived, I''ll help you get down" ¨C In the middle of a sand wasteland, hidden behind immense dunes that covered their positions, the men of the prince''s brigade kept guard waiting for Commander Gideon. Seeing him arrive, the lookouts were relieved to see that he had succeeded in bringing in the rumored healer from Theseus''s slums.

    - ¡°Is this the patient?¡±

    - "Yes, he is" - Prostrate on his cape and covered by a blanket, the prince''s face looked pale with clear signs of being in shock. With tremors running through his body to the point of making his teeth chatter, this vigorous gentleman looked so vulnerable that anyone who saw him could bet that he would soon die.

    - "Gideon, you brought her"

    - "Yes my lord, I have returned with her"

    - "Perfect, let her come closer" - With a low tone of voice that could barely be heard as hatred approached his lips, the prince was sooner to give his last breath than to a recovery.

    Tearing the fabric of his clothing, Aurora proceeded to check the wound on the prince''s body, noticing a pattern of blood vessels with a blackish coloration due to incomplete coagulation.

    - "Do you have the weapon with which they wounded him?"

    - "Yes, he was wounded with this arrow." -Carefully bringing her nose closer to the tip of the arrow, Aurora began to sniff, seeking to recognize a familiar scent that matched the poisons she had worked with before. Immediately surprised by the coincidences with a scent that seemed distant from his childhood days.

    - "This man is not poisoned!"

    - "What nonsense are you talking charlatana? It is evident that he is suffering from poisoning."

    - ¡°I am telling you that it is not poison with which they attacked him! The scent on the arrow is alcorn root oil, a remedy for ailments used by commoners suffering from mana poisoning. But it''s strange, this plant is harmless to nobles, except in the case of a mestizo" - Feeling the cold brush of the sword on her neck, to the point that a light trickle of blood flowed from her skin, Aurora turned her face towards Gideon. Who had an expression of anger with the firm intention of cutting off his head.

    - "Gideon, leave her."

    -¡°But my lord! This woman has offended your highness."

    - ¡°She has only said what her eyes have seen, there is no lie on her lips that deserves the death penalty. Put down your sword.¡± ¨C Raising her hand to her neck, Aurora felt nauseated and moved away a bit to vomit in panic. While his pupils trembled with cold sweat running down his back.

    - "You can heal him"

    - "Sorry?"

    - ¡°Are you deaf woman? I have asked you if you are capable of curing him."

    - "Yes damn unhappy! I can cure him, but if you threaten my life or my son''s life again, you will have to mourn your master at his grave. Well, I won''t cure him if you dare to put a finger on me¡± ¨C With her eyes full of determination, Aurora stood up pushing Gideon to get closer to the prince once more.

    While taking a small scalpel from his briefcase with which he tore a vein in his right wrist.

    - ¡°If you want to live, drink. Only the blood of a mestizo serves as an antidote against the effects of the horn in his mana torrent¡± ¨C Placing the delicate skin of her doll on Remius''s lips, Aurora turned her face while the prince began to drink giving light sucks. Reminding him of the night that Aurora used that same method to save Maximiliano from the injuries caused by the evil Berenice.

    As the blood slowly flowed over the shallow cut, the prince''s face slightly regained its healthy appearance. While the veins that surrounded his wound began to return to their original state, expelling the clots through muscle spasms.

    - "Thank you woman, please tell me your name"

    - ¡°My name is Aurora. And if you really want to thank me, please let me go find my husband in the city. We were about to run away when your man arrived at my office and I''m afraid he won''t find me there."

    - ¡°Take this royal emblem woman, take it with you and look for your husband. With it, I can guarantee you safe passage if you travel towards the east¡± ¨C At the moment that Aurora was about to take the medallion, the dark sky lit up with a glow as red as the sunset sky. Followed by an explosion that shook the ground with a shock wave that raised a cloud of sand.

    - "My lord, the coalition army has begun to attack the city!"

    - ¡°That explosion! Where did that explosion occur? Answer me!" ¨C Holding firmly the edges of the collar of Gideon''s cloak, the expression on Aurora''s face was plunged into agony by the answer she was about to hear from the soldier''s lips. Who took her firmly by the shoulders, while struggling to contain her.

    - "That explosion came from the area of the slums, near the office where I brought it from"

    - "My husband! I have to go back for Max!¡±

    - ¡°Woman reacts! That explosion was an attack from a fifth circle magician. Anything near the blast radius¡­¡±

    - "What? Reply!" ¨C Keeping a slight silence, Gideon took a breath trying to steel himself for what he was about to say to the woman in his arms.

    - ¡°No one survives an attack of that magnitude. The woman, the child and even your husband. They are all dead¡± ¨C Feeling the strength leave her body, Aurora fainted in Gideon''s arms, hearing that the man she loved had perished under the infamous enemy fire.

    Being contemplated by Remius, who lowered his face cursing himself for not having been able to stop the advance of the coalition army.

 Chapter XIV: Quo vadis domine.

    Fire, the result of a physical reaction between an oxidizing material and a fuel, which reacts exothermically with a temperature above 100 degrees Celsius. In the past it was said that fire was a purifying element, that it took all the impurities from an object and consumed them to renew it. Far from that idealistic concept, the rubble of the church of Nuestra Se?ora del Socorro still smoked with shades of embers among the remains of charred corpses.

    Homicide detectives tiptoed around the evidence, holding bandanas to their faces to cover their noses against the pungent aroma of burning meat. Bodies that in some cases were unrecognizable, had their rictus with an expression of agony that was seen mainly with the corpses that were piling up at the side doors. Which had visible signs of scratches, as crude testimony of the struggle to survive before that fateful encounter.

    - "Detective Aurora, come see this!" ¨C An officer in a black jacket with the forensic legend written on the back, raised his hand signaling to the detective about a discovery that required her intervention.

    - "What did you find?"

    - ¡°As you may have noticed, all the bodies inside the vault were scattered in all directions. The most logical thing in a fire is to seek to get away from the flames and find a way out just as they did. But¡­"

    - "But what?"

    - "If you look carefully at the soot marks on the floor and those that were close to the wall, you will be able to realize that this person was at the starting point of the conflagration."

    - "Are you telling me that she started the fire?" ¨C Approaching the corpse pointing her flashlight on the body, the detective noticed a strange element that protruded from the mouth of that woman''s body. Grasping it with tweezers by the edge, he moved his jaw slightly, releasing what appeared to be a piece of parchment made of cowhide, bearing a Latin inscription written in gold ink.

    - "Quo vadis dominee, where are you going my lord?"

    - ¡°Doesn''t it seem strange to you, detective. At first I thought that this person had acted voluntarily from the way he was holding the oil lamp in his hands. If it had been an accident, I would have thrown it open, but she clung so tightly that the heat melted her skin with the metal" - While they were examining the body for more evidence, a slight sound that came from under their feet alerted the officers , who drew their weapons following the trail.

    Heading into the back of the temple where the main forum was located, the detective led the way as she reached what appeared to be a slightly gaping cast-iron trapdoor in the floor.

    - "Officer, go for Lieutenant Trevor and show him the way to get to me"

    - "Are you planning to go down alone?" ¨C With a worried expression, the forensic officer had her eyes like those of a deer in the middle of the road when she sees the lights of a truck. That boy was barely two years old after having entered by force, lacking a lot of experience in dealing with a murderer.

    - ¡°Child, I am going to be clear with you. Whatever is down there, it won''t hesitate to shoot you in the head or bash you in the skull with whatever comes to hand. If you come with me, I''m going to have to shoot the fucking bastard and I need to get a confession out of him. Unless you have a Ouija board, I don''t think the dead talk" - Smiling sarcastically, Aurora pointed the light of her lamp surprisingly at the officer, who by mere reflex put his hands to his face to avoid being blinded by that light .

    - ¡° Bang . You see, if I were the killer you''d already be wearing a body bag along with the smoking logs from the vault. Do what I told you and stop wasting time."

    - "Yes, Detective!" ¨C Leaving the inexperienced boy behind, the detective went down the stairs from the trapdoor holding her lamp with her mouth. Trying to make as little noise as possible given the fragility of the creaking metal of the stair railings.

    Following the path of a tunnel covered in gloom, Aurora lightly covered her lamp to prevent the light from alerting the perpetrator who was taking refuge in that hiding place. As her footsteps brought her closer to what appeared to be a wooden door, the sound of a muttering voice recited a prayer in a language that was unintelligible to her ears.

    It was not Latin, ancient Greek or Aramaic, from the years of her childhood that she was interested in ancient cultures, the detective had never had the opportunity to learn that strange language that was suddenly interrupted by the moans of what seemed to be a woman .

    - ¡°NYPD, drop the gun and put your hands where I can see them!¡± ¨C Kicking the door open, the detective pointed her gun at a middle-aged man who was holding a woman prisoner. Gagged and with her hands tied to the wall, on her chest she had a symbolic pattern drawn in blood that she recognized just by looking at it.

    - "Against the wall! You are under arrest on suspicion of multiple homicide, arson, kidnapping and attempted murder. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you. You have the right to a lawyer, in case you do not have the means, the state will provide you with one¡± ¨C Reading him his rights while handcuffing him according to protocol, the detective saw how Lieutenant Trevor entered the underground room with his breath agitated by his race in the hall

    - "Detective Aurora, why go down without support?"

    - ¡°Lieutenant, the only officer who was with me at the time we detected suspicious activity, does not have enough field experience. I am not going to bring a child who continues to wet his diaper to what could become a borderline situation "

    - "But still!"

    - ¡°Trevor, don''t worry. Can''t you see that I''m fine?"

    - ¡°Yes, this time. But how about the next one? You can''t be so impulsive, Aurora, you''re not bulletproof¡± ¨C Lowering her face a little, Aurora hesitated for a moment and then apologized to the lieutenant, who approached the woman imprisoned in the room. Untying her hands and releasing the gag from her lips.

    - "Very good jerk, move" - Pushing the suspect into custody, the detective walked holding his neck while keeping his left hand on the weapon in the face of any possible escape attempt or resistance.

    - "Quo vadis domine" - When the prisoner recited that same phrase in Latin that was found on the corpse on the upper level, the woman who until a few moments ago was in Trevor''s arms came out of her trance, launching herself like an animal snapping her arms. teeth against Aurora. Who fell on the ground on top of the suspect, while pushing the woman who had lost her mind with her arms.

    His eyes were completely blank, as if the iris were covered by a veil of flesh. With her face disfigured as if she were a demon, that woman seemed possessed by a strange force that little by little was defeating the detective. Who at times felt a stench coming from the skin of his attacker, as if it were a corpse that had just been revived.

    - "Stop your actions and get down on the ground!" ¨C Pointing his gun at the woman, Trevor hesitated to shoot because he had no clear point where the bullet would not accidentally hit the detective.

    - ¡°Lieutenant, damn it, don''t shoot! She is a witness, we need her alive."

    - "Aurora, lift her up a bit."

    - ¡°Fuck you, Trevor! Put down your weapon¡± ¨C With the teeth almost about to bite off the carotid artery, the sound of a detonation resounded on the walls of the room while blood spattered Aurora''s face, who felt like that body that until recently for a few moments he struggled with her with the impetus of a beast, he collapsed inert at her side.

    - "You are well?" - Extending his hand to help her sit up, Trevor''s face was bathed in sweat that reflected on his skin the dim light of the candles that illuminated the room. With a look of relief in his eyes, the lieutenant hugged Aurora, who suddenly pushed him away in anger.

    - "Because you did?"

    - "What are you talking about woman? I had you seconds away from ripping your neck off with one bite! I did what I have to do"

    - ¡°I needed her alive, Trevor! Did you not see the symbols inscribed on his body? This damn bastard surely kidnapped her just like they did with my sister¡± ¨C Holding the lieutenant by the collar of his shirt, Aurora burst a couple of buttons in the struggle while Trevor slapped her to make her see reason.

    - ¡°The duty of an officer is to cover his partner in the face of a threat against his life. If I were in your place and you in mine, I would expect you to do the same¡± ¨C Fixing his shirt, the lieutenant took the prisoner from the floor and forcefully carried him down the hall. While Aurora remained for a moment next to the body of the dejected woman, closing her eyes as she lowered her face crying.

    Feeling a rocking movement in her body, Aurora woke up from her dream, opening her eyes contemplating what seemed to be the roof of a sleigh that was propelled over the sands. As she came to her senses, the warm touch of a thick hand gripped hers, feeling her heartbeat through the blood vessels in her skin.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

    - "Gideon, how much longer to reach the limits of Kalifuto ?" ¨C The imposing figure of Prince Remius directed his gaze to the driver who led the sleigh, with a tone of voice that denoted his anxiety.

    - ¡°My lord, we are only a few hours away from reaching our forces. The soldiers will march as soon as we arrive at the meeting point. Just wait a little longer, it''s not a long time."

    - ¡°How easy to say, a few hours. Fifteen days have passed since we left Theseus, our men cannot wait any longer."

    - "Fifteen days?" ¨C The prince turned his face to Aurora, looking directly into her eyes, placing the palm of his hand on her forehead.

    - ¡°I see that you have already regained consciousness. For a moment I thought you would never wake up after falling that night."

    - "That night? My husband! Where is Max? ¨C Disturbed by the memories that came to her head, Aurora got up forcefully from the floor of the wagon being stopped by Remius in his arms.

    - "Calm down woman, I can''t handle the situation again if you lose consciousness again. Think about the creature you carry in your womb¡± ¨C Taking her hands to her bulging abdomen, Aurora lowered her face crying while Remius consoled her by leaning her face against his chest. Letting her vent for all that time that she had repressed her tears for that love that she thought was lost.

    Meanwhile, in the inner confines of Kalifuto Palace , King Ambrose walked with his arms behind his back through the halls of his majestic castle. Silently accompanied by a young woman in her early twenties, who had her eyes on the monarch with a sad expression.

    - ¡°If the walls of this palace could talk, what could they say about me? Was I a good sovereign? Did I lead my people wisely? If the history books talked about me, I think they would say that I was a foolish and stubborn man."

    - ¡°Father, please don''t say that! Your people have witnessed your exploits and faithfully believe in you; rest assured, don''t doubt it. If it were not so, then whose souls are outside the palace walls waiting for you to lead them" ¨C Holding his arm hugging him, Princess Suthi , the last living descendant of the royal lineage, felt her heart languish with each minute that the moment of truth approached.

    His obsidian-black eyes were framed by the smooth brown skin of his face that bore the tattoos that served as a sign of his position within the royal family. With abundant hair curling like the waves of the ocean, true to his blood lineage, he stood by the king even when all the cabinet members had left the palace with their families.

    - "Every time I see you, I can''t help but see myself with that iron character of yours and at the same time, feel that I''m talking to your mother when I see that beautiful face" - Placing his hands on his daughter''s cheeks, the The king placed a kiss on the forehead of the princess, who trembled in tears while the lookouts blew their horns giving the signal of sighting the enemy on the horizon.

    - "I have to go"

    - ¡°Father, let me go with you!¡±

    - ¡° Suthi , as king I must go alone to face my adversary. And as a father, with what face could I see your mother in the afterlife if I don''t restrain you at this moment? ¨C Giving him a blow to the neck, Ambrosio took his unconscious daughter in his arms, walking for the last time down the corridor that led to his room. Leaving him on the bed, the king drew a long breath as he covered his eyes with his hand. Hitting the edge of the wall, to then continue his journey to the gates of the palace.

    - "My lord, we have arrived." ¨C Stopping the momentum of the beasts that pulled the sled, Gideon descended from the mount in search of the officer in charge of the legion detachments in the prince''s service.

    - ¡°Woman, it is time for me to introduce myself to my men. I will leave one of my soldiers as an escort to watch over your safety. No matter what, don''t step foot off this sled. Are we clear?¡±

    - "Dawn"

    - "Forgiveness?"

    - "I have said that my name is not a woman, but Aurora."

    - ¡°Seeing the way you answer me, I can leave calmly knowing that you feel better. Just do what I told you and don''t get into trouble, Aurora¡± ¨C Abandoning the sleigh, the prince walked to his men who were already waiting for him in column formation. Raising his arms in the air, Remius gave a speech to the soldiers inspiring them to have courage in the face of the adversary.

    - "Sirs! All of you have marched with me through these inhospitable lands, facing the cruel scorching sun and the sting of the monsters ready to devour your flesh. Look at your partner on the left, then the one on your right, they''re not just soldiers under the banner of Aspirtenian glory , no. They are brothers and sisters in arms who have shared the same bitter cup of war.

    Tonight that we raise our swords, let us not be like the barbarians who wound without distinction the combatant and the unarmed. No, we will not be like beasts that crawl on the ground, but we will firmly plant our feet on the sand, proving that we are better than them.

    That''s why I ask you to lend me your sword; all in one being, under the authentic glory of a soldier and not the maelstrom of an animal" - At the end of his speech, the members of the legion raised their voices with their swords in hand in the air, crying out the name of Remius above all name.

    - ¡°Hail the only king! Glory to Melina''s favorite son!" ¨C The thunderous echo of those screams could be heard inside the sleigh, making Aurora shudder in a way other than fear.

    Who is this man who can inspire the masses with such conviction? It was what she thought to herself, while trying to peek behind the veil at the entrance to the sleigh cabin. That overflowing crowd of enthusiasm was reflected in Aurora''s pupils, who felt an almost magnetic and inexplicable attraction to the silhouette of Prince Remius .

    - ¡°It is the prince''s lineage ability, colloquially known as the king''s charisma. But his real name is quo vadis domine"

    - "What have you said?" ¨C Holding the soldier by the shoulder, Aurora was surprised to hear the name of Remius '' ability . Those words that she knew as the Latin language, in that distant world were the name given to one of the bloodline abilities within the Aspirtenes race .

    - "Wait a moment! They gave me the order to keep her safe until the prince returns. Please return to the cabin." ¨C Pushing Aurora''s face inside, the soldier seemed a little annoyed by the impetus of the woman, who saw no alternative but to obey him to wait for Remius ''s return .

    - "Mr! A man is riding towards us! Shall we start the attack?¡±

    - ¡°Wait! No one makes a single move until I give the order¡± ¨C With his sight pointing to the horizon with the spyglass, the prince saw with the clarity of the rays of the full moon the silhouette of the man who rode alone among the desert sands.

    the reins of a camelus , Remius mounted with a thud of the bridle and raced to meet him face to face.

    - ¡°Long time no see, Prince Remius . Seeing that he has grown into a man, I cannot imagine conceiving the memory of that brat whose arms trembled as we crossed swords on the battlefield¡± ¨C Dressed in his combat armor, King Ambrosio wore on his head the crown symbol of his position with all pride.

    - ¡°I see that you are still the same imposing man as some time ago, I am glad that the years are generous with you. But just the same, I know he''s still the same wise man you know when a battle is unwinnable. Surrender now and I give you my word that the lives of your men will be spared."

    - ¡°Enough of unnecessary verbiage Remius . You know very well that men like us can only understand each other by clashing our swords. On the battlefield, it is the only language that really matters¡± ¨C Descending from his mount, Ambrosio drew his sword from the scabbard strapped to his back, sticking the point into the ground while leaning with both hands on the handle.

    - ¡°I know that you speak to me with the truth, my dear friend. But you must understand that, like Lupus, it is an affront to pride to surrender to the enemy and we would rather die than go through the shame of tucking our tails between our legs."

    - ¡°Ambrosio, stop being stubborn! There are not only soldiers inside the city walls, there are women and children as well. Isn''t even your daughter inside?"

    - "How do you know my daughter is in town?" ¨C Brandishing his heavy sword against the prince''s body, Remius barely managed to dodge the attack by rolling across the sands while giving the order to his men to hold their positions.

    - "Ambrosio should know better than anyone, a king who prides himself on being one must see a step forward to guide his own"

    - ¡°Ha, ha, ha, ha. Sly brat. You are definitely still the same as the first day we met.¡± ¨C Laughing out loud, King Ambrosio felt relieved for a moment in front of his opponent, seeing him in his eyes with the reflection of past years. When he was just a teenager who was disowned by the nobles of his kingdom.

    - ¡°Okay Remius , I believe in you. But as I already told you, we Lupus do not surrender to the enemy without fighting in which we put our lives at stake" - Transforming into his lycanthropic form, Ambrosio raised his jaws to the sky and released a powerful howl that was heard until the end of the day. inside the city walls of Kalifuto . Receiving as a response moments later, thousands of howls that came loaded with a feeling of sadness and resignation.

    - ¡°You have already heard it, Prince Remius . My people have accepted my terms."

    - "What are you talking about?" ¨C Before the prince''s incredulous gaze, King Ambrosio stripped off his armor, exposing his muscular back covered in white fur. That little by little, it was turning crimson while his eyes turned completely into a dark ocean.

    - "I, Ambrosio Kali of Sidelia , challenge you Prince Remius Astarothe of Melina to beat us in Ansuteph ¡± ¨C Dating back thousands of years, the tradition of the Ansuteph was a duel to the death that was intended as a means of coercion in the face of family disputes over the succession of rights.

    As a race that had a strong family bond, the Lupus used this duel for extreme cases where the life of an entire family was put at stake due to inheritance issues.

    - "Are you crazy Ambrosio? The Ansuteph can only be fought between representative members of the same family. How do you think this duel will make sense to your people?¡±

    - "Truly, you are slow to understand things Remius , you still have a long way to go to reach the full wisdom of a monarch. Even your idiot brother, that creeping viper, knows very well how to establish a man''s legitimacy over his subjects."

    - ¡°I refuse! Have you considered your own daughter''s opinion?"

    - ¡°She is like me, even if I don''t ask her directly. She is capable of sacrificing herself for the good of her governed." ¨C With a tone of voice loaded with deep regret, Ambrosio was aware of Remius ''s words . As a father, his heart sank in shame for forcing his daughter into a contract marriage. But putting his duty as king first, he bit his lip as he let out a second howl against the moon. Turning his fur from carmine red, to a black tone that blended with the night sky.

    - ¡°I only have a few seconds before I lose my mind. Afterwards, I''ll turn into a beast that can''t be stopped unless you kill it. So don''t hesitate brat, I know you have your second awakening. Come with all against me, let us be kings fighting in the arenas¡± ¨C Finally plunging into a trance leaving his conscience behind, the once glorious King Ambrose turned into a bloodthirsty wild beast, swinging his sword furiously raising with his force a sandstorm that pushed back Remius ''s body .

    - "So be it, my friend!" Removing his cloak to release his second form, Remius ''s body was covered in scales releasing fiery steam that turned the metal plates of his armor red hot. Putting the palms of his hands together placing them on the sands, the ground shook completely under the feet of the soldiers even reaching the walls of the capital.

    Giving way to a beast that emerged from the sands endowed with six heads with serpentine fangs and the shape of dragons. That mythical being was known as the Basilisk, an extension of the bloodline ability of Melina''s royal family. Unlike his brother Romulos , Prince Remius had inherited the purity of his father''s skill line. Gaining legitimacy in the eyes of the nobles, but still meeting resistance from others.

    Bathed in the moon that served as indolent witness, the two warriors threw themselves against each other, causing an explosion with the clash of their powers that shook the tense calm of the Goba desert .

 Chapter XV: Clash of wills.

    - "Hey brat, aren''t you too weak to wield a sword?" ¨C Even when the contain experienced the freezing season, the Goba desert maintained its temperature regardless of the change of seasons.

    Among the many myths that involved the origin of that world, one was particularly important to the men of the sands.

    - ¡°I don''t know what that old man Cicero saw in you to send you here with us, but these lands are cruel even with our descendants, since under the sand is the lake of fire. That is why the vegetation barely grows, but monsters abound dozing under our feet, waiting for us to let our guard down.¡± ¨C Barely reacting for a few seconds, the young prince Remius stopped the rapier of King Ambrosio''s sword, who smiled pleased by the boy''s reflexes.

    - ¡°My father is not an old man and I have been sent here as a representative of the kingdom of Melina to help them put down the revolt in the east. I ask you please not to make light judgments about me until you see me fighting at the front."

    - ¡°A prince of Melina fighting at the front? Who could attest to such a feat by a race that always keeps its leaders in the rear? Brat, you usually call yourself strategists. But to me they are nothing more than cowardly rats¡± ¨C Scratching his beard keeping a challenging look on the prince to see his reaction, Ambrosio was surprised that the young man maintained his composure even when his pride had been insulted.

    - ¡°King Ambrosio, you know well the duty of kings. Correct?"

    - "Of course! I do not wear the crown as a mere ballerina ornament. A king must always be one step ahead of his subjects."

    - "So is. A king should be ahead of his subjects, not to prove his position. But to walk before them leading them. The delegation of soldiers who have come from the kingdom accompanying me have followed my father''s orders. How could I, the king''s son, stay behind while the men who entrusted their lives in my hands fight for me?

    My people will not fight their battles for me, but I will fight them together. Because one day I will be their king¡± ¨C Standing firmly on his legs, Remius''s eyes brimmed with determination and his words the solid conviction of someone who speaks with the truth of his heart.

    Witnessing that brave young man who was not intimidated by him, Ambrosio hit him on the shoulder in a friendly way, smiling at him as a sign of approval. From that first meeting, a friendly relationship developed between them, sharing the same fate on the battlefield. Celebrating their victories and shedding tears of blood for their fallen men in duty, Remius and Ambrosio had recognized each other as equals.

    - "Why did you have to do this to me, Ambrosio?" ¨C Coming out of his memories, Remius blocked the incessant attacks of the King of Sidelia, who, immersed in his bestial nature, rammed the prince''s body again and again. Who attacked in response to his opponent, letting out sparks with the clash of metals.

    While Ambrosio moved in an erratic but brutal way, the prince connected his blows following a fine dance on the desert sands. Maintaining his balance on that unstable ground, giving orders to the basilisk to attack from time to time in order to buy him time in search of an opening.

    From the distance sheltered in the sled, Aurora watched the fight thanks to the spyglass that the soldier had provided her at her request. Feeling goosebumps when contemplating the solid defense of the prince in combat. As if it were the battle of Ares against Poseidon, that spectacle kept that woman''s heart on the edge of delirium, thinking that everything before her eyes was an impossible prodigy for a common man.

    ¡°Ugh. What is happening to me? ¨C Feeling a slight discomfort in her belly, Aurora lay down on the floor of the sled panting at intervals while her mind reacted to the obvious fact that labor contractions had started. Despite having helped other women give birth in the past, the mother-to-be was nervous about her own labor, her breathing agitated to synchronize with the pulse of the contractions.

    - "Hey, are you alright? There is with a demon! Why does this have to happen to me?" ¨C The soldier who had remained so stoic in front of Aurora, showed his true colors when contemplating the mother who was complaining with her legs open on the floor of the sled.

    - "What do I do? Do I give you water? Shall I hold your hand?" ¨C Consumed by nervousness, that young warrior who had experienced the stress of battle with aplomb even at the moment of taking a life, had broken down in a matter of seconds before the situation as different as it was to help bring an existence to the world .

    - "What is your name?"

    - ¡°The one with the baby? How do you want me to know that?"

    - "No damn idiot, yours!" ¨C Giving a groan of pain throwing her head back, Aurora squeezed the blankets tightly trying to contain the intense pain of labor contractions.

    - "Excuse me, my name is Stuart!"

    - "Okay Stuart, find a bucket with water, clean blankets, some scissors and some string"Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

    - "Don''t tell me you''re going to do it alone?" ¨C Turning around with the expression in her eyes sharp as daggers, Aurora cast a wry look at the young man, who quickly felt stupid realizing that he was the one who would have to help since all the soldiers were outside witnessing the battle.

    Similarly on the battlefield, his breathing ragged and light streaks of blood running down his face, Remius was on his knees leaning against his sword as the basilisk''s heads held back the beast king''s furious attacks.

    Unable to control his movements, Ambrosio launched his attacks against every living creature within his range of vision. From time to time lashing out at the prince''s soldiers, who were covered by Remius himself, even though receiving the attacks squarely left him in poor condition.

    - "My lord, we will retire so as not to disturb you anymore!"

    - "Idiots! Where could you run if the enemy is faster than you? Maintain your positions in diamond formation and order the magicians to cast protection spells¡± ¨C Doing as their lord ordered, the troops prepared themselves in defense and lightened the prince''s workload, who caught the beast''s attention, taunting him. order for him to pursue him, feeling a great relief to put his men in a safer situation.

    - "Dad!" ¨C Alerted by a woman''s voice, the prince turned in the direction of the source of that sound, lowering his guard to later receive a full blow from King Ambrosio''s sword. Destroying his shield splitting it in two, destroying part of the breastplate of Remius''s armor in flight.

    Dazed and with a ringing in his ears, the prince tried to get up from the ground while he saw in a blurred way how that young woman ran towards the uncontrollable king turned into a beast. Instantly surprised by Ambrosio''s unexpected reaction, who for a moment lowered his arms when he saw Princess Suthi with her face bathed in tears.

    - "Su... Suthi" - Stammering his daughter''s name, Ambrosio took a few steps, recovering his rational state for a few moments; but what seemed like a miracle soon turned into a nightmare.

    Returning to his bestial form, the remnants of the king''s consciousness were forever lost, releasing a howl that shook the silence of the desert. Raising his sword in a threatening manner against the fragile body of the princess.

    - "AMBROSIO, STOP!" ¨C Raising his arm towards the king, Remius materialized one of the heads of the basilisk that managed to contain the blow of Ambrosio''s sword, receiving a deep cut over his left eye. Feeling hurt, the snake swayed violently, hitting the princess''s body, throwing it into the air and falling onto the sand.

    Seeing that the situation was far from a point of return for King Ambrose, the prince bit his lip, cursing himself for being unable to find a way to reverse the monarch''s transformation.

    Gathering mana on the soles of his feet, the prince channeled his life force into the muscles of his legs, placing the rapier of his sword in front of him like a spear. Reciting a wind manipulation spell, and a rock spell to harden the sand under his feet in order to have a firm foothold, Remius flung himself hard at King Ambrose''s chest.

    - "Prince Remius, what do you think of my kingdom?" ¨C Evoking a happy memory of a past that will not return, the prince recalled that day he walked alongside King Ambrosio touring the Kalifuto palace. With the revolt to the east completely eradicated, the territory of Sidelia had returned to peace thanks to the combined efforts of both leaders in battle.

    - "If I had to answer you now, my answer would not be pleasing to your ears, your excellency"

    - ¡°Mmmm, that has me intrigued young prince. Usually you are always direct with your answers, but now you are giving me the evasion. Can I finally inspire fear in him? ¨C With a friendly tone of voice, Ambrosio did not seem bothered by the prince''s concise response, who continued on his way until he reached the main garden inside the palace.

    - "King Ambrosio, this small tree in the center of the garden, do you think it does not fit with the imposing structure of this palace?" ¨C Placing his hand on a tree with a rough trunk, the prince looked into Ambrosio''s eyes, who slightly twisted the corners of his mouth.

    - ¡°It may be a tree that at this moment is not comparable in its majesty with the palace, but nature never remains the same. With the seasons, that tree will give off its shoots and grow until it becomes imposing. Strongly resisting the desert wind, but sheltering those who dwell under it with its shade¡± ¨C That little tree had a very important meaning for Ambrosio, since that tree that no one could say a compliment about, was planted by the deceased Queen in commemoration of the birth of Princess Suthi.

    -"If you are aware of the magnificence of this tree despite its youth, then I think you already know the answer to the question you just asked me" - With a smile from ear to ear and the expression on his face Filled with sincere affection, the face of Prince Remius remained etched in the king''s eyes, who let a tear roll down at the thought of how that young man had reached the same conclusion that the late queen had at the time towards the princess.

    - "THIS IS THE ENDING AMBROSIO!" ¨C With the reflection of the prince''s silhouette in those darkened eyes of the beast, a tear flowed one last time, marking a smile on the jaws of the monarch. Who was pierced by Remius''s sword, destroying his heart with a fire spell.

    Both the beast and the prince fell to the ground, facing each other on their knees with their arms exhausted from exhaustion. At the same time, the king''s combat beast form fell apart, his face returning to normal again.

    - ¡°Forgive me, my friend. Wait for me in the other world¡± ¨C With his face lowered, Remius felt a thick hand rest on his shoulder, making him react instinctively to see him one last time.

    The king''s stern face had a peaceful appearance, with a smile that radiated tranquility. As if he were trying to comfort the dejected prince with his last strength, who barely took the monarch''s hand, saw how his body turned white like a pillar of salt. That upon contact with the cold night wind, it gradually fell apart until not even a single gram of it was left behind.

    - "I like you Prince Remius, it''s a shame you''re the son of that damn old Cicero. I really envy that hard-headed wretch; If you were not his son, I would have adopted you as my own and named you my successor."

    - "I''m sorry King Ambrosio, but I will be the king of Melina. Furthermore, Sidelia already has a king worthy of his people¡±

    - ¡°Then when you become a king, come see me boy! It will be a great honor for me to cross swords with a magnificent king like you" - With that memory that turned bittersweet on his palate, the prince cried on the desert sand at the foot of King Ambrosio''s great sword. Remius''s cry echoed through the desert air, unleashing a sea of answering howls from the city, announcing the departure of the man who was considered a king among kings.

 Chapter XVI: The shoots of a dry branch.

    After the vigour of the bloody battle, silence reigned over the night as the rays of the full moon bathed the golden sands of the desert with their pristine silver glow. Lying on his knees with his hands gripping the hilt of his sword, Remius ''s trembling body rested on the jagged steel blade embedded in the desert surface.

    The remnants of the fallen monarch''s blood ran down the cold metal until it touched the sand, similar to the raindrops that slide down the windows in the storm.

    Frowning and grinding his teeth, the Aspiranten prince cursed himself under his breath as his eyes continued to gaze at the remnants of what was once the body of the imposing king of the lupus.

    When his body was finally able to relax a little, the pain overwhelmed Remius to the point of causing cramps in all his muscles, knocking him to the ground, unable to even maintain his composure.

    - ¡°Your Highness!¡± Approaching as fast as his injured leg would allow, Gideon¡¯s silhouette could be seen a short distance away from the prince. For a brief moment, he gave a slight sigh of relief that took the stiffness out of his face, but soon the freshness of the experience of battle constricted his heart again.

    - ¡°My lord, here I am¡±

    - ¡°Yes, I see you clearly, my faithful Gideon.¡±

    - ¡°You have succeeded, my lord, you have won the battle and you have managed to save us all.¡±

    - ¡°Gideon, this was not a battle. In a battle, the fate of thousands or millions is decided by strategy. But tonight, here in this very place, what has happened is nothing less than patricide.¡± ¨C Trying to rise to his knees, Remius ¡¯ shoulders slumped forward with his head bowed as he let his tears flow uncontrollably.

    That prince who in his youth shared so many moments with King Ambrose, felt the seed of guilt germinate, taking root in his heart, lacerated by remorse.

    - ¡°I should have died with the Gideon. I have killed a great man.¡±

    - ¡°You can''t say that, my lord! You had no choice.¡±

    - ¡°There always is, Gideon, but I lack the intelligence to find her in the middle of the battle.¡±

    - ¡°It was impossible, my lord! King Ambrosio had already entered his final phase, there was no way to contain him.¡±

    - ¡°You can''t know that, Gideon!¡±

    - ¡°NO REMIUS! YOU¡¯RE RIGHT DAMN IT, I DON¡¯T KNOW!¡± ¨C Taking the prince firmly by the shoulders, Gideon had the expression on his face visibly showing his desperation. The young prince whom he had always seen with his imperturbable countenance, whose mind was always equanimous before any event. He was completely broken as if he were a child who had been abandoned in the middle of the forest.

    Trying to regain his composure as the prince''s advisor, Gideon took a deep breath and then exhaled sharply as if he were exasperated.

    - ¡°How long are you going to keep cursing yourself for everything, carrying the weight of other people¡¯s sins on your shoulders while pretending that nothing is happening! Look at you Remius , ever since you were a child your family has done nothing but belittle you and send you to the battlefield again and again as if they wished you dead.

    But despite all that, you are here before me. You are a survivor of fate and the will of the goddess. Despite every test that has knocked you down, you have risen with a defiant look and firm legs.¡± ¨C Gideon''s voice had a calm but firm tone, as if he were an older brother trying to reason with his younger brother. With each word loaded with his deepest recognition to his superior, the advisor kept the firmness of his hands on the prince''s shoulders. Who raised his gaze to meet Gideon''s.

    - ¡°Gideon, I have taken many lives on the battlefield. However, never one of someone close to me to the point of considering them family. Can someone like me be considered worthy of becoming king?¡± ¨C That question was something that frequently tormented the heart of the prince, who always felt minimized by the favoritism that his brother Romulos had among the high nobility and a good part of the royal court.

    On the one hand, the prince loved by the nobility and on the other, the warrior prince who was loved by the commoners. Having earned the nickname of the prince of the people, Remius made his way through sword and blood to the good fortune of combat. And yet, the origin of the mixed blood was something that tormented him.

    - ¡°If you ask me as a citizen of Melina, I can tell you without a doubt that you have everything it takes to become king. But if you ask me as your advisor and friend, I would say that you are not yet fit for the throne. Not because you lack qualities, because you far surpass the infamous Romulos . But it is your own insecurity that does not allow you to see the greatness you carry within you¡± ¨C Clapping his right hand on Remius ¡¯ shoulder , Gideon kept a serious expression on his face and yet in his eyes there was a comforting warmth that was far from being a reproach against the prince.

    - ¡°Gideon. I want you to promise me something tonight, my faithful friend.¡±

    - ¡°Tell me and I will obey my lord¡±

    - ¡°If at any time in your eyes I cease to be someone worthy of wearing the crown, I ask you to please kill me, before I can become vile.¡± ¨C A brief silence followed the heavy words that the prince pronounced to his advisor, who for a moment felt as if his throat was cut by a knife with a dull, blunted blade.

    Gideon knew that these words were not the product of the emotion of the moment, but were loaded with the conviction of a man who fully understood the meaning of the commitment of the crown. For he who wears the crown rules not for himself, but for his people.

    - ¡°According to the desire of my lord¡¯s heart, this servant swears that he will do according to the will of his lips.¡± ¨C Taking the dagger he wore at his belt, Gideon unsheathed the blade and made a shallow wound on the palm of his hand. Remius did the same with his right hand and both shook hands in a solemn sign of blood pact.

    - ¡°Here is the man to whom I entrust my life and my destiny¡±

    - ¡°Here is the man who accepts the mission¡±

    Helping each other to stand on the fine desert sands, Gideon blew his horn to warn the soldiers to come forward to recover what remained of King Ambrose''s body, as well as to escort Princess Suthi , who was still unconscious from the shock of the fight.

    - ¡°My lord, what shall we do with the young princess? Should we take her to Melina with us or leave her in Sidelia escorted by a contingent?¡±

    - ¡°If the situation were different, I dare say we could leave it here as you suggest Gideon, but there are a couple of snakes that are very close to us and they will not spare any trick or ruse to put us in a tight spot¡± ¨C After what happened with the port city with the troops of Lucretius and Demetrius, Prince Remius was reluctant to even leave the royal city of Melina so soon.

    - ¡°Then I will ask our men to arrange another vehicle to escort the princess on our way back to the nation.¡±

    - ¡°I''ll leave it to you then.¡± Dismissing his advisor to carry out the preparations, the prince approached the sleigh where Aurora was accompanied by Stuart, listening to the healer screaming in agony along with the corporal''s broken voice, who clumsily tried to calm her down.

    - ¡°Stuart! What¡¯s going on?¡±

    - ¡°Prince, the healer has gone into labor!¡±

    - ¡°So soon? Wasn¡¯t she supposed to be at least a month away?¡± ¨C Shocked by the impression that was before his eyes, Prince Remius approached the feet of the young woman, who was holding with her hands two ropes that had been placed at the corners of the sleigh to give her strength while she pushed.

    - ¡°Stuart, don¡¯t just stand there! Go get some hot water and clean blankets, there¡¯s no time to lose!¡± ¨C At the unison of his master¡¯s command, the soldier quickly left the sled and went to one of the platoon¡¯s contingents to ask for the things he had been entrusted with.

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    - ¡°Tell me, are you okay, Mrs. Aurora?¡± ¨C Bringing his hand to the woman¡¯s forehead, Remius brushed her bangs away, revealing the healer¡¯s eyes. Her gaze looked slightly lost due to the pain, while her pale skin shone from the sweat reflected by the lamp inside the sleigh.

    - ¡°Max, I feel like I¡¯m going to die. Our baby Max, our son is coming, but I feel like my body is losing strength.¡± ¨C Realizing that the woman was delirious from the pain and that the skin on her forehead was cold when he touched it, Remius looked at Aurora¡¯s crotch and saw with horror that the blanket under her legs was completely soaked in blood.

    Seeing this, the prince tried to rush to get help, but he felt his hand being grabbed by thin, cold fingers, which made him realize what was happening. Aurora was dying and unconsciously he wished he wasn''t alone at that moment.

    - ¡°Maximiliano, my love, it is not your fault that this is happening. Don¡¯t be afraid, this was something that had to happen inevitably¡± ¨C During the time she was pregnant, Aurora knew that the birth would be complicated even in a normal situation. And at that moment, the simple fact of even remaining conscious was already a miracle in itself.

    - ¡°Max? Are you still there?¡± ¨C Having lost the ability to see due to hypovolemia, Aurora clung with the little strength she had left to the firm and thick hand of Remius , who looked at her in disbelief at the possibility that this woman was going to die that night.

    - ¡°Yes, I¡¯m still here, Aurora.¡± ¨C Trying to play along with the dying healer, the prince looked down as he lightly squeezed the woman¡¯s hand. A slight smile appeared on her face as tears rolled from her eyes.

    - ¡°Max, please take care of our son. Even if I die, please promise me that you won¡¯t hate him. That¡¯s all I beg of you, my love.¡± ¨C With a slight tone of desperation in her words, Aurora vehemently begged the man at her side for the baby¡¯s life. While the prince couldn¡¯t even consider that someone would mistreat his son for something that wasn¡¯t his fault.

    However, remembering what his life had been like since his birth, Remius found some empathy with Aurora''s words and in order to reassure the woman, the prince whispered in her ear that he would take care of the baby.

    Hearing those words, Aurora felt the contraction pains growing stronger in her pelvis and cramps numbing her legs.

    Stuart arrived with the things that had been requested, and the prince began to prepare everything to receive the creature that was about to be born. At the same time, Aurora screamed with the little strength she had left in her chest, letting out screams that at times sounded like the death rattles of a dying man.

    - ¡°Make one more effort Aurora, just one last effort¡± ¨C Encouraging the weak woman, the prince continued to hold Aurora¡¯s hand while Stuart held clean blankets to receive the baby. It was then that with a last cry, the young woman released the baby as she exhaled her last breath from her thin, dry lips.

    As the newborn baby cried loudly as if a lion were roaring in the savannah, the light in Aurora''s eyes began to fade as Remius brought the baby close to the dying mother''s face.

    - ¡°Look Aurora, she is a very healthy and plump girl. She is your daughter, you did well.¡± ¨C A single tear flowed from the left eye of Aurora¡¯s corpse, who had a completely lost look on her face.

    - ¡°Sir, is it true then?¡± ¨C Entering through the carriage door, Gideon looked at the prince who was holding a baby at the foot of her mother¡¯s corpse. With a face full of deep sorrow, he hugged the little baby who did not stop crying in the middle of that funereal moment.

    - ¡°Yes, Gideon, the healer has died. Please tell our men to prepare everything to enter the city and make a camp for at least a month. We must prepare all the details to leave a rearguard contingent to ensure the safety of the civilian population.¡±

    - ¡°Do you want me to tell them to prepare a funeral for Mrs. Aurora?¡±

    - ¡°Yes, but it must be discreet. We still have to show respect for King Ambrosio¡¯s death and I don¡¯t want the people to think that we want to make fun of them¡± ¨C Despite owing Aurora a great favor, the prince was aware that holding a funeral as his heart¡¯s desire dictated for her, was something that could be frowned upon by the people of Sidelia who had lost their king.

    According to the custom of the desert sand nation, upon the death of a sovereign or a member of the royal family, all public funeral processions were prohibited while higher order rituals were being carried out.

    - ¡°Honestly, I think it''s a bit cruel.¡±

    - ¡°I think so too, Gideon, but we have already greatly shaken the foundations of this nation and adding another incident will only cause more blood to be spilled unnecessarily.¡± ¨C Bowing his face reverently to Aurora¡¯s body, the prince intoned a brief sacred chant intended to bless the dead on their journey to the underworld.

    Likewise, Gideon took out a rosary of red beads from his clothes and lowered his gaze with his eyes closed while the prince prayed.

    It was a cold night bathed in blood and tears, even though the blessing of a life that had come into the world, grief filled the atmosphere at the deaths of two people of great importance to the young aspiring monarch.

    Meanwhile, under the same night sky, but twelve days away by sleigh, a red-haired woman was cursing under her breath while a healer examined the stump where her right hand should be.

    - ¡°Are you sure there is nothing you can do?¡±¡± ¨C With a bandage covering part of her face at the level of her left eye, Berenice had a countenance that was a mix of sickness and anger.

    - ¡°I am sorry, my lady, but as much as I have tried to make your member regenerate, I have found it impossible to achieve it. This wound was not caused by any weapon but by pure astral power, it is something that in all my years I have only seen once and the person who suffered the same kind of wounds did not manage to regenerate¡± ¨C Saying those words with total nervousness, the old healer in the service of the army of Antioch''s legs trembled as he felt the intense murderous gaze of Captain Eusebio''s daughter.

    - ¡°Am I surrounded by useless people!?¡± ¨C Jumping up from her chair, Berenice hit the healer with her left arm, throwing him to the floor. She approached him savagely, to grab him by the neck with uncontrollable fury.

    - ¡°Your services are no longer needed, consider this your retirement from the military¡± ¨C With the coldness that characterized her, the red-haired maiden used her power on the man who only watched in horror as his body turned into that of a wooden puppet. Then, he turned into a pile of splinters before the immense amount of spiritual energy that Berenice channeled into him.

    - ¡°Well, if I didn¡¯t know you were married, I¡¯d say you were Demetrius¡¯ sister. You both have practically the same bad temper with your subordinates.¡± Smiling discreetly in a mocking manner, Lucretius stood at the entrance of the tent, holding a scroll on which was written a royal summons from the crown of Antioch .

    - ¡°Shut your fucking mouth Lucrecio, you are just a friend of my husband. If you continue to overstep your boundaries in your trusting attitude towards me, you will pay dearly for it.¡±

    - ¡°Oh, well. I will keep in mind your valuable advice, Viscountess Barbosa. But you will also know that if we are put on a scale before our dear Demetrio, the one who would have the greatest weight would be me¡± ¨C As if he were a ghost, Lucrecio moved at great speed until he reached where Berenice was, placing himself back to back while leaning his head back to rest on the viscountess¡¯s shoulder.

    - ¡°If I wanted to, I could rip your damn heart out before you could even use your damn ability, you presumptuous little bitch. Be thankful that I¡¯m trying to be friendly with you and don¡¯t get on my nerves, or I¡¯ll forget that you¡¯re my friend¡¯s wife, even if it¡¯s only by contract.¡± ¨C With a facial expression full of anger to the point that her cheeks blushed, Berenice was fully aware that she was still no match for the proud Lucretius¡¯ power. All she could do was nod calmly without raising her voice, while the proud admiral placed the scroll in her hand.

    - ¡°Demetrius has already read it, but I thought you should know it anyway, since you are his wife. It seems that our beloved King Romulus had the fantastic idea of annexing the territories conquered by our troops and turning them into a principality subordinate to the crown of Antioch .¡±

    - ¡°Wait a minute, that¡¯s complete madness! Even if we have defeated them, the civilian population will not be subservient to our will. Besides, we still have to reckon with the fact that King Ambrosio will not remain idle in the face of such a challenge.¡±

    - ¡°But that¡¯s the best part, my dear, there is no king on the throne who can make us turn back!¡± ¨C Laughing unhealthily with bloodshot eyes, Lucrecio brought his hands to his abdomen trying to contain his laughter as much as he could.

    - ¡°What do you think is funny?¡±

    - ¡°You, my dear. That¡¯s what I find funny right now. Haven¡¯t you heard the news because of your bad mood? King Ambrose has been killed in a duel by Prince Remius for a week .¡±

    - ¡°You¡¯re lying!¡± ¨C With a face full of disbelief, Berenice brought her hand to her mouth as if she had received news that caused her dismay. From the few years of innocence that the young viscountess once had, a brief memory came to her mind from when her mother was still alive.

    From time to time, for reasons of territorial diplomacy, Captain Rivera''s family accompanied him to the territories where the crown sent him as an emissary.

    It was on one occasion while playing with Princess Suthi near an oasis, that a sand monster inadvertently emerged, surprising the girls. When she thought she was about to die, a corpulent figure stood between them and the beast, subduing it with both hands until the sound of bone crunching was heard as the beast fell dead to the ground.

    - ¡°I think I have been very negligent. I thought I had finished off all these bugs so that they could have a good time playing today¡± ¨C With a frank smile and a firm gaze, that man completely eclipsed Berenice, who had only felt admiration for her father.

    As protocol dictated, King Ambrose was very direct and unreserved with the emissaries, but on the other hand he was affable in his dealings with their families, giving the impression of a good-natured grandfather with his grandchildren.

    - ¡°Rest assured that I am not lying, my shadows have already confirmed with full certainty that the king is dead. In fact, they held a four-day funeral rite, however, they mentioned a rather strange incident that I would like to investigate personally¡± ¨C Bringing his hand to his chin and looking to the left, Lucretius looked like a cunning fox licking its whiskers before a succulent prey.

    - ¡°Then I will tell my troops to prepare to leave immediately.¡±

    - ¡°No, both you and Demetrius have been ordered to return to the palace. You know perfectly well that King Remius does not like his orders to be ignored and has given top priority to the matter of creating the principality.¡± ¨C Pressing his hand on the Viscountess¡¯s shoulder, Lucretius looked into her eyes with a coldness befitting a snake.

    - ¡°Then it shall be done, but I still don¡¯t agree¡± ¨C Removing Lucrecio¡¯s hand from her shoulder with a disdainful frown in her eyes, Berenice left the tent in search of Demetrio in order to prepare to leave at dawn.

    - ¡°I am really very curious about the news my men have told me. If it is true, it will be very funny.¡± ¨C Resting his hands on the table and leaning his body back slightly, Lucretius kept his gaze enraptured on the report written by his spies in the royal capital of Sidelia.

 Chapter XVII: What child is this?

    On the shore of a beach far from the coasts of the port city of Theseus, Prince Maximilian sat by a campfire eating some roasted fish while his men sharpened their swords. Four days had passed since they had left that night when the city was engulfed in flames, leaving behind everything that could bind him except the memory of his wife and unborn child.

    - ¡°My lord, I have returned from my exploration¡± ¨C Sitting next to Maximilian, Vargas dropped onto the sand, sighing deeply with the accumulated tiredness of two days of patrolling the perimeter and interior of the island.

    - ¡°Try to catch your breath and eat a little, we have enough time. You have worked hard in your work, my faithful right hand, give yourself some credit.¡± ¨C Even though Maximilian¡¯s face had a smile on it, in Vargas¡¯ eyes that expression felt so distant as if it were hiding the deep sorrow he carried inside.

    - ¡°Prince Maximilian, you must not force yourself. I know that this has been a great loss for you, my lord, but if you do not rest, you will not have the strength to go to war.¡±

    - ¡°War, the meaning of my life summed up in one word, my faithful Vargas. Until a few days ago I thought that my life had taken on another meaning at the side of that woman. But fate has a subtle way of making fun of me.¡± ¨C Throwing the fish scraps into the fire, Prince Maximilian put his hands on his head, lowering his face with an expression full of helplessness.

    With tears unable to flow from his dry eyes, Maximilian briefly recalled some moments he shared with his wife in that old mud house in the city of Theseus.

    - ¡°Max, have you thought of a name for the baby when it¡¯s born?¡± ¨C Sitting at the foot of the window, caressing her swollen belly, Aurora looked sweetly at Maximiliano¡¯s face, who couldn¡¯t take his eyes off those green gems that delighted him during the day.

    - ¡°I''m not good with names, I think it would be better if you choose it.¡±

    - ¡°Oh come on Max, I can¡¯t believe a man as intelligent as you would have trouble choosing a name for his child¡± ¨C With a smiling expression on her face, Aurora took her husband¡¯s hand and brought it to touch her belly so that she could feel the baby¡¯s kicks. It was the moment she felt the small twinges in her palm that the prince had a brief flash of a distant past.

    - ¡°Astra would be a good name if it were a girl¡±

    - ¡°Astra?¡±

    - ¡°Yes, the name of my paternal grandmother¡±

    - ¡°Astra is a good name, I like it¡± ¨C Smiling as she gave her husband a kiss on the lips, Aurora wrote down in a notebook the date and the name the father had chosen for his son.

    - ¡°If it''s a boy, we''ll name him Maximiliano, like his father.¡± ¨C Writing that name in the notebook as well, Aurora looked up at the blue sky through the window, her delicate face filled with hope.

    - ¡°You know Vargas, I would have liked you to be my son¡¯s godfather¡± ¨C Saying those words with his gaze lost in the fire of the bonfire, the prince stood up from his seat and stretched his arms a little while he began to walk slowly. He was immediately followed by his assistant, who began to give him the details of his observation on the island.

    - ¡°As we thought, my lord, the island is uninhabited. However, according to the ancient writings I have been collecting, there are certain ruins within it.¡±

    - ¡°Ruins?¡±

    -¡°Yes, they are buildings of what appears to be an ancient civilization.¡±

    - ¡°I guess these are ruins of the Lupus tribe.¡±

    - ¡°No my lord, they do not seem to belong to any of the primordial tribes¡± ¨C With an air of uncertainty in Maximilian¡¯s mind, the two men walked to the camp¡¯s main tent to record Vargas¡¯ discoveries.

    Meanwhile, inside the walls of the city of Kalifuto, the people of Sidelia gathered in the streets in complete silence as the procession of the invading army escorted the remains of King Ambrose and Princess Suthi.

    Sitting atop his camelius, holding the bridle in one hand and the baby in the other, Remius could feel the angry stares being fixed on him.

    This anger was completely understandable, since it was the price to pay for having taken the life of a king so beloved by the people. And yet, due to the martial code, the people could not take out their fury on him, since King Ambrose had died in a duel worthy of their challenger.

    - ¡°Their gazes are like arrows that pierce the back of your neck¡± ¨C Moving forward with his steed to approach his lord, the faithful advisor stood alongside his lord to cover his left flank from any possible attack.

    - ¡°It is normal, Gideon, a people like this may bend their flesh to defeat, but they will never do so in spirit. They may obey us for a while, but the spark of rebellion could strike at any moment¡± ¨C With the steed slightly raising its head above the crowd, the prince quickened his pace to quickly reach the royal palace.

    Coming out to meet them through the main door of the palace, the silhouette of an elderly man leaned on a staff while extending his right hand, giving the signal to the horsemen to stop.

    - ¡°I must ask you to stop please¡±

    - ¡°Don¡¯t you know who you¡¯re blocking?¡±

    - ¡°Yes, I know that perfectly well. An ungrateful son who has raised his hand against a man he considered a father.¡±

    - ¡°How dare you say that!¡± ¨C The moment Gideon unsheathed his sword to attack the old man, Prince Remius let out a deafening scream that made his advisor stop dead in his tracks, who quickly dropped the sword to the ground while the baby in the prince''s arms began to cry in anguish.

    - ¡°It''s incredible that he brings a little one to the front line of battle, it''s simply inconceivable¡± ¨C Without realizing when the baby was snatched from his arms, Remius got off the camelius and approached the old man who was looking at him defiantly.

    - ¡°Give it back to me¡±

    - ¡°Oh, this baby is important to you I see.¡±

    - ¡°Yes, she is the daughter of a woman to whom I owe my life¡±

    - ¡°And where is that blessed woman?¡± ¨C Keeping silent at the old man¡¯s question, Prince Remius bowed his face slightly and turned his gaze back where two of his men were arriving carrying a coffin.

    - ¡°Mmmmm, it is indeed a terrible night for all. This poor creature has lost its mother and this country has lost its father. Just for tonight I will give you a truce, young prince; but tomorrow when we discuss the terms of surrender, I hope you will have a better appearance.¡± ¨C Returning the baby to his arms, the old man turned around and gave instructions to the servants to escort the prince and his men to the chambers he had previously prepared.

    - ¡°My lord, who was that man?¡±

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    - ¡°Gideon, if I hadn¡¯t stopped your momentum, you would be cut into a thousand pieces now. That old man, as weak as he looks, is none other than Archduke Eleazar Bonaparte. That man has been the combat teacher of at least two kings throughout the history of the royal family.¡± ¨C With sweat running down his forehead, the prince could barely breathe a sigh of relief at seeing that he was able to save the life of his escort, who barely realized what was happening.

    - ¡°Give the order to escort King Ambrosio¡¯s remains and sword to the throne room. Also hand over the princess to her personal maids to escort her to her chambers.¡±

    - ¡°As you command, my lord. And in the case of Lady Aurora¡¯s body, how do we dispose of it?¡± ¨C Stopping dead in his tracks in the main corridor of the palace, the prince thought for a moment in silence and told his advisor to take the healer¡¯s body to the chamber of the royal court physician.

    Accompanying Gideon, two soldiers carried Aurora''s covered body on a stretcher. They made their way through the east wing of the palace until they crossed an open space of what appeared to be an inner garden.

    - ¡°Commander Gideon, was this woman someone very important to our lord?¡±

    - ¡°Indeed, the body of the woman you are escorting owes our lord his life. So this is the least we can do for her.¡±

    - ¡°But don¡¯t you think it¡¯s strange?¡±

    - ¡°What do you mean, corporal?¡± The soldiers suddenly stopped to uncover the blanket covering Aurora¡¯s corpse, showing Gideon something that might seem strange to anyone looking at the body.

    Part of Aurora''s skin had a greyish tint in the form of tiny patches, as if an infection were visible to the naked eye. However, the strangest thing that occurred before Gideon''s eyes was that Aurora''s pubic area was oozing amniotic fluid.

    - ¡°Wasn¡¯t she supposed to have finished giving birth already? Then why is this fluid flowing? Unless¡­¡± ¨C As if an ominous chill ran down his spine to the nape of his neck, Gideon looked at his men and quietly gave them the order to hurry to the royal palace doctor¡¯s office.

    ¡°Bam, Bam, Bam¡±

    - ¡°Who¡¯s knocking on the door so insistently? Can¡¯t you see what time of night it is?¡± ¨C Opening the door to the office, a slightly hunched figure appeared, adjusting his glasses while squinting.

    - ¡°You are not members of the royal palace guard. Who are you and what do you want here?¡± ¨C When the healer was about to suddenly close the door out of fear, Gideon put his foot in the way and pushed the door hard, throwing the healer back.

    - ¡°Look carefully at this emblem. Can you recognize it?¡± ¨C Extending his hand to the face of the healer, that bronze medallion with the effigy of the royal family of Sidelia had been given by Eleazar to Prince Remius. With that metal piece, any servant of the palace had to obey the request of the guest to show it.

    - ¡°I see you are guests of the palace. Tell me, what is it that you seek from me at this hour? Is any of you hurt?¡±

    - ¡°No, none of us have any injuries. We came to ask you to take care of preserving this corpse for at least five days. However, while we were transporting it here, something happened that caught our attention.¡± ¨C Uncovering Aurora¡¯s body before the perplexed gaze of the healer, the grayish patches that until recently were tiny and scattered across the body, now completed larger patterns as the flow of amniotic fluid became more abundant from the woman¡¯s cervix.

    - ¡°Is this woman dead? Are you absolutely sure? Because I¡¯m not in the mood for jokes!¡± ¨C Touching the skin on Aurora¡¯s arm, the healer felt a slight warmth that did not correspond to someone who had recently died.

    - ¡°There is no reflex in the pupils, nor is there any response to nervous stimulation to the puncture. There are no clinical signs that tell me that she is alive, however, her body temperature is as if she were and despite everything, contractions are seen in the lower abdomen¡±- Clearing the consulting room floor, the healer gave the order to the soldiers to carefully place the body while he prepared some lighting in the place to proceed to open Aurora''s legs.

    - ¡°The dilation hasn¡¯t let up since the last birth, the canal is still 10 cm open and I can see something. You big guy with silver hair, point the light with that mirror over here, quickly.¡± ¨C A little annoyed by the way the healer was talking to him, Gideon did as he asked very reluctantly.

    - ¡°Did I see anything?¡±

    - ¡°Yes, there is another baby in there. But I can¡¯t see any neonatal movement, so the creature may have died from hypoxia.¡±

    - ¡°Hypoxia?¡±

    - ¡°Yes, from where I am looking, her skin is blue-gray. Like this woman¡¯s.¡± ¨C Lifting his face completely surprised by what he saw, the healer fell to the ground, hitting his butt against the cold floor of the office. At the same time he stammered without being able to understand what was happening before his eyes.

    Aurora''s skin was completely darkened, in a blue-gray tone, just like the time when she was a child and lived with her adoptive mother in the fields of the kingdom of Antioch.

    - ¡°Quick, don¡¯t let a single one of these disgusting Maneki escape!¡± ¨C Kilometers away from that nation cloistered in the sands, a contingent of soldiers belonging to the Rivera house faction carried their swords unsheathed, brandishing the cold metal against the tender flesh of defenseless citizens who fled in horror at the barbarity that consumed innocent life on that infamous night.

    - ¡°Please have mercy. We swear that we have no intention of rebelling against the king.¡± ¨C Despite her pleas, a woman who was kneeling with her hands together as if praying to the goddess, briefly felt the tip of the rapier pierce her heart.

    - ¡°The king has been too clear with those of your kind, damn Maneki trash. If you do not accept to live as slaves in this kingdom, you only have the option of dying like the filthy beasts you are¡±- Pushing the body with a kick, the knight pulled out the blade of his sword and shook the blood forcefully against the grass.

    - ¡°Lieutenant, we found two women inside this hut. Come quickly.¡± ¨C The man clicked his tongue in great annoyance, turned around and walked to the stone hut where an old woman was sitting at the foot of a bed, accompanying a woman who had been asleep for several years.

    - ¡°My lord, have mercy on her. She is my daughter and has been ill for several moons now. She is not a threat to you.¡± ¨C With her body shaking from her years, the old woman got up from the chair to try to get on her knees, being stopped by the soldier¡¯s hand, who slowly made her sit back down on the chair.

    - ¡°So this is your daughter. Is that correct, old lady?¡±

    - ¡°Yes, my lord, she was a very lively woman until a few years ago when a tragedy occurred in which she lost her daughter. As if it were a curse, she fell into a deep sleep and not a single healer has been able to bring her consciousness back.¡± - With her eyes slightly moistened as she told that story, the old woman''s fragile voice could barely be heard in the silence of the hut.

    - ¡°Old lady, you have been a good mother. There is no need to cry, you have done more than enough for your daughter.¡± ¨C Looking into her eyes with a smile on his face, the lieutenant approached her and gave her a hug, then plunged a dagger into her back until he reached her heart.

    - ¡°Shhh, rest, old woman. Don¡¯t say a word, just sleep next to your daughter¡± ¨C Putting his finger to his mouth in mockery, the soldier threw the old woman¡¯s body onto the bed where the sleeping woman was. He gave the order to his men to pour oil on the women and then set them on fire.

    - ¡°You are a damn Vladimir, for a moment even I believed that you were someone who had a heart¡± ¨C With a very familiar tone as if they had known each other for a long time, one of the soldiers spoke to the lieutenant who took off his helmet to fix his hair.

    - ¡°Of course I have a heart, it¡¯s just made of stone¡± ¨C Laughing out loud, Vladimir Rofocale, Baronet of the Andreas territory, was a lichen thirsty for achievements to climb the ranks of the kingdom¡¯s nobility. Having just received the title a few days after the incident on the day of the coronation, the lieutenant of the royal guard felt that his path to success was assured as long as he obediently followed the orders imposed on him.

    - ¡°There is nothing left to do in this village. Mount your horses and let¡¯s go to the next village. The night is still long and the mission continues until there is not one left standing¡± ¨C Smiling meanly, Vladimir pulled hard on the reins of his mount and began to gallop with impetus. Leaving behind him a sea of flames that collapsed the walls of the old hut in the middle of the darkness of the moor.

    - ¡°Fuck you! I¡¯m telling you to get that baby out right now.¡±

    - ¡°And I¡¯m telling you that under no circumstances am I going near that.¡± ¨C Back at Kalifuto¡¯s palace in the royal consulting room, Gideon was arguing heatedly with the healer, who refused to come even a few steps closer to Aurora. Who had surprisingly shown signs of having returned to life, but in a wild state that needed to be subdued by two men.

    - ¡°Commander, we are almost out of strength! Do something.¡± - Pushing Aurora¡¯s torso against the plank with great difficulty, the soldiers avoided the teeth of the crazed woman.

    - ¡°Damn it! I¡¯ll apologize later for this.¡± ¨C Taking a deep breath as he summoned his combat form, Gideon launched himself at Aurora with his right arm visibly increased in size. He landed a punch to the woman¡¯s jaw, who let out a scream like a beast as she was knocked out by the blow.

    - ¡°Healer, are you ready to do your job?¡± ¨C Turning towards the mederi that was still on the ground, Gideon¡¯s eyes showed an expression of annoyance that seemed threatening to the healer.

    - ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll do it now. Clear the area and let me do my job.¡± ¨C Grumbling as he muttered insults under his breath, the healer took a forceps and opened the birth canal to hold the baby¡¯s head. Little by little, the baby came out of its mother until it was finally outside, starting to cry loudly.

    - ¡°In all my years of life, I swear I have never seen anything like what happened before my eyes tonight.¡± Taking the baby in his arms, Gideon looked at the dark-skinned girl with silver hair with great suspicion.

 Chapter XVIII: New World Order

    A month had passed since the fall and capture of the capital city of Kalifuto ; and in that time, great changes began to occur on the continent''s geopolitical level. With the victorious uprising of the troops of the Aspirtenian kingdom over the proud people of Lupus, the ruling elite concentrated their efforts on drawing new territorial boundaries on the continental map.

    The year had already changed its season, giving way to cooler weather from warmer weather; just as on Earth, that distant planet also had the distinction of having four very similar seasons.

    With the first rains of the season and the light, cool winds, the walls of the capital''s houses were beginning to feel a little chilly. The same was true of the majestic royal palace, where servants could be seen bustling about, bringing blankets to the guest rooms and carrying firewood for the fireplaces.

    For a week now , prominent nobles from the Kingdom of Melina have been present in the capital of the Kingdom of Antioch at the call of Sovereign Romulos . They viewed the monarch more as a sort of continental emperor than a simple king of a nation bordering the north.

    Even though it was thanks to the courage and strength of Prince Remius that the continent could be considered in a peacetime equilibrium, a large part of the nobility of Melina began to turn their backs on him in the face of the growing support of King Cicero .

    ¡°Father, please review these documents before we enter the meeting hall.¡± ¨C With thick blond hair reaching the middle of her back, eyes as gray as the steel of a sword, and a slender but toned figure from martial training, a young Aspirten woman walks beside the Minister of Internal Affairs Sergov. Gudolaf .

    - ¡° Cassy , my little darling. Daddy has already read the reports you wrote so well, and he''s very happy.¡± Contrary to the stoic and stern demeanor that always characterized him in public, the man couldn''t help but behave like an idiot around his beloved daughter, who looked a lot like his late wife.

    - ¡° Tch . I really hate it when you behave like this, Father. You¡¯re supposed to be one of the four ministers that make up Melina¡¯s central government. Try not to embarrass yourself or make me look ridiculous in the process.¡± ¨C With a look of repulsion on her face, Casandra Gudolaf referred to her father in a rude manner because she had already warned him several times to behave properly while they were in Antioca territory .

    - ¡°Oh, what a cruel girl to her daddy. You really are mean to me.¡± Maintaining his mocking tone as he continued walking with his daughter, Sergov glanced sideways down the hallway to make sure no one was around to hear them.

    - ¡°The moon has been resting on the central horizon lately. Am I correct?¡±

    "Yes, Minister Sergov , the moon doesn''t seem to change at this time of year. Not at least for the next month." Knowing her father was speaking in code, young Cassandra changed her attitude and put aside her acting to concentrate on the real report.

    - "There haven''t been any significant meteor showers, so the moon is still in full splendor on the horizon. However, astronomers say the moon has attracted a comet along with it, and it appears to be very interesting."

    ¡° Hmm , a comet? They¡¯re certainly interesting because they¡¯re difficult to see in a lifetime. Astronomers need to focus on the moon and monitor it closely to give it a good record.¡± Winking at his daughter with his left eye, Minister Sergov was speaking of Prince Remius and his men. Although the Minister of Internal Affairs ostensibly supported King Romulos , his true loyalty lay with the young man who wielded the sword for the glory of the nation of the asps.

    - ¡°Wonderful! I didn¡¯t know you were also so interested in astronomy.¡± Appearing like a ghost behind the minister¡¯s back, Demetrio placed his hands on the old politician¡¯s shoulders, causing young Cassandra to place her hand on the hilt of his sword.

    ¡°Oh, calm down, Miss Cassandra. I''m not doing anything to your honorable father; I''m just being friendly, like an indirect nephew thanks to the friendship you have with my father.¡± Smiling, his gaze fixed on the young woman''s eyes, Demetrio removed his hands from Minister Sergov ''s shoulders and took a few steps back to calm the animosity.

    - ¡°It¡¯s good to see you¡¯re in good health, Viscount Demetrius. Oh, that¡¯s true. You¡¯re already a full-fledged Duke, I understand.¡±

    - ¡°Of course I am a duke in these vast lands of Antioca , my esteemed Count Sergov ; however, I will never leave aside the land that saw me grow up, so at some point my offspring will take my place in the Viscounty of Engracia.¡± ¨C Leaning his body slightly forward, bringing his face closer to Minister Sergov , Demetrio maintained a threatening air that he had no qualms about hiding from those present.

    - ¡°Well, Duke Demetrius, tell me, how is your wife, Duchess Berenice? I¡¯ve been told that the poor woman suffered a serious wound in combat while raiding the coastal cities of Sidelia .¡± Raising her voice slightly to intimidate the haughty Demetrius, Cassandra didn¡¯t seem to be intimidated by the man in front of her, taking a few steps forward, pushing him away with her right hand resting on the duke¡¯s chest.

    - ¡°Miss Cassandra, if I were you, I would remove that hand immediately before you can lose it.¡±

    - ¡°Oh, right. Something like what happened to your wife.¡± No sooner had she finished speaking than Cassandra released her Aspirtenian aura , causing spiritual energy to overflow over her body, covering her like armor. Responding to that threat, Demetrius did the same, materializing two energy claws in his hands and leaping back into a fighting stance.

    - ¡°I hope, beautiful young lady, that you have enough strength to bear the weight of your words.¡±

    "Same here, Duke Demetrius." Just as they were about to engage in a power struggle in the hallway, the monarch of Antioch appeared between them, his arms extended, and he grabbed both combatants by the face.

    With his eyes partially closed and a sick smile that could freeze the blood, King Romulos sternly pressed his hands over his victims'' faces as he lifted them off the ground.

    - ¡°I am overjoyed to see how the young blood of the kingdom of Melina has such drive! There is no doubt that with this vigor, youth will bring golden times to the glory of our nation. Oh yes, oh yes¡­¡± ¨C Opening his eyelids to reveal his deep amber eyes, Romulos turned his face towards Cassandra, who felt a chill run through her body as the king threw Demetrius to take her by the waist.

    - ¡°You truly grew up to become a beauty Cassy , without a doubt the gossip in the corridors of the palace does not do justice to the beautiful woman that my eyes see. Who would say that the brat who ran with scraped knees in the courtyards of the palace holding a branch as a sword, would become something almost close to a goddess.¡± ¨C Pressing the young woman¡¯s body against his, Romulos brought his lips against the young woman¡¯s right ear, caressing her lobe with the viperous tongue that characterized the monarch.

    - ¡°It would certainly be a shame if such a beautiful woman had to die so prematurely. So Cassy , for the memories of the good times the three of us used to play together, I suggest you behave like a virtuous lady in my presence and stop with that tomboyish attitude.¡± Sinking one of his fangs into the young woman¡¯s ear, King Romulos drank some of the maiden¡¯s virginal blood and was briefly enraptured, squeezing the young woman even tighter to the point that she let out a gasp, almost breathless.

    "Your Majesty, please have mercy on my daughter!" Count Sergov , his face visibly showing his father''s desperation, fell to his knees before the monarch. He freed the young woman, who felt her legs give way as soon as she set foot on the ground.

    - ¡°Stand up, Minister Sergov . It is not very pleasant for my eyes to see a good friend of my father lying on the ground like a beggar.¡± Changing his expression, Romulos extended his hand to the old minister, who hesitantly nodded at the gesture and stood up before the monarch.

    ¡°Gentlemen, I remind you that we still have a few days ahead of us to plan the division of the conquered territories. It is extremely important that you keep a cool head because the fate of this continent rests in our hands.¡± Turning around, the purple velvet cape he wore as an ornament waving, King Romulos signaled with his eyes for Demetrius to follow him. He left behind the minister who was helping his daughter up from the ground.

    - ¡°You really are an idiot, Demetrio. Can¡¯t you control your temper?¡±

    - ¡°My lord, I don¡¯t want to hear that coming from you.¡± ¨C With a mocking smile, Demetrius placed his hand on the king¡¯s shoulder, who burst out laughing in the hallway at the sarcastic comment from his old childhood friend.

    - ¡°Tell me, Duke Demetrius, how was the raid on the coastal provinces of those savages?¡±

    - "As you well know, the raid was carried out fairly. We tried to take no prisoners as much as possible to reduce the need to leave surveillance detachments or supplies."

    - ¡°Oh, yes. That¡¯s what I¡¯ve always liked about you, my dear friend. You¡¯re too practical when it comes to keeping costs down.¡± He turned his face toward the west corridor where Queen Andrea was walking with her entourage, giving instructions on how to distribute the palace supplies.

    - ¡°And tell me Demetrius, is your wife already expecting your heir?¡±

    - ¡°Your Majesty, for the moment my wife and I have no plans to conceive children until we can properly settle down. Also ¡­¡±

    - ¡°Yes, I know. I learned from the messengers that your wife suffered severe damage from an explosion at the docks while they were preventing the rebels from leaving the coast.¡± Watching his friend¡¯s facial expression out of the corner of his eye, King Romulos searched for any clue that might reveal something out of place.

    - "Indeed, some rebels took us by surprise, and although it''s hard for me to admit it, if it weren''t for Berenice, my physical integrity would be compromised. But thanks to Lucretius appearing at the right moment, we were able to overcome that situation." - Without showing any change in the color of his face, trembling in his eyes, or changes in his breathing, for Demetrio, lying became a weapon that had allowed him to survive the constant attacks from the nobility and the army.

    - ¡°I¡¯m really glad nothing happened to you. Of all the people I¡¯ve met, of all the two-faced nobles in our kingdom, you¡¯re the one I can truly consider a friend.¡± Taking Demetrio by the shoulders, Romulos ¡¯s gaze looked very different from other times; far from having that cold and threatening expression, at that moment it had a warmth that lent sincerity to the words he spoke.

    "The weight of the crown is something no one is prepared to bear, my lord. However, you have proven yourself worthy of wearing it, unlike that half-breed."

    - ¡° Tch , there was no need for you to mention that bastard Remius . Who, by the way, has already been in Kalifuto for almost a full month with no clear intentions of leaving. I''ve already sent a letter to my father to summon Melina.¡± ¨C Reaching the door of his office, Romulos opened it and invited Demetrio to enter. Who was looking askance at the stone silhouettes of the maidens placed at the ends of the room as mere decoration.

    - ¡°I see that your tastes are still so particular, my lord.¡±

    - ¡°It may be my dear Demetrius, but as you well know, I am a man who loves beauty in all its forms.¡± ¨C Passing the back of his hand over the silhouette of the face of one of the stone figures, Romulos made a light mark with his claw at the level of one of the statue¡¯s eyes.

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    ¡°Damn, it¡¯s ruined.¡± Without the slightest hesitation, the monarch slammed his fist down hard on the statue¡¯s head, shattering it into a thousand pieces. The rest of the body instantly crumbled to dust. The subtle scent left in the air by the statue¡¯s debris was far from that of ordinary rock. On the contrary, the essence was more like the aroma of cremated flesh and bones in a funeral ritual.

    Since King Romulo ''s power worked on the principle of atomic bonds in matter, the statues themselves were not simply lifeless objects. Rather, they were creatures in a state of suspension, preserved as living fossils. While they could remain dormant in the face of minimal damage, under critical conditions they ceased to be viable and transformed into ash.

    - ¡°It¡¯s a pity, that maiden¡¯s face reminded me a bit of Lucretius. If only she were a woman, I might have considered taking her as a concubine.¡± Hearing those biting words from the monarch¡¯s lips, Demetrius restrained his eagerness to deliver a blunt blow to Romulos ¡¯s face . While it was true that the king and the duke had been friends since childhood, for Demetrius the bond between Lucretius and him carried more weight than he could consider with respect to the monarch.

    - ¡°By the way, where is Lucretius right now?¡±

    - ¡°Before coming to your call, my lord, I arranged for Commander Lucrecio to guide a support contingent to the city of Kalifuto .¡±

    - ¡°Wonderful! It¡¯s not for nothing that I consider you such a close friend, Demetrius. You think very similarly to me! With Lucretius at the head of that capital, there¡¯s no doubt that we¡¯ll take control of those mangy dogs as soon as my despicable little brother leaves the place.¡± ¨C Sitting comfortably in his chair in front of the desk, Romulos leaned his head back, leaving his gaze fixed on the ceiling of the room, extending his right arm upwards as if trying to reach something.

    - ¡°Everything is going according to plan, everything as it should be¡± ¨C Smiling maliciously, Romulos exhaled a little while his vassal stood in front of him with his arms crossed behind his back.

    - ¡°Please mederi , eat a little please!¡± ¨C Confined to a room within the palace¡¯s medical wing, Corporal Stuart sat on the side of a bed holding a bowl of warm, nutty-scented porridge.

    The soldier''s youthful face revealed a pair of dark circles under his brown eyes, his skin looked a little dry, and his hair was somewhat brittle, as if he had been under a severe amount of stress for several days.

    - ¡° Ugh , I beg you please, Mrs. Aurora. You must eat or my superior will scold me again for this. Please understand me.¡± ¨C Lowering his face at the woman¡¯s refusal, Stuart clicked his tongue and in a fit of rage took the plate and forced Aurora¡¯s mouth open in order to force her to eat.

    - ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t do that!¡± ¨C Entering through the door of the room, the healer in charge of the treatment room approached Corporal Stuart to stop him in the act.

    - ¡°Young man, I can understand that you feel tired. I know it¡¯s difficult dealing with a patient like this, but please understand that they¡¯re not doing these things because they want to. They¡¯re just victims of circumstance.¡± ¨C Due to the time Aurora¡¯s brain went without an adequate supply of oxygenated blood, the young woman had experienced severe brain damage that was almost verging on having left her in a vegetative state.

    Unable to care for herself, Prince Remius appointed a guardian to look after her well-being while a suitable treatment could be found to restore her independence.

    - ¡°Excuse me, healer. You''re absolutely right. I know I shouldn''t have acted the way I did a moment ago, so please¡­¡±

    - ¡°Don¡¯t worry, kid, I won¡¯t tell Commander Gideon. Don¡¯t worry.¡±

    - ¡°Thank you, that¡¯s really a relief. By the way, do you know what happened to Mrs. Aurora¡¯s babies?¡±

    ¡°The first baby you brought with you presents no problems. She is completely healthy and robust. She is a wonderful baby girl. However, the second baby, despite accepting the wet nurse, I cannot perceive the typical behavior as in the case of the other baby. I suppose it is due to her mixed-race origins.¡± Sitting on a chair by the door of the room, the healer looked toward the hallway that led to the courtyard where the wet nurses were feeding the babies, his expression somewhat gloomy.

    - ¡°I am not a man very versed in what concerns other races, but I am sure that Mrs. Aurora and that baby are half- Lichen . That grayish skin is not common in that race, but according to ancient writings, some members of that species tend to manifest peculiarities of that nature due to the crossing of bloodline with Manekis .¡± ¨C Raising his shoulders slightly and tilting his head in confusion, the healer could not give a clear enough answer to the young soldier.

    Elsewhere, a procession headed by a man with delicate features was making its way through the halls of the palace, passing through the main gate.

    - ¡° Wow , who would have thought. I never imagined I could walk freely around this place and here I am, without a doubt it is amazing¡± ¨C Extending his arms, turning around as he walked with his ecstatic gaze, the abundant black hair that contrasted with his pale skin made him look extremely beautiful to the eye. Dressed in a fresh purple linen tunic, Lucretius gave the impression of being a maiden to the eyes of anyone who saw him for the first time.

    "Make way! Don''t you know whose presence you''re in?" The men escorting Lucretius appeared threatening to the breastfeeding women, who, sensing danger, knelt and bowed their heads in reverence.

    - ¡°Enough! I haven¡¯t given you the order to do as you please. Step back.¡± ¨C With a stern tone, Lucretius extended his right arm towards his subordinates, throwing them backward with the force of a gust of air.

    "Ma''am, please stand up." Approaching the nurse holding the grayish-skinned baby, Lucretius''s eyes couldn''t leave the little girl who had caught his attention for even a second. Those unusual features captured his attention, and as if guided by a primitive impulse, he took the baby in his arms and held her to his chest.

    - "What the hell are you? You look so fragile, you could break at the slightest touch." ¨C While still holding the baby in his arms, a pair of whitish snakes inadvertently wrapped around Baron Santorino , subduing him as Gideon snatched the girl from his grasp.

    - ¡°Wow, I didn¡¯t expect this kind of reception.¡±

    - "And we weren''t expecting you, Baron Lucretius. Tell us what your business is immediately."

    - ¡°I wish I could listen to you, but as you can see, you have me tied up.¡± ¨C Like two lightning bolts, Lucretius¡¯s escorts surrounded Commander Gideon and placed the tips of their swords on his neck to force him to remove his restraint on his master.

    Prince Remius , accompanied by Princess Suthi , was walking down the stairs wearing a white robe characteristic of the Sidelian nobility . The robes were typical of succession protocols within the royal family; however, the white color on his shoulders indicated that his accession to the throne was through a marriage contract.

    - ¡°Greetings Your Royal Highness, Prince Remius . This humble servant greets you in the most respectful manner possible.¡± ¨C Leaning half his body forward in a sign of reverence, Lucretius placed his right hand against his chest and with his left hand extended part of the fold of his tunic as a noble woman would do in reverence.

    - ¡°Are you trying to make fun of the prince?¡±

    - ¡°Of course I wouldn¡¯t dare make fun of your highness, I¡¯m being perfectly polite right now.¡±

    - ¡°Bastard!¡±

    - ¡°Gideon, that is enough!¡± ¨C Raising his voice firmly, Prince Remius reprimanded his subordinate whom he had assigned to escort Princess Suthi , who until a few moments ago had been discussing the details pertaining to the transition of the throne of Sidelia .

    - ¡° Remius ¡±

    - ¡°Calm down Suthi , I must take care of something first and then I will come with you. Gideon is one of my best men and he will protect you without hesitation.¡± Nodding her head silently, the princess obeyed young Remius , who led Baron Lucretius to one of the palace¡¯s meeting rooms.

    - ¡°I appreciate your willingness, Your Highness. It is a great honor for me that¡­¡±

    "You can stop using that cheap talk with me, Lucretius. You and I both know very well that you don''t like me, and the feeling is mutual. Tell me what your problem is, and let''s get this over with."

    - ¡°Even though you don¡¯t like me, there are parts of you that I do like, Remius . And one of those is that you are as blunt as you are now. You are right, my visit here is not at all friendly; rather, I have brought you an edict, and I suppose you already have an idea of what this letter says.¡± Handing the parchment into Remius ¡¯s hands , the young prince broke the seal and began to read the contents line by line until his face was disgusted by everything written on it.

    "Is this mockery real? Am I a clown to all of you?" Suddenly rising from his chair, the prince threw the edict to the floor and threateningly faced Lucretius. He barely saw His Highness''s reaction and a cruel smile spread across his face.

    - ¡°My lord, do not blame the messenger. These are orders from Cicero Astarothe himself . They are not the empty words of just anyone, but the very words of our king. And even though you are a candidate for succession to the crown, you are still a subject who must abide by the ordinances of our supreme sovereign.¡± Picking up the parchment from the floor, Lucretius approached Remius so that they were separated by only a few centimeters.

    - ¡°How long do I have to get back?¡±

    "Since I gave you this letter, my lord, you have one week. During that time, you must settle all your outstanding matters in this nation, appoint an interim governor, and return to the royal capital of Melina."

    - "Appoint an interim? Bah, we know exactly what you mean by that, you damn bastard. Both my father and Romulos have already given you the go-ahead to sit on the throne."

    - ¡°Certainly, my dear sir. If it were not so, do you think I would take the trouble to act as a simple messenger to bring this letter to you?¡± ¨C Lightly crushing the parchment against Remius ¡¯s chest , Lucretius brushed his fingertips against the sovereign¡¯s chest, who, feeling disgust towards him, immediately withdrew his hand violently.

    - ¡°The time will come when that smile will be erased from your face, Lucretius, so don''t feel so comfortable on the throne when you are not worthy of it.¡±

    - ¡°Worthy or not, my lord, the fact is that I will be the one to take control of this place. Even if you don¡¯t like it.¡± Turning around, Lucretius left the meeting room, leaving Remius there, completely absorbed in anger, clenching his fists until the tips of his fingers began to bleed.

    - ¡°Prince Maximilian, everything is ready. As soon as the signal is given, the magicians will infuse mana into the stone tablet¡¯s circuit.¡± ¨C After exploring the inhospitable island miles from Ephesus for over a month , the prince¡¯s men had discovered the ruins of a primeval civilization known only through religious tales.

    Almost entirely consumed by the island''s abundant vegetation, the building structures had yielded over time, eroding to the point that only rubble and a few standing walls remained on the surface.

    However, after thoroughly examining every element on the surface, the research team managed to access an underground passageway that led to a secret chamber. With the walls moldy from the area''s harsh humidity, the air was so stale that it was difficult to breathe during the first few days of the archaeological work.

    - "Vargas, are you absolutely sure you''ve been able to read the hieroglyphics correctly? Honestly, I find everything you''ve told me so far incredible, and I''m skeptical about it."

    "Have no doubt, my lord, during my time at the academy, I was deeply interested in the history of the continent''s ancient civilizations and their dead languages. I was the best student of my generation, so rest assured, I''m putting my honor on the line for this."

    "Very well, Vargas, I will trust you completely. When I give you the signal, give the order to the mages on the surface to launch all their mana into the control tablet." In front of Prince Maximilian was a kind of stone portal. According to the hieroglyphics encoded on the walls of the chamber, it indicated that it was a gateway to the domain of the gods.

    Such a bold statement was too strange for the suspicious Maximilian, who remembered all the times Aurora had scolded him for not taking caution when it came to trusting someone.

    - ¡°It¡¯s time Vargas, give the order now¡± ¨C Using a wind spell, Sub-Captain Vargas¡¯ voice traveled along the walls of the underground corridor, reaching the ears of the subordinates on the surface.

    The moment the mana began to be supplied, the hieroglyphics on the walls of the chamber began to glow brightly as the arch of the portal fluctuated violently with energy that shook the air inside the vault.

    - ¡°Vargas, this doesn¡¯t look good at all! Tell the mages to stop imbuing energy immediately.¡±

    - ¡°My lord, I¡¯ve already told them and they tell me they¡¯re not supplying more mana to the circuit! We have no idea how it continues to operate without power to back it up.¡± As he finished saying those words, the walls of the chamber shook, releasing dust and a bit of debris.

    - "Give the evacuation order! Everyone must go directly to the coast. Walk!" Before he had even had time to cross the vault entrance, the dimensional portal unleashed a violent surge of energy that reached Maximiliano''s body. He slowly watched in horror as every part of his being disintegrated into thin air.

    - ¡°My lord!¡± ¨C Trying in vain to take the prince¡¯s hand, Vargas could only watch his lord¡¯s face vanish completely into thin air until the energy of the portal ceased its activity.

    - ¡°THIS CAN¡¯T BE HAPPENING! DAMN IT!¡± ¨C Frantically beating his fists against the ground, Vargas kept shouting, enraged at being so incompetent in protecting his master¡¯s physical integrity.

    - ¡° Beep , Beep , Beeep ¡± ¨C Surrounded by a whitish light as intense as the sun¡¯s rays, Maximiliano tried to move blindly, raising his hands in front of him while he felt gusts of wind running through his body, followed by incessant annoying sounds that were unfamiliar to him.

    - "Is this the underworld? Or have I entered the domain of the gods?" - After taking a few steps, the prince felt something bulky made of metal hit him completely, sending him flying through the air.

    Lichen genetics , the attack hadn''t caused any more damage than a punch in a street fight. However, as he lay on what appeared to be grass, his eyes adjusted to the ambient light, and he could finally see where he was.

    Supporting himself with his hands to get up from the ground, Maximiliano began to walk with clumsy steps, feeling disoriented by the scene before him.

    Countless metallic structures resembling carriages moved at high speed over surfaces that appeared to be stone. Giant images rose into the sky, bearing photographs of people and writing in characters unrecognizable to him.

    - ¡°Hey, friend, are you okay?¡± ¨C A slightly obese man got off a trailer and approached Maximiliano to see if he had any major injuries after seeing him fly through the air when a truck hit him.

    - ¡°Excuse me?¡± ¨C Unable to understand the language used by the man in front of him, Maximiliano brought his right hand to his head as if a sudden pain had begun to drill into his brain.

    - ¡°Oh, damn it! Let me call an ambulance, just stay there, I¡¯ll be right back.¡± ¨C Lying on the wet grass, the prince screamed in agony as he felt as if his ears were going to explode from an immense sea of voices surrounding him to the point of making him faint.