《Signature》 Prologue - Meeting of Monarchs
Unknown
I stared blankly at the ornate grandfather clock, its pendulum swinging in a steady, hypnotic rhythm. With each measured tick, a slow, suffocating dread coiled tighter in my stomach, rooting itself deep. My thoughts drifted, tangled in the relentless march of time¡ªuntil the sharp, confident sound of footsteps echoed down the marble hall behind me. "You seem nervous, my Coro." The voice was smooth, unwavering. "I am, Lorde Diligence," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "Do not be. The other Monarchs will sense your weakness." I hesitated, my eyes fixed on the final seconds slipping away before the meeting of the Monarchs. "Of course, my Lorde." As if on queue, reality fractured around me. One moment, I was within the Court¡ªsafe, grounded¡ªthe next, I was standing on an onyx pedestal, suspended above an endless void. My breath caught as I stared into the abyss below, half-expecting it to rise up and consume me. Then, a child¡¯s wail pierced the silence. I tensed at the unexpected sound, my gaze shifted to the right to take in my surroundings. To my right floated an empty pillar identical to mine, and above it, a woman sat upon an ornate marble throne¡ªLady Patience. She was breathtaking, her presence commanding, but it was her eyes that held me captive. They shimmered like a starry night sky, vast and endless, locked intently on something to her right. I followed her gaze to the next pillar and throne combo and found it resting on a hulking figure seated on the throne beside her¡ªLorde Humility. A familiar face. Anticipation tightened in my chest as my gaze drifted downward, already knowing who I would find below him. On her own pillar, stood his wife and coro¡ªmy longtime friend, Zoe. She met my eyes with a warm smile, lifting her hand in an effortless wave, as if this were nothing more than a casual reunion. The dread in my stomach eased at the sight of her annoyingly vibrant red hair¡ªtoo bold to ignore, too familiar to be anything but reassuring. I returned her wave with a small smile, but before either of us could speak, something in the air shifted. Our attention was drawn toward another pillar, almost opposite of me, where a woman I¡¯d never seen before had begun to sing. Her voice, soft and hypnotic, carried through the space, an attempt to soothe the wailing child¡­ no, children? My eyes narrowed. The pedestal opposite from mine did not hold just one small figure, but two. ¡°Sloth, explain yourself,¡± Lorde Diligence commanded, his tone sharp, expectant. A pause. A slow inhale. Then, Lorde Sloth finally opened his eyes, heavy-lidded and unbothered. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Excuse me?¡± Lorde Sloth¡¯s smirk unfurled like a creeping vine, stretching across his face at an agonizing pace. ¡°No,¡± he repeated, dragging out the word as if even defiance itself wasn¡¯t worth the effort. The children''s cries swelled, growing almost deafening. ¡°Don¡¯t even start bickering¡ªI almost had them calmed down,¡± the hypnotic voice rang out, tinged with annoyance. ¡°Watch yourself, girl. You speak to a Monarch,¡± a cold voice cut through the air. Lorde Pride¡ªa tall, unnaturally lanky figure¡ªglared in her direction. A hollow scoff followed. ¡°My wife speaks in my place, inhuman mutt,¡± Lorde Gluttony countered, his voice thick with disdain. A low chuckle rumbled from Lorde Humility. ¡°Bethany speaks in mine as well, my prideful opposite.¡± Before the tension could escalate further, a calm yet commanding voice sliced through the discord. ¡°Enough, everyone. They¡¯re coming,¡± Lady Chastity declared. Around me all fourteen Monarchs of Sin and Virtue rose from their thrones and floated down to the pillars in front of them as if gravity didn¡¯t exist. ¡°Kneel.¡± The command echoed from everywhere at once, layered voices weaving into a single undeniable force. Before I could even process what was happening, my knees hit the cold surface beneath me. ¡°We welcome you,¡± the Monarchs spoke in unison, their voices rippling through the air like a decree woven into the fabric of reality. ¡°Arise.¡± The invisible weight pressing me down vanished, and as I lifted my gaze, dread coiled back into my chest. The abyss below us was gone. In its place stretched an endless meadow, dense with timekeepers¡ªdelicate, ethereal flowers known to bloom only in the presence of the Monarch of Time. And in the center of our circle of pillars stood two figures. The man, the Monarch of Space, bore an uncanny resemblance to my own Monarch¡ªtall and powerfully built, with olive skin and tightly cropped black hair. They could have been twins. Beside him, the Monarch of Time was his stark opposite. She was short, almost skeletal in her frailty, her skin an unnatural shade of white. Her hair, just as ghostly, fell around her like strands of spun moonlight. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Their presence alone bent the atmosphere, the weight of time and space pressing in from all sides. ¡°Humility, explain yourself.¡± The deep male voice rang out, steeped in authority, leaving no room for hesitation. A low chuckle broke the silence. ¡°There is nothing to explain, my Lorde,¡± Humility replied. ¡°I wanted a child. I conceived a child.¡± ¡°Humility, you have once again broken one of our royal decrees.¡± The soft female voice followed, its tone devoid of emotion, as if the verdict had already been decided. ¡°I did.¡± A black vortex formed above Lorde Space¡¯s hand, swirling with an unsettling energy as a small humanoid figure began to take shape. A sudden, piercing shriek tore through the air, yanking my attention toward Lorde Humility¡¯s onyx pillar. ¡°Release h¡ª¡± The word never fully left Zoe¡¯s lips. Her leg twisted unnaturally mid-syllable, a sickening crunch echoing through the air as if she were nothing more than a strand of string, effortlessly knotted by the Space Monarch¡¯s will. She crumpled to the ground, unconscious from the shock, before any of us could fully register what had just happened. Lorde Humility lunged toward the Monarchs of Space and Time, his intent unmistakable. But the moment he crossed the edge of his onyx pillar, he slammed into an invisible barrier, his momentum cut short as if he had struck solid stone. Before the sound of the thud had fully faded, Zoe¡¯s other leg twisted violently, the sickening sound of snapping bone echoed through the realm as it exploded into a spray of blood. The crimson mist splattered against the barrier, painting it in a grotesque display. ¡°Move against us again, and I will kill her, Humility,¡± the Monarch of Space sneered, his voice cold. No one dared to react aloud, but the unspoken horror was evident in the eyes of those around me¡ªeven in those who despised Lorde Humility. Discomfort, disgust, silent outrage. It lingered in their gazes, thick in the air, yet not a single soul moved. No one interfered. They couldn¡¯t. Lorde Humility knelt beside his wife¡¯s broken, bloodied form. His face betrayed nothing¡ªno anger, no sorrow¡ªonly an unreadable calm. ¡°I apologize for my outburst, my Lorde and Lady.¡± A newborn now floated where the black vortex had once been, small and helpless, its silent cries lost in the stillness of the moment. Slowly, it descended into Lady Time¡¯s waiting arms, and she cradled the child with an eerie gentleness. ¡°We took away the Monarchs¡¯ ability to conceive as an act of goodwill¡ªto maintain the balance between sin and virtue. Yet, despite knowing this, you used your royal signature to defy our decree. Such defiance will not go unpunished, Humility.¡± Lorde Space continued, his voice as cold as before. ¡°We will take this child from you, raise her, and prepare her to eventually take your place.¡± ¡°My Lorde, please¡ª¡± Lorde Humility began, his tone stripped of the calm he had held before, but he was cut off before he could say more. ¡°Quiet.¡± The single word from Lorde Space carried a heavy threat. ¡°This decision has already been made. The only purpose of this summit is to make an example of you for the rest of the Monarchs,¡± Lady Time declared as she gently stroked the baby''s barely grown hair. A long pause settled over the gathering as the Monarchs of Space and Time met each of our gazes, one by one, their scrutiny heavy and absolute. Then, their attention returned to Lorde Humility. The expression on his face sent a shiver down my spine. I recognized that look¡ªit was the same one Lorde Diligence wore just before swinging his axe at the execution block. A single tear traced down Lorde Humility¡¯s cheek. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, everyone,¡± he murmured, his voice strained, as if the weight of the world itself was pressing down on him. Lorde Diligence scoffed beside me, but Lorde Humility continued undeterred. ¡°I must protect my family, even if it sends the world into chaos.¡± His eyes began to glow as a crown formed on his head. ¡°Kneel,¡± he commanded, his voice carrying the same undeniable authority as the Monarch of Space. They did. All of them. Everyone fell to their knees in unison, a cacophony of gasps and murmurs of confusion filling the air. Lorde Humility took a slow step forward, his voice steady, unwavering. ¡°Just because I am the Monarch of Humility does not mean I am weak.¡± His gaze locked onto Lorde Space. ¡°You miscalculated. You should never have used your royal signature so freely in my presence, under the assumption that I could not usurp it.¡± He advanced toward the two kneeling Monarchs at the center, each deliberate step laced with quiet fury. ¡°You are both a threat to my family. And you have crossed a line you never should have.¡± The Monarchs of Space and Time didn¡¯t even have the chance to respond. Their heads twisted sharply, bones snapping like dry twigs, contorting just as Zoe¡¯s legs had¡ªbefore ripping clean off. Blood sprayed across the field of Timekeepers, staining the delicate flowers in deep crimson as their lifeless bodies collapsed. ¡°Hear me, other Monarchs,¡± Lorde Humility¡¯s voice rang out, unwavering and absolute. ¡°The barriers around you will remain until I am gone, and I will open portals back to your domains while I still wield Lorde Space¡¯s royal signature.¡± His gaze swept over the kneeling figures, their expressions shadowed with shock, the blood of the fallen Monarchs still fresh in the air. ¡°Move against me or my family,¡± he continued, his tone heavy with the weight of an unbreakable decree, ¡°and I will do to you what I did to them.¡± He lumbered back toward his pillar, the weight of his actions pressing into the silence that hung thick in the air. Upon reaching his pillar, he knelt and plucked a single timekeeper from the ground, carefully placing it inside Zoe¡¯s mouth. In that instant, the rest of the meadow¡¯s delicate flowers shredded themselves into nothing, a storm of petals scattering like confetti across the ground. Zoe, still unconscious, winced as her body reacted. Her legs, broken and lost just moments before, began to rewind through time¡ªbones reforming, flesh knitting itself back together¡ªuntil she was whole once more. Lorde Humility exhaled, then turned his gaze toward Lorde Diligence. ¡°I¡¯m sorry it had to happen this way, young man,¡± he said, his voice heavy with something between regret and resolve. ¡°I will leave the bodies so you may give your father and aunt a proper burial.¡± And just like that, he lifted Zoe into his arms, stepped through the portal¡ª And vanished. At last, after everything, I turned to look at Lorde Diligence. He stood motionless, staring blankly at the lifeless bodies of Lorde Space and Lady Time, his expression hollow, still caught in the aftershock of what had just transpired. ¡°Wow,¡± Lady Wrath muttered, her voice breaking the heavy silence¡ªthe first words she had spoken since arriving. I shifted my gaze, scanning the other pillars. The reactions were mixed, scattered like the remnants of the shredded Timekeepers. Some Monarchs remained frozen, their expressions unreadable, while others had already made their exits. Lady Patience, Lorde Sloth, and Lady Lust¡ªalong with their respective Coros¡ªhad wasted no time in vanishing, slipping away through the portals without so much as a word. One by one, the others trickled away, departing only after fully processing the weight of what had transpired. But not Lorde Diligence. And not me. Hours passed in silence, the stillness pressing down like an unseen force. I waited, expecting him to speak, to give me a command¡ªbut none came. Lorde Diligence¡¯s expression slowly shifted as time passed¡ªwhat little emotion remained drained from his face, leaving behind something hollow. Cold. Slowly, ominously, the dread in my chest crept back in, tightening like a noose with each passing moment. Because I knew¡ªsooner or later¡ªI would be expected to help kill my friend or die trying. Chapter 1 - The Man Who Brings Fear
June Leir
I landed hard on the ground, a puff of snow exploding around me, completely burying me in its cold embrace. ¡°Come on, stupid!¡± I shouted into the air, frustration bubbling over as I pushed myself back to my feet. I paused, taking in my surroundings as I always did when I shouted like an idiot. The clearing stretched before me, nestled a little ways into the forest next to my home. I''d built a ramshackle obstacle course here, cobbled together from random scraps I''d scavenged in town, determined to make it work no matter how ridiculous it seemed. ¡°No beasts, good.¡± I whispered to myself once I had sufficiently looked around. Frustration gnawed at me as I braced myself for another attempt. For the last twenty minutes, I¡¯d been struggling through a self-made obstacle course in the middle of a freezing forest. This sucks. I suck. This icy weather sucks. I sprinted toward the sketchy spruce springboard, my feet hitting it just right. The board launched me toward my target: a tree branch about three Anna¡¯s high¡ªfifteen feet for those uneducated. I grabbed it, swinging forward, using the momentum to land on another branch, then another, and another in quick succession. I leaped, flipping over a waist-high branch, and landed¡ªquestionably¡ªon my fifth one. I braced myself for a brief second, but once again, my foot slipped. Squealing, I instinctively braced for impact. But instead of the expected thud of snow and pain, a pair of strong arms caught me mid-fall. ¡°That was probably your best attempt that I¡¯ve seen.¡± the voice was laced with a teasing smirk I blinked up at him, feeling my face heat up. ¡°You saw all that, didn¡¯t you?¡± He grinned down at me, still holding me effortlessly. ¡°I did. I also saw your mom calling for you to come down for dinner. Guess who wasn¡¯t there, like she was supposed to be?¡± I froze, realization hitting me¡ªI had forgotten I snuck out. ¡°Am I in trouble?¡± I asked, trying my best to summon my most innocent, puppy-dog eyes. His expression softened as he chuckled. ¡°If Mom asks, I had a very stern talk with you about it.¡± Relief flooded through me, and I squeezed him in a tight hug. ¡°You¡¯re the best, Dad!¡± He chuckled, shaking his head. ¡°Come on, if we keep Mom waiting any longer, we¡¯re both going to be cooked alive and served for dinner tomorrow.¡± And just like that, he carried me back toward town like the princess I clearly was. As I stared at him, I felt a sense of insignificance. My dad was a monster of a man, someone who seemed to be the pinnacle of human physique¡ªtall, broad, and built like he could take on anything. ¡°You know,¡± he said casually, ¡°Anna used to fall out of trees when she was hunting. Every time, she¡¯d get so flustered at your mom, and you looked just like her when you fell earlier.¡± ¡°I¡¯m telling Anna you¡¯re sharing embarrassing stories again.¡± He sputtered, trying to process my traitorous words, but I wasn¡¯t about to wait for his reaction. Wiggling free, I dropped to the snow and took off running. ¡°You little traitorous fox!¡± he yelled after me, though his voice grew fainter with each step. ¡°I gave you a freebie, and this is how you repay me?¡± After running for what felt like forever, I finally arrived at the front door of our cozy little cottage, a little ways outside of town. I was out of breath, my face bright red from the cold and exertion. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t be so tired if you listened to Mom and stayed inside studying like you were supposed to,¡± a voice called down from above me, followed by the sight of her peering out the bedroom window¡ªmy sister, Anna, a few years older than me. She was an almost mirror image of our mom, with her fiery red hair and freckles dotting her face. The biggest difference between her and our mom was her eyes; they shone with the telltale signs of her signature and were shaped like a feline. I looked up with a grin. ¡°Are you really one to talk? Last I remember, Dad told me you were worse.¡± ¡°I had more style when I did it.¡± I was about to retort, but before I could speak, a sudden chill swept through the air, and the temperature felt as though it had dropped even lower. The large wooden door creaked open, and the warmth from inside spilled out¡ªalong with the unmistakable sight of something straight out of a nightmare. A stunning woman with long, fiery red hair, her beauty almost otherworldly, stood framed in the doorway. But it wasn¡¯t her beauty that caught my attention¡ªit was the rage burning in her icy blue eyes that reminded me of a fire that was about to escape the confines of its fireplace prison. ¡°June,¡± her voice sliced through the air, cold as the winter winds. ¡°Where is your father?¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. I tried to hide my nervousness with a sheepish laugh, my eyes darting toward the forest. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ somewhere back there. I guess he¡¯s taking his time.¡± I could feel the icy weight of her glare burning into my back. Slowly, I turned to meet her gaze, and immediately regretted it. ¡°Inside. Now.¡± I didn¡¯t need to be told twice. I bolted for the kitchen, slipping past her to sit at the table, stiff as a board, and awaited my fate.
Annabelle Leir
¡°Anna,¡± my mother¡¯s voice came cold, the same tone she¡¯d used with my baby sister just moments before. ¡°I¡¯ll go fetch him, Mother,¡± I replied quickly, before leaping out the window with practiced ease. I hit the ground in a perfect roll and took off, following June¡¯s snowy footprints as fast as I could. It only took a minute to spot him trudging through the woods. He moved slowly, carefully parting tree branches that would have been too high for most to navigate. Watching him struggle to maneuver made me smirk. As soon as he spotted me, his eyes widened, and he quickened his pace. ¡°She¡¯s mad at me now, too, isn¡¯t she?¡± I giggled, teasing, ¡°You should¡¯ve known to move faster if she was already upset.¡± He huffed, a playful glint in his eye. ¡°Do you know how hard it is to move in this forest at my height?¡± He bent down and moved another branch out of his way, careful not to snap it, just enough to pass. ¡°It would go faster if you just snapped the branches like a normal person,¡± I countered, ¡°You¡¯ve moved through this forest a hundred times without breaking a single one.¡± Finally, he caught up, and we started jogging back toward the house. Midstride, he bent low again, ducking a particularly thick branch. In a mock-sagely voice, he said, ¡°If I broke everything in my way, we wouldn¡¯t have doorways either.¡± I rolled my eyes. As much as he looked like a hero from a folktale, Dad had always been a bit of a pacifist when it came to things that didn¡¯t need breaking. ¡°I guess looks can be deceiving,¡± I muttered under my breath. I could tell he heard me from the slight puff of air he exhaled, a restrained chuckle. As we neared the house, the familiar sounds of my mother¡¯s voice cut through the stillness¡ªsharp, stern, and unmistakably worried. ¡°Do you know how worried I was? It¡¯s dangerous out there! You don¡¯t have the strength to deal with any beasts that might find you!¡± Her voice wasn¡¯t quite yelling, but there was no mistaking the barely contained frustration. ¡°But, Mom¡­¡± ¡°No buts, June Leir!¡± she snapped, the finality in her tone ringing out. ¡°We¡¯ve explained this to you a thousand times! Your sister and father can handle themselves, but you... you weren¡¯t born with that same strength!¡± I could tell she hated saying those words, but the truth was the truth. June needed to hear it. We stepped inside, and immediately, I heard the soft sniffling from the kitchen. Glancing at Dad, I moved aside to let him go in first. He walked over to June, who was trying to hide her tears in her favorite chair by the table. He knelt beside her, speaking in a low whisper, and I made the decision not to listen. ¡°Momma, I¡¯m going to go grab more firewood for later tonight,¡± I said softly, careful not to interrupt their conversation. ¡°Then I¡¯ll be back for dinner.¡± She gave a brief nod, a quiet understanding in her eyes. ¡°Be quick, hun. Dinner¡¯s been ready a while, and it¡¯s starting to get cold.¡± I escaped outside before they could say more, slipping out the front door and rounding the house toward the back. Dad had stacked firewood under an awning before the real winter chill hit, and I grabbed a few pieces, intent on getting it done quickly. Something shifted in the darkness between the trees, just enough to catch my attention. Everything felt off. Too still. The kind of stillness that only settled when the forest itself had gone unnaturally silent. I dropped the firewood and bolted inside, slamming the door behind me and locking it, my heart pounding in my chest. Before I could catch my breath, Dad was right there, his hand on my shoulder. His voice was different, sharper. ¡°Are you alright, Anna?¡± I shook my head, struggling to calm myself. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°Sweetheart,¡± my mother¡¯s voice came, cold as ice. ¡°We have company.¡± When I looked up, I saw her knees buckling beneath her, straining to keep her standing. The sound of three sharp knocks on the door sent a chill down my spine. I backed away from it, pressing my back against the closet door directly across from it, heart racing. Dad moved quickly, slipping around me and unlocking the door. I heard the sound of Mom collapsing to the ground. June rushed to her side, her calmness almost unnatural, as if she couldn¡¯t feel what Mom and I were feeling. ¡°What do you want, Judge?¡± Dad¡¯s voice was low, barely contained with fury. It wasn¡¯t a question¡ªit was a command. The raspy voice from outside chuckled jovially. ¡°Humil ol¡¯ friend, why the hostility? Can we talk?¡± Dad growled in response. ¡°You know damn well why I¡¯m hostile. Turn it off.¡± The suffocating fear that had gripped me lifted as quickly as it had come, like a switch was flipped. "My bad, ol'' friend, my bad!" the voice apologized, its tone shifting immediately. Dad growled again, his movements quick and deliberate. ¡°I¡¯ll be out for a while,¡± he called back to us. ¡°Finish dinner without me.¡± Without waiting for any response, he closed the door behind him, leaving us in the sudden, suffocating silence. ¡°Mom¡­¡± June began, but her words trailed off when she saw Mom shakily getting to her feet. ¡°You heard your father,¡± Mom said, her voice weaker than I¡¯d ever heard. ¡°Come sit and eat before it gets cold.¡± June and I exchanged a look, a silent agreement passing between us not to ask any questions just yet. Hours passed. We sat together in the living room by the fire, Mom lost in thought, her usual confidence nowhere to be found. June fell asleep on her lap, her quiet breathing a stark contrast to the tension hanging in the room. Suddenly, we heard the door unlock, and our senses sharpened, instantly alert. I drew the knife from my boot, my mind already preparing for whatever might come through that door. ¡°Put the knife away, Anna. We all need to talk,¡± Dad¡¯s voice came from the entryway. I tensed as he stepped into the living room, his expression serious. Dad knelt beside Mom, his voice low as he whispered, "I''ve got her, honey. We shouldn''t talk about this in front of her." With that, he gently lifted June into his arms and turned to climb the stairs. Mom nodded, her face a mask of exhaustion. As Dad¡¯s form passed the threshold of the staircase, I saw the unmistakable signs of tears in her eyes. The sight of my mother crying¡ªthe woman who had always been so strong¡ªbrought me back to reality. I hadn¡¯t even realized I was still holding my knife until I slowly put it away, my hand shaking. I moved to her side, sitting next to her and wrapping my arms around her. I didn¡¯t understand why she was reacting this way, but I knew one thing for sure: I didn¡¯t know what else to do. We just sat there, in the quiet, as I held my mother close¡ªtrying to give her some semblance of comfort as the weight of the unknown pressed down on us. Chapter 2 - Earlier Than Expected
June Leir
"Wake up! Wake up!" I shot upright, my heart pounding in my chest. My head collided with something hard¡ª thunk¡ª and I yelped in pain, blinking away the fog of sleep. My eyes focused, and I saw Anna sprawled on the ground beside my bed, rubbing her forehead with a grimace. "Are you okay?" I asked, already scrambling to my feet. Anna didn¡¯t answer right away. She just shot me a glare that could¡¯ve melted steel. Then, without another word, she grabbed my backpack from the desk and started tossing things in without a second thought. "We¡¯re leaving. Now." "Wait, what? Where¡¯s Mom and Dad? Who was that guy? What¡¯s going on?" I blurted out, throwing questions at her faster than I could think. Anna paused for a brief moment, exhaling through her nose like she was trying to calm herself. "I don¡¯t have time to explain everything, June. If I answer one by one, you¡¯ll have ten more. Mom and Dad are evacuating the town. They want me to get you to Uncle¡¯s cabin. A monarch is hunting Dad... and it''s found us." The air in my lungs froze. I stared at her, processing the words, but nothing came out. I felt like someone had knocked the wind out of me. "Oh," I whispered, my stomach sinking. Anna continued packing, her hands moving fast and sharp. She shoved the last few things into my bag and tossed it to me with a practiced motion. "You¡¯ve got three minutes to get dressed and grab anything you absolutely need. Don¡¯t make me drag you out of here." I blinked a few times, still processing, but I nodded. "Okay, okay." I quickly grabbed the stuffed fox Mom made for me¡ªmy comfort¡ªthen slipped my boots on. Less than two minutes later, I burst into the kitchen, already dressed, my jacket on, and my bag slung over my shoulder. "Ready!" I declared, clutching the fox tightly. Anna barely looked up, just tossing the last of the canned food into a large bag¨Cprobably dads, muttering under her breath. "Good. Grab the camping gear and the canteens from the closet. We¡¯re almost done." I raced to the closet, grabbed everything she asked for, and rushed back to her. She shoved the camping kit and canteens into the bag and cinched the straps tightly. "June, look at me," she said suddenly, her voice serious, her gaze locking onto mine. I stopped, everything else fading away in the intensity of her stare. "Promise me. If we run into any beasts on the way, you stay hidden. You stay out of sight while I deal with them. This is going to be dangerous¡ªmore dangerous than anything you¡¯ve ever faced. And I promised Mom and Dad I¡¯d keep you safe until they can get to us." I swallowed, her words sinking into me. For a moment, I couldn¡¯t speak. But then, my voice was steady¡ª"I promise. I¡¯ll listen to you. I¡¯ll stay out of the way." Anna held my gaze for a long, tense moment, making sure I meant it. Finally, her expression softened, just a little. "I¡¯ll believe you, little sister." She gave me a quick, reassuring smile. "Now, let¡¯s go. We need to be out of here before things get worse." She turned and moved toward the door, but then froze. Her hand shot up, finger pressed to her lips, signaling for me to be quiet. I stood still, confused, until I heard it too¡ªa faint, eerie sound drifting on the wind. Music. "Is that¡­?" I began, but Anna cut me off, her eyes wide with alarm. "They¡¯re early," she hissed under her breath, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the door. "Why are they early?" I didn¡¯t need to ask what she meant. Dad had told us stories¡ªabout how the monarchs always gave a warning before they came, how the music meant a calamity was about to descend. I felt my pulse quicken. The monarch was coming. And we weren¡¯t ready.
Annabelle Leir
June tugged back slightly as my words sank in, her mind catching up to the urgency. "Wake up, June! We''re running, not thinking!" I shouted, dragging her behind me as we moved swiftly around the back of the house. Uncle¡¯s cabin lay in the mountains to the south, not far from where we were. Normally, Dad would never allow us to go alone, especially with the beasts being worse at night. But tonight, we had no choice. Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. As we slipped into a small clearing, the dark around us felt familiar to me, but it made me realize something¡ªothers, like June, couldn¡¯t see in the dark as I could. She stumbled over a rock that I had easily avoided. "Ahh!" June yelped as she crashed into the snow. "Why is snow so fluffy but so painful?" she groaned, a wince contorting her face as she lay on the cold ground. I spun around, dropping to my knees beside her. We hadn¡¯t even gone a few hundred yards into the woods, and already, I was reminded of how unprepared I was. I had overlooked something so simple. "Come on, June, get up. We need to go." She reached for my hand, trying again to stand, but her knees buckled, and she collapsed. Her face went pale, and her voice trembled, ¡°It hurts to stand.¡± I gritted my teeth, fighting the rising frustration. "Push through the pain, June!" With a determined tug, I pulled her up, forcing her to stand. "Ahh!" Her cry was louder this time, sharp and desperate, as she collapsed again. ¡°I can¡¯t, Anna, my ankle! It hurts too much!¡± Reluctantly, I formed my hands into the bird call I had practiced, the one that meant Mom needed to drop everything and come to us when things went wrong. Five sharp notes echoed through the night air, and as I began rummaging through my bag, I spoke calmly, though my heart raced. "Take your boot off; I¡¯m going to bind it so we can keep going." To my surprise, when I turned back, June¡¯s boot was already off, and she was waiting patiently. I couldn¡¯t help but smile, her willingness to follow without complaint surprising me again. Just as I finished wrapping her foot, a rustling from nearby shot my instincts into overdrive. My voice dropped to a whisper. "Mom?" Silence. I slid the knife from my boot and handed it to June before drawing Dad¡¯s woodcutting axe from my bag. We sat, tense, scanning the small clearing in silence, holding our breath. Without warning, a massive, four-legged creature leapt from the bushes directly in front of us and sprinted toward us from a mere dozen feet away. Reacting as quickly as a cat, I loosened my body just like Dad had taught me and bolted toward the beast, keeping a safe distance between it and June. The creature¡ªa gargantuan snow leopard¡ªclosed the gap swiftly. At the last moment, it slashed at me with its claws. Surprising it, I twisted my axe sideways, using the flat side to block the strike. The sound of the metal ringing against its claws disoriented it for a split second, giving me the chance to step in close and land a shallow cut to its throat. I leaped back just in time to avoid its retaliatory swipe¡ªa strike that would have knocked me out of the fight had it landed. We stared each other down, the leopard¡¯s gaze sharp, as if it could sense my own instincts. It hissed at me, issuing a challenge. Fury bubbled up inside me. ¡°Of course, you turned this into a pissing contest, you stupid feline. We don¡¯t have time for this!¡± I hissed back. The beast lunged, mimicking its initial attack. I grinned predatorily. It was underestimating me. As it closed in, I darted to the right, and, as planned, it pursued. Once it was right on my heels, I pivoted, swiping my axe vertically. The leopard pulled back to avoid the strike¡ªjust as I¡¯d expected. I rolled left, narrowly evading its next swipe, and scooped up a handful of snowy dirt. I took off again, hoping it would chase me, but this time, it didn¡¯t follow. A strange sound rang out from behind me, like the leopard was calling for something¡ªor someone. I froze, my stomach sinking. "I really hope this prick doesn¡¯t have a pack," I muttered, before turning to sprint toward it, desperate to silence its call. Before the leopard could finish its screech, I was already on top of it, swinging my axe in a sharp diagonal arc toward its head. It reacted quicker than I expected, ducking and twisting to avoid the blow, then slashing at me with terrifying speed. Frustratingly, I couldn¡¯t dodge it in time. But I used every ounce of my agility to twist my body, rolling with the strike to lessen the blow. In the same fluid motion, I hurled the handful of dirt straight into its face, hoping to blind it long enough for me to regain control. The dirt distracted it long enough for me to land below it, and as it attempted to strike, it slashed at nothing but air. I grimaced as pain flared in my left arm, but I forced myself to keep moving, rolling away from the beast¡¯s reach. It tried pouncing again, blind and frustrated, but after a few more failed attempts, it stopped chasing me. It took a brief pause to clean the dirt from its face. I staggered to my feet, the pain in my arm intensifying. My breathing quickened as adrenaline began to wear off. I took a moment to center myself, steeling my resolve. The leopard, sensing my change, charged toward me, eyes closed in blindness. I feigned a move left but darted right, trying to confuse it. It pounced, but missed by a single step. I grinned, taunting, ¡°Not there anymore, stupid!¡± I took off toward the clearing¡¯s edge, making as much noise as possible to lure the leopard after me. As the trees drew near, I leaped up, catching a branch with my injured arm. Pain seared through me, but I didn¡¯t hesitate. The leopard charged straight into a tree, dazed. I dropped down and struck, my axe poised to cleave into its skull. The beast crumpled beneath me. I quickly backed off and collapsed to my knees, waiting for any sign of movement, but there was nothing. Exhausted, I slowly got to my feet, clutching my mangled arm. ¡°Screw the plan; we¡¯re heading back home,¡± I wheezed. ¡°We won¡¯t make it like this.¡± June didn¡¯t argue. She stood, limping, and started back toward town. I grabbed my bag to follow, but then¡ªa rustling behind me. I froze, heart pounding, praying it wasn¡¯t another leopard. To my horror, three smaller snow leopards¡ªprobably the dead one¡¯s cubs¡ªemerged from the foliage, their eyes fixed on their fallen mother. They hissed at me, the bloodied killer. I was paralyzed, panic rising in my chest. The cubs stalked closer, far more cautious than their mother had been. ¡°Anna, run!¡± June¡¯s voice rang out behind me, calm yet urgent. Her shout broke me from the edge of panic, and I immediately forced my legs into motion. I couldn¡¯t let them get to June. I had to take her out of the equation to protect her. I turned and fled deeper into the woods, leaving my sister and my bag behind and hoped that I¡¯d somehow make it through this. Chapter 3 - Nightmare Fuel
June Leir
Anna was gone, and there wasn¡¯t a thing I could do about it. My signature, clarity, had activated against my will, its calming presence washing over me, forcing clarity where panic should have been. It sharpened my thoughts, mapping out my options¡ªwhat little I had now that I was alone. Our parents weren¡¯t with us, which was odd¡ªthey would never leave us to face something like this alone. There was only one place they could be if they weren¡¯t at home¡ªour hometown, Crossroads. It was the only option that made sense, especially as I took in the sight before me. Even from this distance, the town was impossible to miss¡ªa towering inferno, its flames stretching high into the night, turning the sky as bright as day. I arrived slowly at our house, setting all my things down¡ªmy stuffed fox standing watch like a loyal guardian in the night. Hobbling, I made my way toward town, determined to find our parents. I barely reached the outskirts before I had to stop, my throbbing ankle demanding a break¡ªgiving me a moment to plan my next move. Crossroads was laid out exactly as its name suggested¡ªa large, intersecting road splitting the town into four sections. The main shops and inns lined the North and South streets, while the residential areas sprawled across the rest, dotted with various other buildings scattered throughout. The town sat nestled between two towering mountain ranges to the east and west, resting on the edge of a dense forest that crept up the slopes toward the northernmost point of the continent. This was the only passable route through the mountains in the entire region, making Crossroads a vital passageway. To the north, the road stretched toward a distant oceanfront town, a few dozen miles away. To the south, it led deeper into the heart of the continent. The east and west trails climbed the mountains, though the western path was usually impassable¡ªa natural death sentence thanks to the influence of the Sloth Monarch. My parents were most likely at either the north or south gate, so I pushed through the pain, gritting my teeth as I limped through the slowly burning town in search of them. As I neared the town''s center, the sound of distant clangs of metal rang out from my right¡ªthe answer I¡¯d been hoping for. They were at the south gate. To my left, down the wide road, I could see people still evacuating, their hurried movements a blur against the backdrop of the chaos. But I headed toward the danger instead, just like Anna would have. I couldn¡¯t shake the hope that somehow, she was still alive. The fighting raged on the entire time I walked through the town, which felt like it was turning into an oven. The heat was suffocating, the smoke thick in the air. As I moved closer, I began to make out my dad, locked in combat with a nightmarishly tall, misshapen figure. Was it human? It barely resembled one, more like something born of nightmares. I could see my mom darting across the rooftops¡ªwhat remained of them¡ªshooting arrows with deadly precision to give my dad some space between his engagements. Dad was swinging his usual over-the-top lumber axe, a weapon as large as it was deadly, while the monster fought with its fists. Each punch flickered with a strange blue light just before impact, crackling with an otherworldly energy. Mom tensed the moment she noticed me approaching behind Dad, just as she loosed another arrow. She missed. The creature, not needing to divert its attention, landed a brutal blow right to my dad¡¯s chest. A sickening crack echoed through the air as he was sent flying backwards, crashing through the wall of a burning building. The structure collapsed on top of him. The monster¡¯s gaze shifted to me, its eyes locking onto mine with an unsettling intensity. Its side flickered with the same eerie blue light that had surrounded its fists, deflecting the arrow that had been aimed at it. ¡°Leave, child,¡± it croaked, turning towards Mom as it braced to charge. But then, it froze, its gaze shifting back to me with unnerving focus. ¡°Clap your hands.¡± I stared at it in confusion. Clap my hands? ¡°June, do not speak to him!¡± Mom shouted, her voice sharp as she fired off more arrows. But the monster ignored her completely, its body lighting up blue again and again, like some strange, rhythmic pattern, deflecting arrow after arrow. The creature finally spoke again, its voice low and raspy. ¡°Child, how old are you?¡± I was completely thrown off at this point. Was I missing something? Or was this thing just... weird? It wasn¡¯t behaving like anything I¡¯d ever encountered, and I couldn¡¯t figure out why it was suddenly so interested in me. Another arrow slammed against the blue shield with a deafening clang. ¡°Stop shooting, wife of Humility,¡± it commanded, its voice uninterested, without even turning towards Mom. From over its shoulder, I could see my mom tense, her fingers tightening around the arrow she had been about to release, before slowly lowering it and removing it from the string. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°Answer me, child, or I will kill you,¡± it commanded, its voice colder, more threatening this time. I could see the fear flash in my mom¡¯s eyes as I hesitated, then answered, ¡°Thirteen.¡± ¡°Not sixteen?¡± I paused, hearing the distant groan of the building shifting to my left. Dad was slowly working his way up from beneath the rubble. ¡°Not sixteen.¡± ¡°Is that your mother behind me?¡± ¡°¡­Yes?¡± The creature suddenly burst into laughter¡ªan ear-piercing, shrill sound that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. It finally turned toward my mom, its voice laced with humor. ¡°Wife of Humility, stab yourself in the neck with an arrow.¡± Without a moment¡¯s hesitation, she obeyed. One moment, she was standing there and the next, she was falling from the building, the arrow lodged deep in her neck. The sight was so sudden, so brutal, that I couldn¡¯t even process it before she hit the ground even with my signature aiding me. ¡°Go to her, child. Here, let me help.¡± The thing was on top of me in an instant, moving unnaturally fast. Before I could react, I was soaring through the air, flying toward my mom. He had thrown me, like a sack of potatoes, with terrifying ease. I landed close to her¡ªso close, in fact, that I was partially covered in her blood as I slid to a stop, coming to a grim halt in a puddle of it. I got back to my knees and as I knelt beside her, my body now throbbing with pain from various injuries, I took in the sight of her. She was barely breathing. The arrow had snapped in half during the fall, and blood poured from the gaping wound in her neck, staining the ground beneath her in a dark, unforgiving pool. The world around me blurred as I stared at her, helpless, as she died. My signature, the unique ability I¡¯d had since birth, usually kept my emotions in check, helping me regulate my thoughts and actions. But in that moment, something inside me snapped. Unknown to me until now, there was a limit to it. A hard, painful limit. I had spent my whole life partially detached, unwillingly distancing myself from everything, so when the wave of unfiltered emotions hit me, it felt like a tidal wave crashing down. It hurt. It hurt so damn much. The anxiety and fear of Anna potentially being dead. The raw, suffocating grief of watching my mom die. And the searing hatred I felt for this... thing. This stupid thing that had taken everything from me. I felt a heat in my eyes as tears fell in an uncontrollable stream, like a broken sink. Then a loud crash pulled my gaze away from my mom. My beautiful, amazing, and... dead mom. The creature had thrown my dad through yet another building. My rage surged, a fire building inside me as the heat in my eyes intensified, spreading like a wildfire, slowly consuming my entire body. The wildfire inside me shifted once again, a spark of control flickering through the chaos. For the first time in my life, I forced my signature to bend to my will. Calmness, unlike anything I had ever felt, washed over me, like a wave smoothing out the chaos in my mind. I blinked, and as my eyes shifted, I could see it all. The tiniest details¡ªthe movement of muscle twitches, the individual snowflakes falling in slow motion, and even the subtle shift of the building as my dad began digging his way out for the second time. I rose to my feet, shouting, ¡°Who are you?¡± at the monster. I caught its attention again. For reasons I couldn¡¯t understand, it seemed captivated by me. It slowly approached, its gaze never leaving me, and finally spoke. ¡°I¡¯m the Pride Monarch, child.¡± ¡°My name is June,¡± I replied, my words coming unbidden as it reached me and lowered itself to my level. ¡°Why are you not scared of me, June?¡± it asked, its voice dripping with curiosity. ¡°I can¡¯t feel fear right now.¡± Pride let out a cold laugh, right in my face. ¡°Expected of a Monarch¡¯s daughter.¡± ¡°Monarch¡¯s daughter?¡± ¡°The daughter of the Humility Monarch.¡± ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be possible. The Monarchs give warnings in the form of music.¡± Pride grabbed my hand, inspecting it closely. ¡°Not the Humility Monarch, June. He has freedom from things such as that.¡± I let the silence hang between us, watching as Pride studied my hand with an intensity that made it feel as though he could see something I couldn¡¯t. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he spoke, breaking the silence. ¡°Be my bride, June.¡± ¡°Huh¡­?¡± ¡°Be my bride,¡± he said, his voice low and commanding as he released my hand and stared intently into my eyes. After a long pause I backed up slightly as I answered, ¡°I¡¯m not marrying you.¡± He smiled a wide smile. A vicious smile. ¡°Did you know that Monarchs can¡¯t die if they have something called a Coro?¡± A saw movement behind Pride. I just had to buy a few more seconds. ¡°No. Why is that?¡± ¡°The reason doesn¡¯t really matter for the point I¡¯m about to make,¡± he continued, his gaze never wavering. ¡°But just know, once I take your father¡¯s heart right out of his chest, he will still be alive. Kind of. And the only way to get his heart back is to come, bring your sister, and marry into my court as my concubines.¡± Pride turned, deflecting a hit from Dad with his glowing blue light. It didn¡¯t matter, though¡ªI already knew what I had to do. The plan was forming as I kept Pride distracted, waiting for the perfect moment. Pride slowly began pushing Dad back, away from me, and I knew it was time. ¡°Dad, usurp my signature.¡± His eyes widened in surprise, but in that split second, he sneaked a quick glance at me. It was so brief, but I could tell he understood my resolve. My vision blurred as my power slipped away, leaving me vulnerable. The emotions I had been desperately suppressing surged back, crashing into me with a force I couldn¡¯t control now that my anger had faded. I began to shake, my legs giving out beneath me as I fell to my knees. The tears I had tried to hold back returned in a flood. My hand trembled as it touched the lifeless body of Mom, and without thinking, I clung to her, begging over and over for her to not leave me. ¡°I warned you, Pride. Anyone who hurts my family will bear the same fate as Lady Time and Lorde Space.¡± I heard a sickening thud nearby, followed by Pride¡¯s agonized scream of pain. Suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around me from behind, locking me in a chokehold, as the haunting sound of music began to fill the air. A third monarch had arrived. ¡°Surrender yourself, Humility.¡± The new monarch¡¯s voice was laced with rage, and the sheer fury in his tone sent a shiver down my already trembling spine. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare hurt her, Diligence,¡± Dad¡¯s voice was filled with worry, his tone sharp and protective. ¡°Surrender then.¡± A heavy silence stretched between them, the tension thick in the air. Finally, Dad spoke. ¡°Promise me you won¡¯t hurt her, and I will, Diligence. Using your Royal Signature.¡± Another pause. ¡°I swear upon my oath, as the Diligence Monarch and Judge of all Monarchs, that I, Diligence, will not hurt your child and will prevent the Pride Monarch from doing so under your immediate surrender.¡± A bell rang out, its sound reverberating through the air, and a strange warmth enveloped me. The very next moment, my vision returned, and with it, my emotions surged once more, receding only slightly¡ªmy control now shattered. I wish my vision had never returned. I watched helplessly, still trapped in the chokehold, as a one-armed Pride drove his fist through my dad¡¯s chest. In his hand, just as promised, was my father¡¯s still-beating heart. My signature was lost, confused, unable to do anything as I began to fully shut down. The weight of everything crashed down on me, and I fell to the cold earth, my body going limp as Diligence released me. I could feel my consciousness slipping away, my vision fading as I watched Diligence carve a purple line through the air. The line expanded slowly, growing to the size of a large person. They both left through the tear in space¡ªtaking my dad¡¯s body and heart with them¡ªleaving me behind as darkness consumed me. Chapter 4 - Broken Pieces
Annabelle Leir
My parents are the kind of people who make you believe in heroes. When things go wrong, they¡¯re the ones you turn to¡ªnot just because they fix problems, but because they make the weight of them feel lighter. The town knew it the moment my parents arrived. The people worked tirelessly to convince them to stay, hoping they would become the protectors Crossroads so desperately needed. Whether it was a rampaging beast or bandits causing havoc, my parents were the ones everyone counted on. "I''m not like them," I murmured, staring up at the forest canopy as Judge carried me in his arms. "I''m just... me. Average. Not strong like Dad, not skilled like Mom, and definitely not brilliant like June." My voice wavered, the words tasting bitter as they left my lips. "I try to live up to them, but I always fall short." I let out a shaky breath. "Sorry, I¡¯m rambling." "You shouldn''t talk like that," Judge said gruffly. "You''re more like your mom than you think." I forced a small, bitter smile. "I''m not special. I had to be saved by you, of all people. June would¡¯ve found a way out without almost dying. Even at thirteen, she would¡¯ve managed." My gaze dropped to the empty space where my right arm used to be, the phantom weight of it heavier than ever. Judge sighed, his tone softening. "You were outnumbered three to one. The fact that you held your ground as long as you did... that¡¯s no small feat." I said nothing, letting his words settle, but they did little to quiet the weight in my chest. As we cleared the forest, the town came into view¡ªand my heart sank. The once-lively streets were now nothing but ruins, swallowed by eerie silence. "What... What happened?" I whispered, my voice trembling as I took in the devastation. "Monarchs are immortal, unrelenting calamities," Judge said, his voice flat. "That the forest didn¡¯t burn is a miracle in itself." His words sent a chill through me, deeper than the cold air biting at my skin. Dad had warned me¡ªtold me why the town had to evacuate, why we couldn¡¯t afford to stay behind. I¡¯d thought he was overreacting. But now, as I stepped through the wreckage, I understood. Panic gripped me, and I squirmed in Judge¡¯s arms. "Put me down. I need to find everyone else!" I demanded, struggling against his hold. "Girl." His sharp tone cut through my panic, freezing me in place. "You might not like what you find. Lorde Pride isn¡¯t some common threat, and your father¡¯s abilities aren¡¯t built for combat." Something inside me snapped. I slapped him with my remaining hand, my voice trembling with fury. "I don¡¯t care that you saved me. Don¡¯t you dare talk like they¡¯re dead! And don¡¯t think I¡¯ve forgotten what you did the last time you showed your face." Judge hesitated, his expression unreadable. Then, with a sigh, he set me down. "Fine," he muttered. "But don¡¯t blame me for what you see." I took off, sprinting through the ruins, my breath coming in short, desperate gasps. ¡°Mom! June! Anyone?!¡± Silence answered me. My chest tightened with dread. The eerie stillness of the town pressed in around me, suffocating. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Then, as I rounded the corner to head to the southern gate, I froze. Slumped against a half-collapsed building at the end of town were Mom and June. I didn¡¯t think¡ªI just moved, dropping to my knees beside them. Mom¡¯s skin was pale, too pale. June¡¯s body was smeared with blood, some of it frozen. Too much of it. I grabbed June¡¯s arm, my fingers pressing desperately against her wrist. A pulse. Faint. Too slow. Panic surged through me as I shook her, my voice breaking as I screamed her name. "June! June, wake up!" For agonizing seconds, nothing happened. Then¡ªfinally¡ªto my overwhelming relief, she stirred. ¡°Anna? Is that you?¡± Her voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper, laced with confusion. ¡°What? Of course, it¡¯s me!¡± I stammered, tears streaming down my face. June broke into sobs, her body wracking with grief as she reached for me, pulling me into a desperate, crushing hug. ¡°They¡¯re gone,¡± she wailed. ¡°They both died because of me.¡± Her words hit like a punch to the gut, knocking the air from my lungs. I tried to speak, to tell her she was wrong, but all that came out was a shaky, ¡°Oh.¡± My body trembled as the weight of her words sank in. I pulled back just enough to grip her shoulders, forcing myself to focus. ¡°June, you¡¯re freezing. We have to get you inside.¡± June attempted to stand but couldn¡¯t even make it past her knees. Her body was covered in bruises, blood, and ice. Judge finally caught up to me, and I quickly explained the situation. Without hesitation, he decided to carry June back. As we made our way back to the house, the weight of everything pressed down on me. My parents were gone. My sister was broken. And I was left, barely holding myself together, in a world that felt so much emptier than it had just hours ago. Once inside, Judge gently laid June on the couch before heading back out to haul in firewood. Each heavy load seemed like a small promise to bring life back to the house, a quiet act of defiance against the stillness that had settled in. As he worked, I grabbed a few logs and set about heating the bathtub, the flickering firelight casting shadows on the walls. The rhythmic crackle of the flames was a small comfort, a soft backdrop to the frantic movement of my hands as I worked. I hoped the warmth of the water would somehow wash away the horrors that clung to us both, even if just for a moment. Days blurred together as we remained confined to the house, nursing our wounds and avoiding the haunting ruins of the town just beyond the door. The silence hung heavy around us, broken only by the occasional creak of the house or the soft sounds of Judge¡¯s comings and goings¡ªhis intentions and errands always shrouded in mystery. It took June and I several days to summon the strength, both physical and emotional, to give Mom the farewell she deserved. With Judge¡¯s quiet assistance, we finally laid her to rest, the weight of the world pressing down on us as we said goodbye to the last of what we had. Once the weight of burying Mom passed, June finally explained the events in the town to both Judge and me. ¡°Then the plan is simple. We¡¯ll save him.¡± I said, kissing June¡¯s head gently. ¡°For now, we¡¯ll go to Uncle¡¯s cabin deeper in the forest until we figure out what to do.¡± A few more weeks came and went as June¡¯s body healed, and she was finally able to make the trip. On our last day in the house, as we packed up to leave for Uncle¡¯s cabin, Judge and I had our first real conversation since the day our parents died. ¡°Judge, do you have a moment?¡± I asked hesitantly, my voice catching slightly. He paused mid-pack, glancing up at me with his usual aloofness. ¡°What is it, girl?¡± I felt irritation bubble up at the dismissive nickname. ¡°Do you have to call me that? I¡¯m trying to get answers I¡¯ve waited far too long for.¡± His expression softened, a rare crack in his stoic exterior. ¡°Apologies, Anna,¡± he said, his tone gentler, almost careful. ¡°Ask what you need to. After everything, you deserve that much.¡± There was something in his voice¡ªa weight of regret that made me falter for a moment. ¡°Why did you save me?¡± I asked finally, the question hanging in the air between us. ¡°You found me in the middle of the forest. You could¡¯ve just... left me.¡± He exhaled, the sound heavy with unspoken emotions. ¡°You didn¡¯t deserve it. Neither of you deserved any of it. I¡¯d been watching from the start¡ªyour desperate attempt to make it through the woods. Honestly, I wasn¡¯t planning on saving you, but... something compelled me. Maybe it was guilt, or honor, or a shred of loyalty to your mom. I don¡¯t know. But after what I did to him, abandoning you didn¡¯t feel right.¡± ¡°Then why the act?¡± I pressed. ¡°Why pretend to be someone worse than you are? June and I both know you¡¯re not as terrible as you let on.¡± He smirked faintly, a flicker of his usual demeanor returning. ¡°Part of the gig,¡± he said, his voice tinged with wry humor. ¡°I¡¯m the Coronet of Diligence¡ªit comes with certain expectations. Being a complete ass happens to be one of them.¡± I clenched my fists, dreading my final question. ¡°Why did you lie to my dad?¡± His smirk faded, and something darker replaced it¡ªa haunted look that pierced through his usual bravado. ¡°It¡¯s part of the gig,¡± he repeated, but the words now carried an ache I hadn¡¯t noticed before. ¡°My fate was sealed the moment I was chosen as a Coronet. Warning him was already risking punishment. Warning him with accurate information? That¡¯s another mark against me, one that might even see me dead. I couldn¡¯t risk that. I have a family to think about too, you know. I can¡¯t just throw myself into harm¡¯s way for someone I once considered a best friend. But sometimes, as Coros... we¡¯re forced to do what we hate¡ªstay silent, watch people get hurt¡ªeven when it shreds what little humanity we have left.¡± His words hung in the air like a storm cloud, heavy and suffocating. A realization crept into my mind, bitter and undeniable: the Monarchs were a stain on everything they touched. Bonus Chapter - Same Events Different Perspective
Judge Mondy - Earlier in the Day
I carefully navigated through the forest on the outskirts of town, heading towards Crossroads¡ªthe place Lorde Diligence and Lorde Pride had discussed in their meeting a few weeks ago. I glanced at the map one last time, confirming my path, then made my way toward the clearing ahead where I heard the faint sound of someone sternly talking to another. With a cautious glance around, I took my bag off my back, packed the map away, and tucked it behind a tree, making sure it was hidden before I moved closer. As I approached the edge of the clearing, I saw movement that made me freeze. There, walking behind the cabin, was a girl who looked strikingly like Zoe Leir, Lorde Humility¡¯s wife. My heart skipped a beat as I tried to process the resemblance. In my shock, I accidentally activated my signature, and I could see it had an immediate effect on her. She froze, scanning the area around her before sprinting back into the house, her footsteps quick and urgent. ¡°Fuck.¡± I blurted out to myself, frustration bubbling up. I had planned to approach this more nonchalantly, but I guess it was time to just rip the bandage off and deal with whatever came next. I made my way to the door and knocked three times. The door creaked open, and there, standing protectively in front of his daughter, was Lorde Humility. His eyes narrowed as he growled at me, a low, threatening sound that sent a chill down my spine. ¡°What do you want, Judge?¡± Lorde Humility¡¯s voice was laced with a venom I had never heard from him before. I took a second to collect myself, forcing my facade back in place. ¡°Humil, ol¡¯ friend, why the hostility? Can we talk?¡± I said, my tone smooth, masking the tension building inside. ¡°You know damn well why I¡¯m hostile. Turn it off.¡± "My bad, ol'' friend, my bad!" I apologized quickly, forcing my fear-inducing power off. ¡°I¡¯ll be out for a while,¡± Lorde Humility said to his family. ¡°Finish dinner without me.¡± And with that, Lorde Humility led me through the forest to a small clearing. He turned around, arms crossed, his gaze expectant. I bowed, trying to regain some control over the situation. ¡°I apologize, Lorde Humility. I did not mean for my signature to activate, but the sight of your eldest made me subconsciously activate it when I saw the resemblance to Zoe.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Judge,¡± he replied with a broad smile. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, old friend.¡± Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. I winced at his words. ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be, Lorde Humility.¡± ¡°No need for the honorific,¡± he said, shaking his head with a chuckle. ¡°Zoe would kill me if she thought I made you call me that.¡± The tension that had been building in me slowly began to fade, and I couldn¡¯t help but offer a sad smile in return. ¡°They know, Humil.¡± ¡°I expected they did when you showed up unannounced. When do they plan on attacking?¡± I hesitated for a moment, the weight of my lie heavy on my tongue. ¡°Tomorrow night.¡± I lied, forcing the words out with more confidence than I felt. ¡°Lorde Pride will be the main fight with Lorde Diligence in reserve.¡± I continued Lorde Humility placed a hand on my shoulder, his expression serious. ¡°That¡¯s all, Judge. We both know you shouldn¡¯t even be warning me. Thank you.¡± Without another word, he began walking deeper into the forest, heading toward the location of Lorde Sloth¡¯s Labyrinth. I watched him go, the weight of our conversation lingering in the air. I began walking back toward Lorde Humility¡¯s cabin to grab my bag and wait for the inevitable events to unfold. But something tugged at me, a quiet instinct urging me to stay, just in case. I couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that whatever happened next, I needed to be ready. Time passed as the sun lowered, and Lorde Humility eventually returned home for a while before leaving again with Zoe toward town. I watched quietly, waiting. A little later, the two siblings emerged, running outside with urgency. They moved swiftly, and I followed at a careful distance, determined to keep pace and stay hidden. Suddenly, the younger one tripped, falling to the ground. I watched as the older sister quickly knelt to wrap her ankle but before they could get moving again a beast leapt at them from the shadows. I readied myself to intervene, but before I could act, Annabelle stood, her posture firm and resolute to engage the beast. She fought with surprising skill¡ªquick, clever movements, as if every step was calculated. I stayed in the shadows, watching as she systematically outmaneuvered the beast, eventually slaying it with precision and grace. I also watched as three smaller beasts leapt out, causing Anna to run into the woods to lead them away. Fighting with myself, I made the decision to follow Anna, knowing she was in more immediate danger. By the time I caught up with her, the sight before me nearly stopped my heart¡ªshe was on the ground, blood pooling around her, her arm missing. Without thinking, my power activated. A surge of energy pulsed through me, and the three beasts froze in place, their movements halted as if time itself had gripped them. I was on top of them in an instant, my shortsword flashing through the air as I gutted the beasts, their bodies collapsing in a heap. I barely paused as I dropped to Anna¡¯s side, urgency driving every movement. I quickly wrapped the spot where her arm had been, doing my best to staunch the bleeding, but the sight of her injury made my stomach churn. "Stay with me, Anna," I murmured, my hands shaking as I worked. Once I finished patching her up and cleaning the blood off of her as best as I could, I carefully lifted Anna into my arms. With every step I took, my thoughts were consumed with urgency, knowing I had to get her to safety. I began jogging back toward town, my heart racing as I hoped to find Zoe and Lorde Humility still alive, knowing they would¡¯ve been fighting by now. As I ran, Anna¡¯s eyes fluttered open, making me slow my pace, careful not to cause her more pain. Her eyes widened in surprise when she realized who I was. ¡°Thank you,¡± she whispered, tears filling her eyes as she looked down at her missing arm. ¡°Sorry,¡± she added, wiping her tears away. She started rambling, apologizing for everything¡ªher mistakes, not being strong enough to prevent the events that had unfolded. Her words tumbled out in a rush, her guilt and frustration pouring into the air around us. Eventually, she stopped herself, shaking her head. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m rambling.¡± This poor girl. This poor poor girl. Chapter 5 - Time Keeps Moving June Leir
I spun around in my makeshift inventing chair¡ªnow equipped with wheels, because of course, I¡¯m a genius. ¡°Hah! Finally done!¡± I shouted, shoving my glasses up my nose as I leapt to my feet. No time to waste. I bolted out of my cluttered workspace, weaving through the chaotic labyrinth of hallways that made up our home. I knew exactly where I was headed¡ªstraight to Anna, who was no doubt putting her new meteor hammer through its paces. As I skidded around the final corner, my eyes locked onto her, and for a split second, it was like seeing Mom again. The resemblance still caught me off guard every time. Her fiery red hair was pulled back into its signature shoulder-length ponytail, and those vivid ice-blue eyes burned with unwavering determination. She moved with the power and grace of a goddess, each motion precise, effortless. But what truly set her apart¡ªthe masterpiece of my own making¡ªwas her gleaming mechanical right arm. My finest work. And damn, did it look good on her. ¡°Anna!¡± I called, jogging toward her. She froze mid-swing, the meteor hammer stopping inches from annihilating a practice dummy. With a smooth flick of her wrist, the weapon retracted into her mechanical arm¡ªeffortless, precise. ¡°What¡¯s up, sis?¡± she asked, slightly out of breath, her eyes still blazing with adrenaline. ¡°I have a gift for youuuu,¡± I crooned, grinning like the villain in a cheesy action novel. Anna¡¯s eyes immediately narrowed as they landed on the leather boots in my hands. ¡°Are these going to blow up like the last ones?¡± I flushed. ¡°No! I promise, no explosions this time!¡± She sighed, arms crossing as she gave me that skeptical big-sister look. ¡°Alright¡­ what do they do?¡± ¡°They let you store pressurized air as you move, then release it to supercharge your kicks!¡± I announced, barely containing my excitement as I shoved the boots into her hands. Anna leveled me with a long, skeptical stare. But I was prepared for this. The moment I unleashed my ultimate weapon¡ªpuppy-dog eyes¡ªshe sighed in defeat. ¡°Fine,¡± she muttered, sitting down to try them on. I watched eagerly as she laced them up. Perfect fit, of course¡ªI knew her measurements better than my own. The thought made me giggle, but the sound barely left my lips before Anna froze mid-lace and shot me a glare. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± she demanded, her tone sharp with suspicion. ¡°Nothing! Just a funny thought, I swear!¡± I blurted, raising my hands in mock surrender. Anna narrowed her eyes, leveling me with her infamous lie detector look¡ªthe one that could make even the most seasoned trickster break. ¡°If these things explode,¡± she said coolly, ¡°I¡¯m burning your dinner.¡± ¡°They won¡¯t, they won¡¯t!¡± I insisted, practically bouncing on my heels. ¡°Now give them a try!¡± Anna stood, shifting her weight and testing her movement in the boots. ¡°They¡¯re a bit heavy.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal!¡± I chirped. ¡°Just build up some pressure while moving. You¡¯ll know it¡¯s ready when it dings.¡± She shot me a skeptical look. ¡°It¡¯ll ding?¡± ¡°Yeah! It¡¯ll ding!¡± I nodded enthusiastically. As if on cue, a soft ding echoed through the room. Her gaze snapped to me. ¡°Kick! Now!¡± I urged, practically vibrating with excitement. But Anna hesitated a second too long. BOOM! A sudden burst of air exploded from the boots, launching her straight into the ceiling with a loud crack. She let out a startled yelp before gravity reclaimed her, sending her crashing to the floor in a tangled heap. ¡°Anna! Are you okay?¡± I squeaked, inching closer as I caught sight of the thin wisps of smoke curling from the soles of the boots. Still sprawled on the ground, she turned her head toward me¡ªher glare so sharp it could¡¯ve sliced through steel. ¡°They¡¯re defective,¡± she growled, ripping the boots off and chucking them aside with enough force to make me flinch. Then, without another word, she stormed out of the training room. I swallowed hard, staring at the smoldering remnants of my so-called masterpiece. ¡°¡­Oops.¡±
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Fuming, I stormed through the dimly lit stone hallways, the winding passages so familiar now after six years in this underground castle. The flickering lanterns cast long, jagged shadows, matching the fury bubbling inside me as I made my way toward the communal bath, desperate to cool my heated temper and soothe my sore muscles. The castle¡ªor whatever you¡¯d call this massive stone fortress where Uncle Sloth lives¡ªhas this eerie emptiness to it. It¡¯s missing any real decor through the halls and rooms, save for the bits and pieces June and I have managed to scrounge or craft ourselves. The facilities¡ªkitchen, lighting, baths, and temperature¡ªrun on some kind of system that June¡¯s still struggling to fully figure out. Once I reached the bath, I stripped down and sank into the steaming water, a relieved sigh escaping my lips as the warmth embraced me. The tightness in my shoulders slowly dissolved, and with each passing moment, my mind began to quiet. The world around me faded as I let my thoughts drift, losing all sense of time, my frustrations slipping away into the heat of the water. We eventually arrived at Uncle¡¯s cabin, with Judge leading the way. That would be the last time we saw him¡ªafter making sure we were settled, he disappeared without a trace, leaving no sign of his presence. That night, as we lay down for our first uneasy sleep in the cabin, the weight of everything still hanging over us, we finally had the chance to speak with our uncle¡ªthe Monarch of Sloth. Looking back, I can¡¯t help but feel stupid for not piecing everything together sooner¡ªthe people around me were some of the most powerful beings in the world. But it¡¯s different when you¡¯re told about it versus when you see it, when you know. We heard countless stories about the Monarchs and their supposed powers at school. The Monarch of Patience, with her eerie knowledge of the future. The Monarch of Diligence, able to balance the forces around him with ease. The Monarch of Charity, whose gift of giving was said to have no limits. The Monarch of Humility, who was free in ways we couldn¡¯t even begin to understand. And the Monarch of Sloth, whose ability to consume all energy¡ªincluding his own¡ªwas both his greatest strength and his tragic curse. It¡¯s a cruel irony. Monarchs like Pride run wild, spreading chaos without so much as a glance back at the consequences, while those like Uncle¡ªthe good ones¡ªare burdened with curses that strip them of their autonomy, leaving them barely functional. The royal signatures that were meant to define them often feel more like chains than blessings. Uncle¡¯s body is frozen in place, immobile from the very power he wields, trapped in a prison of his own making. He can¡¯t move, not even a single muscle, all because of the strength that was supposed to make him invincible. Through all the darkness, there¡¯s one silver lining. As a Monarch, Uncle doesn¡¯t just have the power granted to him through his crown. A rare few are born with a regular, ordinary signature¡ªpeople who don¡¯t wield the world-shaping abilities of the Monarchs. But, by some twist of fate or maybe even by design, Uncle is one of them. He has his own way of doing things. He can dream-walk. I told Uncle everything, every detail of our journey, and after hearing the full story, he took us in without hesitation. We spent a few days recovering, gathering supplies, and trying to piece together what came next. Then, with the weight of uncertainty pressing down on us, we set out once again, ready to climb the mountain. It took us a long time to adjust to our new surroundings, especially since only June and I could freely move within a few miles of Uncle. Something about us being the legitimate daughters of a Monarch, or at least that¡¯s what Uncle said¡ªit might have been called a Coro, but the exact details blur together, lost in the haze of a dream. The quiet creak of the door pulled me back to the present, and I turned to see June stepping into the room, her movements hesitant, almost apologetic. There was a clear nervousness in the way she carried herself. I sighed, the frustration from earlier fading away. "I¡¯m not mad anymore, June," I said, my voice softer now. "I know you didn¡¯t mean to do it. I was just drained from training and took it out on you. I¡¯m sorry."
June Leir
My shock quickly morphed into surprise. I had come in expecting to be on my hands and knees, apologizing profusely. ¡°That was¡­ fast.¡± She shot me a look, her tone asking me to test her. ¡°Just get in the bath before you say something that makes me annoyed at you again.¡± I didn¡¯t need any more prompting. I quickly undressed and slid into the oversized bath beside her, eager to avoid any more missteps. A comfortable silence settled between us as I leaned my head on her shoulder, the warmth of the bath surrounding us. After a few moments, I couldn¡¯t let the silence stretch on any longer, not wanting to let my confidence slip away with it. ¡°I¡¯m sorry too, Anna,¡± I said, my voice soft but steady. ¡°I should¡¯ve made sure they were safer to use instead of just handing them off to you without a second thought.¡± She suddenly burst into giggles, making my head bounce off her shoulder as I turned to look at her in surprise. ¡°June, let¡¯s be honest,¡± she said, her laughter still bubbling up, ¡°we both knew it was probably going to go poorly. Those boots looked like they were thrown together by a badger and a leopard fighting.¡± I couldn¡¯t help but laugh too, ¡°Guess they weren¡¯t my best-looking creation, were they?¡± ¡°Oh my goodness, no. No, they were not,¡± she replied with a teasing grin. ¡°Now spin around and let me wash your hair. This bath is starting to cook me.¡± I did as she asked, turning around and letting her wash my hair, the gentle motion reminding me of how Mom used to do it. The feeling of her hands massaging my scalp was heavenly, and I couldn¡¯t help but think it was probably my favorite tradition, even if it had started out of a sense of obligation. It was one of those small comforts that had always made everything feel a little more bearable when things were rough for us. As I was getting lost in the soothing bliss of the moment, Anna¡¯s voice broke through. ¡°I¡¯m going to need to head out tomorrow to gather more meat. Heck, even the stuff I¡¯ve foraged is running low.¡± ¡°Can I come this time? I¡¯ve been practicing with my crossbow,¡± I pleaded, as her fingers continued to move gently through my hair. ¡°I was getting to that,¡± Anna replied. ¡°I think you should. We¡¯re eventually going to have to leave to save Dad, and being cooped up here isn¡¯t going to help much when we¡¯re gone.¡± She paused her massage, and even from behind, I could tell she had a small smile tugging at her lips. ¡°Done.¡± Without warning, she shoved me under the water. ¡°That was downright rude,¡± I huffed, tugging my dress on. ¡°And as I¡¯ve said four other times,¡± she shot back with a grin, ¡°it was completely fair considering I slammed into the ceiling and floor.¡± She was already done throwing on oversized, hand-sewn clothes that we¡¯d scavenged from Cross-roads, the now empty town. ¡°Come on. I¡¯m starving, and a delicious cooked dinner isn¡¯t going to magically appear.¡± ¡°Yet. I¡¯ll eventually make something that cooks for us,¡± I replied, starting to follow her out. ¡°I¡¯d prefer it if you didn¡¯t,¡± she said, glancing over her shoulder. ¡°Unlike you, I actually enjoy cooking.¡± The day went on like most others¡ªcooking, eating, cleaning. As the hours ticked by, fatigue crept in, and we eventually retreated to our separate rooms to unwind. Anna usually spent this time stretching, carefully resetting her body from the strain of the day. As for me, I buried myself in the outrageously large collection of books that filled my room¡ªwhat I suspected was once a library. As I finally laid down and began to slip into slumber, I tightened my hug around my stuffed fox, bracing myself for the familiar sensation of being whisked away to somewhere strange again tonight.