CHAPTER 25

A CHAOS BROKE inside the throne room of the Kingdom of Treterra when the report of what happened to Castetava reached their ears. Hundreds of soldiers died; the mercenaries were all burned to death by the Mistress of Flame; some escaped but suffered from severe burns; some vials were stolen; and the forest was still burning, and it couldn't be put out.

What made everyone worry and slightly panic was the forest fire. The report said that it felt like it had a mind of its own. The fire was not spreading like a normal fire—it was moving upward, to the noble's hill, like it was the only place it wanted to go.

Reading the reports, everyone believed that it was Mistress of Flame's doing. And they couldn't deny the worry and fear in their hearts. They only heard what the queens of Yther could from their forefathers, but it was enough to put terror in their hearts.

"Did they see her?" a noble asked.

One of the nobles nodded. "I heard the noble's hill sent a sketch, and the Mistress of Flame is carrying a fire stone."

"It'll be distributed soon," the noble beside the two added.

Then one of the prime ministers spoke. "S-Should we surrender the Mistress of Nature—"

"Are you an imbecile?" King Maximilian snapped at the minister who spoke. "The Mistress of Nature is the reason why we're still alive in this barren land! Letting her go is not an option!"

"But the Mistress of Flame—"

"Is weak to moonrite stone. She's maybe powerful, but we have something that could weaken her," one of the prime ministers interrupted. "She's no match for us as long as we have moonrite stones to defend ourselves."

The king nodded. "Yes. Don't be scared and let her come. We will capture her and sell her to the empire. We'll not only earn money, but the empire will also owe us."

One prime minister stepped forward and spoke. "Your Highness, I think it would be best to hide our moonrite stones for now and let the Mistress of Flame enter Ager without a hitch. It would lower her guard, and once she's inside the city, that's when we'll bring out our moonrite stone and capture her."

King Maximilian liked the idea that it made him smile. "Good idea, but she has companions, I believe."

One of the prime ministers snorted. "What can an elf, two hunters, and a demi-human do against our kingdom? With our elite troops, our renowned general, and the finest sorceresses and sorcerers, they are no match for us. They only managed to damage the noble's hill because of the Mistress of Flame's help and their attack was sudden. Without her, they are nothing but insects."

King Maximilian had a triumphant smile as he handed the sketches of the individuals who raided the noble's hill to his aide. "Make a wanted poster out of these sketches on the announcement board, but don't let it leave Ager. It will help us pinpoint their location once they entered the city."

"Yes, Your Highness."

King Maximilian nodded with a smile, eager to capture the Mistress of Flame and take advantage of the empire.

♕♕♕

INSIDE THE CITY of Ager, an old man was silently walking on the side of the street with the help of his cane when a commotion caught his attention. Looking ahead of him, people were talking and whispering to one another as they watched a soldier of the kingdom paste five sketches on the announcement board with the word WANTED on top of them.

It was a copy of the sketches that King Maximilian gave to his aide yesterday, and with the soldiers working extra fast, they were able to copy the sketches sent to them and paste them on the board as ordered.

People flocked to the board when the soldier left, and one of those people was the old man walking on the street earlier. When a soldier put something on the announcement board in the middle of Ager City, it's always an important edict from the king.

The old man wanted to reach the announcement board, but he was too far away. There were too many people that he had to wait for his turn to be in front.

With the help of his cane, he walked and balanced himself every time he would accidentally be pushed by the crowd. Thankfully, a good-hearted man made a way for him toward the front.

Looking up at the announcement board, the old man saw five sketches and the word WANTED on top of them.

Seeing the five sketches, the old man dropped his cane in shock upon seeing one of the females on the sketch—the one holding a staff with a firestone—and the word Leader was written below it.

Trembling in shock and worry, the old man picked up his cane, left the announcement board, and went back to his house.

When he entered his house, he immediately made a paper bird and infused it with his essence while thinking of the person he wanted to give it to. And in a matter of seconds, the paper bird flapped its wings like it was alive and flew to the sky like how a real bird would.

♕♕♕

ESCAPING NOBLE'S HILL and traversing the barren land again, the group of five people were having an arduous time. Two of them were injured, and they didn't have a scout to clear the path for them and avoid beasts. As Sollel and Zassia assisted Cira and Grath, Hakken was in front, fighting the beasts that blocked their way. From time to time, Sollel would use her flame to defend, but the attacking was left to Hakken.

They did all that the whole day, and only when the night came did they rest behind two large boulders.

Sollel and Zassia laid their two injured companions on the makeshift bed.

After checking on the two, Grath only needed rest, but Cira was severely injured that Sollel couldn't control her flame from raging inside her. She left the boulder and distanced herself from everyone, and when she was finally alone, a scream filled with rage and agony came out from her mouth. Her flame burst out from her body, exploding all around her.

Zassia and Hakken, who were left in the boulder to look after Grath and Cira, saw the flame explosion, even from afar. They felt the heat of Sollel's flame.

"My lady..."

"Teacher..."

Hakken took a deep breath and looked at Zassia who had tears in her eyes. "Don't worry. She'll be fine. She's a strong woman."

Zassia dried her tears and smiled sadly. "People always say that when a strong woman is hurting, but that's still pain. Even the strongest wall crumbles. People are not an exemption to that however strong they are."

Hakken glanced at Sollel who's still surrounded by her flame. "I don't know what I can do...to lessen the pain she's feeling. She had been enduring her pain all alone. I feel like I'm not needed and that she can handle it on her own."

Zassia smiled at Hakken after realizing something. "You like her, don't you?"

Hakken chuckled while still looking at Sollel. "Is it that obvious?"

Zassia nodded. "Cira told me that they hired you in Ashmire. Well, my teacher is very charming. I don't blame you."

Hakken smiled. "She doesn't like me though."

Zassia blinked at Hakken. "She teases you a lot though."

"What?"

"She teases you a lot," Zassia said it like it should mean something.

"Yes. So?"

Zassia looked at Hakken like something was wrong with him. "Do you see my teacher teasing anyone aside from you? I'm her student, but Teacher doesn't really talk to me or to Grath a lot. She only talks a lot when she's with you. I mean, she talks to Lady Cira, but she never teases Lady Cira."

Hakken smiled softly at what Zassia said before he glanced at Cira. "Don't let her hear you say that. That elf will throw a fit."

Zassia chuckled before she became sad all of the sudden. "Is there nothing we can do for Lady Cira?"

Hakken shook his head. "What we can do is reach Sarnau fast and look for a healer."

"I think Grath will make a full recovery tomorrow," said Zassia. "We'll be a little bit faster."

Hakken nodded and glanced at Sollel who's now walking back to the boulder. Hakken didn't say anything and just watched his lady sit beside Cira and hold Cira's hand.

Sollel was silent while sitting beside Cira. In her head, she kept apologizing to Cira for what happened to her, with a promise that she would avenge her. Sollel wanted nothing but Cira's recovery, but she didn't want to risk Cira's life by feeding her a wrong medicine.

"We need to get to Sarnau," Sollel suddenly said, surprising Zassia and Hakken. "We need a healer for Cira."

Hakken nodded. "We'll try to go faster tomorrow."

Sollel nodded and looked at Cira again. Her guilt was eating her. The time when Cira needed me the most, I wasn't there. Just like when Gatria needed me and I couldn't help.

Sollel squeezed Cira's hand. "Please recover fast. You can be as noisy as you want. I won't mind."

Even when there was no response from Cira, Sollel stayed by her side and only went to the boulder when Zassia offered to look after Cira after resting for a little bit.

Sollel sat on the top of the boulder, beside Hakken, who was there as their lookout.

After a long silence, Sollel spoke in a low voice. "This happened because I was careless and didn't make a plan. I'm sorry."

Hakken took a deep breath. "My lady, I know you're angry and there were times when your anger always gets the better of you. What I'm trying to say is, control your rage, or you'll lose."

Sollel looked down before she glanced at Hakken. "How...how are you? You didn't let those soldiers harm you, did you?"

Hakken glanced at Sollel. "No. I didn't."

Sollel let out a relieved sigh. "I'm glad."

But Hakken looked sullen. "It took you a whole night and day to ask. I'm hurt, my lady."

Sollel couldn't help smiling at Hakken's sullen face. "Well, if you get severely injured like Cira, I would've asked sooner."

Hakken's sullen face disappeared and was replaced by a playful smile. "Promise?"

Sollel nodded. "Promise. Though I wouldn't care for you like how I care for Cira, but I promise I'll be worried."

Hakken narrowed his eyes on Sollel. "Are you teasing me again?"

Sollel couldn't help laughing a little. "Is it that obvious?"

"Yes."

Sollel laugh turned into a small chuckle. "Yes, I'm teasing you."

"Am I fun to tease?"

Sollel nodded. "Very."

Hakken lost his narrowed eyes and smiled. "I'm glad it made you laugh."

Sollel's smile widened as she teased Hakken again, "Aw. My hunter is flirting again."

Hakken groaned, but he had a smile on his lips as he conversed with Sollel. The two stayed on top of the boulder, talking about small things, passing the time without realizing that they were getting to know each other. Sollel just felt calm talking to Hakken and his coquettishness, while Hakken was enjoying his time listening to Sollel's voice and her teasing.

The two only realized the time when the sun started rising in the sky. The flirty Hakken and the teasing Sollel disappeared as they started traversing the barren land again. Grath made a full recovery, so he made a makeshift bed made of dried logs and laid Cira's body there and carried it with Zassia and Sollel's help.

Sollel's essence never left Cira, wrapping Cira's body to protect her from the heat of the barren land.

When night came, Cira had a fever. Sollel had to stay with Cira's side, drawing the heat from Cira's body to somehow make her feel a little better. And since Zassia and Hakken needed to rest, Grath volunteered to be their guard.

"How is Lady Cira?" Grath asked when everyone was asleep except for them.

"Not doing well." Sollel sighed.

Grath had a guilty expression on his face. "I'm very sorry, Your Highness. It was my fault. Something happened that rendered me unconscious."

Sollel looked at Grath. "What happened? Could you tell me?"

Grath nodded and narrated what happened to Sollel, from his visit to the market up to the time when he lost consciousness.

"You're saying...your claw slash released a flame in a claw shape and it drained you?"

Grath looked down, ashamed. He who was known for brute strength was taken down by his own ability. "Yes, Your Highness. I'm very sorry. This is all my fault."

Sollel waved her hand, signaling Grath to stop his apology. "That's normal. It was your first time wielding flame after all. Unlike Zassia who had the basic knowledge of wielding flame and could control her essence to maximize her flame and strength, you have no idea whatsoever."

Grath blinked at Sollel. "What...do you mean, Your Highness? Why are you comparing me to Lady Zassia? I don't...understand."

Sollel took a deep breath and released it calmly. She knew that after her blessing, she had to tell Grath something to answer his query. "Grath...I, uh, I accidentally blessed you with my flame."

Grath was confused because no one could just bless someone and give them the ability to wield flame. But Grath only knew about blessing items, such as weapons and other things, but he had never heard someone bless a person, a demi-human at that. It was unfeasible even to the strongest flame sorcerer in Azitera. No being or creature could bless a living, breathing individual, except for the deities.

"Blessed me? H-how? I mean...you can do that, Your Highness?" Is she a deity? Grath was in awe.

Sollel nodded. "When I casually gave you a nickname back in Belrac, I unknowingly blessed you. That's why you got sick while traveling to Castetava...because my flame essence and your soul were fighting inside you, trying to dominate one another since the blessing did not have your consent. I had to force my essence unto you to not damage your soul but damaging your body instead. I'm so sorry, Grath."

Grath was silent for a long time. Sollel thought he was mad and didn't want to speak until four words left his mouth, stunning Sollel.

"Are you a deity?"

Sollel hurriedly shook her head. Not wanting to offend any deity, she immediately explained. "No. You're mistaken. I am no deity, but I have an ability to bless someone. It was an ability given to me by the deity who blessed me. I didn't realize the extent of that ability. I thought a blessing from me through giving a name, without me giving a part of my flame essence, only works on infants. But...it worked on you."

Grath was silent again. He looked deep in thought, and when he looked at Sollel, he had another question that froze her.

"Are you...Queen Sollel?"



CECELIB | C.C.