It was a sweet, feminine, and beautiful voice. Kiett tried to hide his melancholic expression, but she gently cupped his face in her hands, caressing his cheeks, wiping away his tears, and trying to comfort him.
"Kiett… let me cheer you up. Tell me why you're crying," said Princess Sonia, her striking blue eyes meeting his.
She was looking for a way to break his silence, unaware of the pain that weighed on him.
"Your Majesty… forgive me. I must go," replied Kiett, gently removing the princess's soft hands from his face. He turned to leave.
But Sonia stopped him, grasping his hand firmly.
"Kiett… will you let me show you something?" she asked, almost pleading.
Kiett nodded subtly, shyly. The princess led him down a staircase even grander than the one he had descended before, his face wet with tears.
They walked until they reached a wooden door with three reinforced locks.
"Kiett… can you keep a secret?" Sonia asked, her voice low.
"Of course, Your Highness," Kiett replied, his face full of curiosity and wonder.
Sonia slipped her hand into the neckline of her dress, making Kiett blush and quickly avert his gaze. She gave him a mischievous smile as she unlocked the strange door.
Sonia pushed the door, which was a bit stiff. It seemed heavy, so Kiett stepped forward to help her. Once they were inside, Sonia asked him to close it again. Kiett obeyed, but this time it was even harder to shut. When he finally managed to close it, they were plunged into complete darkness.
He couldn't see a thing.
"Your Majesty! Where are you?" he called out, moving forward slowly, dragging his feet and stretching out his hands, trying to feel for a wall, a table—anything familiar.
Then he heard Sonia's voice, softly chanting something that sounded oddly familiar. He was sure he had heard it before, though he couldn't remember where.
"Your Majesty?" he called again.
"I'm here," came Sonia's reply.
A beautiful and seductive blue flame appeared in Sonia's right hand, casting a soft, ethereal glow across the room.
"Is that a blue flame? That's a hard spell to cast!" said Kiett, his eyes wide with awe and excitement.
"I'm lucky I know how to summon it. Besides, it helps me cheer you up," she replied with a warm smile. Kiett was left speechless. His sadness faded, replaced by wonder as he admired the elegant magic—one he himself struggled to master.
"Your Majesty… why did you bring me to this place?" he asked softly.
Sonia took a few steps back and began to recite a new incantation:
"Erleuchte meine Seele, Leidenschaft meines Herzens."
"Enchant my ears, whisper from within me."
After reciting those mystical verses, Sonia hurled the blue flame from her hand toward the wall. Upon impact, it burst into a brilliant blue glow that quickly spread, bathing the entire room in light. Books lined up the walls. Shelves overflowed with strange artifacts. Miniature models of Averford's kingdom and elegant scale-model sailboats filled the room. Kiett stood speechless, utterly captivated.
"This is amazing… incredible!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his excitement. He ran around the room with his arms outstretched, his sadness forgotten, replaced by awe.
Sonia smiled as she watched him. She followed at a short distance, quietly waiting for him to notice her again. When he did, Kiett took a breath and straightened up, regaining some composure.
"You sure are excited, Kiett," Sonia said with a playful tone.
"Your Majesty… why did you bring me here?" he asked.
Sonia turned her back to him and walked toward the room's only window.
"I wanted to take that sadness away from you, Kiett," she replied softly.
Kiett blinked, caught off guard by her response. Only then did he realize the situation he was in—alone in a sealed room with the crown princess of Averford.
"Your Majesty… is this really okay?" he asked hesitantly.
"Of course," she replied with a playful smile. "I can do whatever I want."
Kiett's eyes widened. "I mean… is it proper for you and me to be alone like this?"
Sonia turned away, her cheeks flushing bright red as she tried to hide her reaction.
"What are you thinking?" she teased, trying to deflect.
Kiett, sensing the tension, quickly shifted the topic. "So… what is this room?"
Sonia, now calmer, walked over to a table with a detailed scale model of Averford. She smiled.
"This is my favorite place in the whole castle. It used to be my grandfather's workshop," she said. "My mother told me this is where he designed the towers that protect the city walls—and the little village of Dove."
Kiett stepped closer, standing at her side.
"This was His Majesty's father's workshop? That's incredible," he said, clearly impressed. Then, with a softer tone, he added, "But… why do you trust me so much?"
Sonia looked Kiett straight in the eyes.
"I know my actions might confuse you, Kiett… That's why I have to be honest. I feel something for you—but the truth is, I don't fully understand what that feeling is yet," she admitted softly. Her words echoed in Kiett's ears. His face turned bright red.
"Your Majesty… What are you saying?" he stammered. "You're a princess—and I'm just a commoner!"
Sonia tilted her head, confused by his reaction. "Do you know the story of my parents?" she asked. Kiett paused for a moment, then replied, "Arthur and Fiora Windham. As far as I know, your father came from a noble family."
"My father wasn't born into nobility," Sonia explained. "He was adopted by Lord Will Delliam-Windham", That caught Kiett off guard. He remained silent, thoughtful.
"It wouldn't be the first time a royal woman took interest in someone outside of nobility," she added with a small smile. Kiett, still processing her words, struggled to make sense of it all.
"Kiett… are you listening?" Sonia asked gently.
Kiett stared at Sonia's face, his gaze intense. The way he looked at her made her heart race—and left her feeling unexpectedly shy.
"Why are you interested in me?" he asked softly. "We haven't spent much time together… we've barely even talked."
Sonia stepped closer, placing her right hand gently on his chest.
"You've captured my attention," she whispered. "And I want to spend more time with you—to understand what it is I'm starting to feel."
Kiett took a breath, his voice steady but kind. "Your Majesty… Margott is my girlfriend. My heart belongs to her."
He paused, then added with sincerity, "But if you still want it… I can offer you my friendship."
Sonia gave him a flirtatious, playful smile. "Kiett… if what I'm feeling is truly love, then sooner or later… you'll be mine," she said, her voice half a whisper.
Her words hit him like a spell. His knees nearly gave out beneath him.
"Now, let me show you the best part of this room," she added.
The young princess walked to the window and whispered an incantation: "Meine Umgebung aufdecken."
As she opened the window, the ceiling above them shimmered and transformed into a reflection of the world outside. Rain fell from a gray sky, and as if standing on a high balcony, they could see the kingdom stretched out below them—the winding streets, the towers, the walls, and in the distance, the edge of the vast, mysterious forest of Threnafell.
"This is incredible," Kiett murmured. "If I were in your place, this would definitely be my favorite spot too."
"It can be our favorite place," Sonia said, teasing him gently.
Kiett blushed, his gaze drawn to the breathtaking view. Just then, he noticed Claire running out of the castle, drenched by the rain.
"Your sister… maybe she's looking for you."
"Probably. I should go, Your Majesty," he said, turning toward the door.
But Sonia stepped forward and took his hand, placing it softly against her cheek.
"When we're alone… you can just call me Sonia."
She blushed as she closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of his touch. Kiett looked at her—her soft, pale skin, her lips touched with crimson—and felt something stir in his chest.
"We'll talk about this another time, Sonia," he said gently, offering her a grateful smile before slipping out of the room.
Sonia placed a hand over her chest, feeling her heart pounding wildly—like she'd just finished a training session with her mother.
"Why did I say something so embarrassing? 'You'll be mine'? I sounded ridiculous…" she muttered to herself.
Despite the self-criticism, a smile tugged at her lips. She felt strangely happy. She had finally confessed the feeling beginning to grow inside her—and deep down, she hoped to see Kiett again. Alone.
Outside, the rain was falling harder.
Kiett ran through the empty streets in search of Claire. He hadn't gone far, but he was already soaked to the bone. He stopped beneath the eaves of a large house, catching his breath. In the window sat a freshly baked apple pie, still steaming. For a moment, the absurd temptation to steal it crossed his mind. Just as he reached for it, someone threw their arms around him from behind.
"Kiett! Little brother… don't feel bad. I love you so much. Don't listen to Uncle Joel!" Claire whispered. She was just as drenched, her soaked hair clinging to her face, boots squelching with water.
"Claire, shut up… or they'll hear us!" he hissed.
She immediately went quiet, watching him in silence—an unwitting accomplice to the crime that was about to unfold. Kiett carefully lifted the pie.
Just then, the front door creaked open. The siblings froze, bracing for a scolding… but instead, they found themselves face to face with Arata Gozen—the hunter. He stared at them coldly for a moment, then narrowed his eyes.
"…Interesting," he muttered.
At the tavern where Blumiere had caused a major brawl, the scene was chaotic. Tables, chairs, bottles, and barrels of liquor were being moved around as repairs and renovations took place. Amid the mess, the Sigrid siblings shared a table with the hunter Arata Gozen, who was savoring a steaming mug of hot chocolate.
Kiett and Claire, soaking wet, watched him expectantly, almost envious of how calmly Arata sipped his drink.
"Wow... This is the best chocolate in all of Averford!" Arata exclaimed.
"What about us?" Claire asked, frowning. Arata gave them a disapproving look.
"You already had the cake. What more could you possibly want?"
"So, tell me—how's Joel?" he asked.
Kiett looked down, remembering the confession of the man he had always seen as his father. A wave of melancholy swept over him, and it showed clearly on his face.
"He's recovering—he'll be fine!" he said quickly.
Claire remained silent. Arata sensed the tension—he had always been sharp when it came to family matters.
"What's wrong?" he asked. "Did he finally bother to tell you—just because he nearly let you die?"
Arata's words echoed through the fog of their thoughts, snapping them back to the moment.
Claire gave the hunter a curious look. "How do you know that?" she asked.
"I saved them! Joel and Alistar would be dead if I hadn't stepped in when I did. He messed up going in there—probably looking for you, kid," Arata said, glancing at Kiett.
"He didn't go in for Kiett!" Claire snapped.
"He even said he thought he was already dead!" Arata blinked, puzzled. "Then why risk more soldiers by going in?" "He went in to get me out!" Claire shot back. Arata's eyes lit up. "Family drama—I love this part!" he said with a grin.
"Are you making fun of us?" Claire snapped. Kiett stayed quiet, lost in thought, while Claire launched into an argument with Arata.
A waitress broke the tension between Claire and Arata, bringing them two butterbeers and a pair of blankets to help them dry off. "What's this?" Kiett asked. "It's freezing, and you're soaked. Dry off, or you'll catch a cold," Arata replied.
Claire stared at her butterbeer in silence, unsure how to pick up the conversation with Arata.
Kiett thought that if this had been a battlefield, Arata had just broken through one of Claire's key defenses. "Tell me something, Claire—why do you think Joel went in to look for you?" Arata asked.
"Why did he go in to look for my brother?" Claire replied, confident she had given the right answer.
"Listen, I'm not judging Joel for what he did—but I understand why," he said, locking eyes with Kiett.
"Joel thought you were dead. I saw him drop to his knees after losing half his battalion searching for you, Claire. His face was pure helplessness—utter despair. I even heard him say he'd lost everything. In that moment... a part of Joel died, even though he was still breathing."
A deep sadness washed over the Sigrid siblings' faces. After hearing those words, they started to see Joel's actions in a different light. Kiett wondered what he would have done if the roles were reversed—if his sister's life had been in danger. Claire pictured Kiett standing before her, on the brink of death.
For a moment, they were back in Threnafell—watching Joel kneel in the rain, his gaze lost in the dense trees. Corpses and wounded lay all around him, death surrounding him as he stayed there, crying silently.
"You're so young... and no one saw that coming. I lost friends—people I saw as brothers," he told them. "My group and I barely made it out alive. So did you. Believe me—we're fortunate to be here."
A tear rolled down Kiett's cheek. He wiped it away with his fingers and looked around at the bustling tavern.
Claire noticed Arata's serenity—the calm in his eyes stirred something indescribable in her. It reminded her of the moment Kiett saved her life, and the painful truth she carried since then: she was the one who should have died that day.
"My uncle did what he had to do... and I was being unfair," Kiett said.
"That's right, kid. We're not special—we're just disposable in a world full of shadows waiting to devour everything," Arata replied.
Claire took a big sip of her beer, leaving a foamy mustache on her upper lip. It made her brother laugh—a sound she found oddly comforting.
Kiett tried to imitate her but ended up choking, coughing violently and spilling his drink all over the table. "Kiett! Seriously?" Claire said, laughing.
"Make the most of every moment with that old man. Remember why you joined the Averford Legion—any day could be your last. You've got a second chance with him. Don't waste it," said the wise hunter.
His words lingered in their minds, drawing a smile from both siblings.
"We will," they said. "Thank you, Mr. Gozen!"
"You can call me Arata—I'm not a stranger," he replied with a grin. Then he stood up and headed for the door, but not before calling out to the waitress: "The kids will cover the bill!"
The Sigrid siblings stared in disbelief. Arata just smiled.
"This family therapy session isn't free, boys!" he said with a laugh, and walked out.
The waitress approached with the bill—eight bronze coins.
Kiett pulled his soaked wallet from his coat. After rummaging through it, he found only four bronze coins. "That's all I've got," he muttered.
Claire checked her bag and dug out the remaining coins. "This is all we've got for the rest of the month," she said, her voice tight with concern.
"It's fine—I'll borrow some from Marth," he said with a shrug. They paid the bill and downed the last of their beers in silence.
"I'm going to talk to Uncle Joel—right now!" Kiett said with determination. "You know... after you left the room, He tried to follow you," Claire said. "He tried to get up and said, 'I have to talk to my son.'"
That made Kiett smile.
―Averford Castle―
In one of the castle's rooms, Aurora slowly regained consciousness. Her eyelids felt heavy, and she could barely make out four male figures watching over her.
"Who... are you?" she whispered hoarsely, her voice slurred like someone drunk and lost in the streets. The kings of Vrath, Zuria, and Aledis stood nearby, quietly discussing her condition as they kept her company.
"Aurora's awake!" exclaimed Ezekiel, having been the only one to catch her voice.
"Where... am I?" Aurora murmured, her voice faint. "Please, Your Majesty—stay calm. We're all safe now," Ezekiel replied.
Argus, his brother Dracus, and Mustaffa stepped forward, gathering around the bed where she lay.
"Aurora—we're in Averford!" said Mustaffa. Aurora's eyes widened in shock and fear.
"We have to get out of here—Fiora will kill us!" she cried out, trying to sit up. But her strength failed her, and she collapsed back, even more drained than before.
Ezekiel gently stopped her as she tried—and failed—to sit up again.
"You need to rest, Aurora. Fiora would never harm us—we're her guests now," he said, his tone soothing.
"She's letting us stay here until we've recovered from the battle," Argus added.
"The three of you made it out unscathed... Mustaffa, you look awful!" Aurora said, her tone shifting from relief to alarm.
Mustaffa glanced at his arm and let out a laugh. "Lucky to be alive—just like the rest of you. We owe it all to Fiora," he said.
Their conversation was interrupted by a knock at the door. One of the guards opened it. Callaghan stepped in, bowed, "What can I do for you?" asked Ezekiel.
"I'm here to check on Her Majesty's condition," Callaghan replied. "Didn't Tanner already do that?" Callaghan stepped closer to Aurora.
"Tanner did save her life, yes—but she's still very weak. Whatever she did on the other side of that portal drained a massive amount of her mystical energy" he explained.
The Sentinel leader held his hand over Aurora's abdomen, careful not to touch her.
Callaghan's eyes turned a deep green as he observed the flow of mystical energy between them. That link had stabilized—within the limits she could control. But her life energy and mana remained completely inert.
"We have a problem, Your Majesty," Callaghan said. "Your mystical energy link has stabilized, but your vital energy and mana are dangerously low—and they're not recovering."
Aurora's eyes widened in fear. "Am I going to die?" she asked.
"You won't die," Callaghan said gently. "But to repair the damage, I need to know exactly what you did—what consumed so much of your vital energy."
He shook his head in disbelief. "It's remarkable your mystical energy link has sustained you this long."
Aurora paused, recalling when Fiora had asked her to destroy the eighth gate deep within the ruins of Aldelviewreld.
"Maybe it was when I destroyed the eighth gate," she said.
"I used Gesamtes Vakuum—my most powerful and destructive ability."
Callaghan furrowed his brow. "Are you saying one spell drained all three of your Vital Links at once?"
Aurora hesitated. But Callaghan had promised to keep it secret—and that was enough to give her the courage to speak.
"That's right. The spell nearly cost me my life—that's why it's my last resort," she said. The kings exchanged uneasy glances. Could she really wield that much power?
Ezekiel was intrigued. He questioned Callaghan's assessment of Aurora's condition, insisting there had to be more to it than severe exhaustion.
"It's not normal for a single spell to leave someone this drained. Are you sure about your diagnosis?" he asked.
"Every living being carries within them three sacred links" Callaghan explained. "First, the vital energy—the breath of life bestowed by the gods. Then, the mystical energy—the source of our knowledge and power. And finally, mana—the force that shapes mystical energy and allows us to manifest extraordinary abilities."
Ezekiel and the others listened in silence, hanging on his every word.
Callaghan summoned a trace of mana from within, letting it swirl in the air as he demonstrated its affinity with mystical energy.
"Mana is malleable—adaptable. When fused with mystical energy, the energy of knowledge, it grants us the power to perform unimaginable feats. That fusion is the foundation of all our magical and healing spells," he said.
The leader of the Averford Sentinels explained that even summoning the smallest flame triggered a surprisingly complex reaction within the body's vital networks.
"That's how our vital links work! Apparently, Her Majesty merged all three vital links and came dangerously close to a phenomenon we call mystical inversion. That would explain his current condition," Callaghan emphasized.
"Then what can I do?" Aurora asked. Callaghan paused to think. Based on the state of Queen Aurora's vital links, there was only one option.
"You must keep resting, Your Majesty. For now, the best we can do is wait—let your mystical link support the others until they stabilize. And once they do... don't ever use that spell again," Callaghan advised.
Just then, a guard entered the room to announce the arrival of Her Majesty, Queen Fiora Bright-Windham.
Fiora entered the room, receiving a bow from the Monarchs. "Please, there's no need for such formality. How is Her Majesty Aurora doing, Callaghan?" she asked. "She'll recover in a few days, Your Majesty. You can rest assured," Callaghan replied. Fiora thanked him for his thorough examination and care for the Queen of Eircloft.
"Leave us," Fiora ordered. Callaghan and the guard exited the room.
"Very well, lady and gentlemen. I know this isn't the ideal moment, but we must discuss the future of our armies at the borders."
TO BE CONTINUED…